John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

25. VII. B. W. Crowninshield called and left with me a Letter to him from General H. A. S. Dearborn, enclosing a copy of one from him to Coll. Towson— An answer to one from Towson, canvassing for Dearborn’s influence to obtain the Election of Calhoun as Vice-President— Dearborn answers that this is impossible— That the impulse there is given for Jackson as Vice-President, and that Calhoun must be Secretary of State. Crowninshield could not wait, but said he would call upon me in a day or two again— Wyer was here, and told me Coll. Taylor of Caroline, the Senator from Virginia, had mentioned to him that there was a rumour circulated in that State, that my father had made his Will, bequeathing his Estate to a public institution, or to his native town, and that from this it was inferred that I was labouring under his displeasure, and it was producing unfavourable political impressions concerning my personal character. He said Coll. Taylor had thoughts of writing to my father about it— I told Wyer that I should be glad if Coll. Taylor would write; that my father’s conduct to me had been that of a most affectionate father; and that he had not left it to the disposal of a Will to bestow upon me my portion of his Estate— He had conveyed it to me by deed, irrevocable by himself. I stated to him the various dispositions, advantageous to me already made by my father, and his undeviating kindness to me— This utterly groundless rumour, is a new ingredient in the electioneering cauldron—what next?— Mr Tucker the Treasurer came and introduced a Mr Cabell of Virginia, a claimant under the Slave-indemnity Commission. He has furnished much of the evidence, lately collected for the Commissioners of the average value of Slaves, and is much interested in the event, he wanted some documents, supposed to be at the Department; and I referred him to Mr D. Brent— Mr Edward Livingston, a member from Louisiana, came and brought two Letters to him; one from James Hepburn at Mexico, the other from a General D’Alvimar, which he wished to have laid before the President— R. H. Bayard came for an answer to the application from L. M’Lane and himself as Executors of his father’s Will; for a half outfit as Commissioner to negotiate the Convention of 3 July 1815— I told him the application was before the President; who thought the 130allowance could not be made; Mr Bayard not having gone to London, upon that mission— At the Office, G. Sullivan came, and told me that his Colleague Pearce, had determined to go before the Committee of Congress to whom the President’s Message on the Massachusetts claim should be referred, and there protest against the disavowal, which Sullivan had made of the Constitutional obstacles of the Government of Massachusetts, during the War; and that to prevent Pearce from doing this, he saw no other course than to resign, whereby their authority being joint would cease to exist— I suggested to him the alternative, of obtaining positive Instructions from Governor Eustis; but he said that Pearce would pay no regard to any Instructions— I think this hardly probable; but Pearce’s conduct has been quite extraordinary— Sullivan said that on resigning he should not immediately go home, but would remain here or go into Virginia for four or five weeks—which I conclude is with a view to await the Event of the Massachusetts Election— He spoke also of endeavouring to get the Message on the claim referred to a Committee of the whole House without sending it to any special Committee; but this would be a departure from the usual course; the attempt would be unsuccessful and probably injurious to the Claim— Company to dine— Messrs. R. Allen of Tennessee, Bartlett, R. H. Bayard, Baylies, Brent, Lot Clark, Dickerson, W. N. Edwards, Gurley, Johnston of Louisiana, Lowrie, M’Kee, M’Nair Governor of Missouri, D. H. Miller of Pennsylvania, Miller, Governor of Arkansas, Rankin, Spaight, G. Sullivan, and Tod of Pennsylvania— There had been invited, who sent excuses, Messrs. Hayward, Herkimer, Leftwich, M’Duffie, Maxcy, Noble, and Saunders— No Ladies at Table— In the Evening Mr Blunt came in, and I went with him and Sullivan to the Theatre— Saw part of the Midnight Hour; and then came away, as the Woodman’s Hut was to be repeated— Blunt came home with me, and sat an hour with me, telling me of the state of Affairs in New-York— The Clintonians have all gone over to Genl. Jackson, and the probable effect of this will be to rally a majority of the State in favour of Crawford— On retiring to bed, I found Mrs Adams, who had been better, all day, had been suddenly seized again very violently. Sent for Dr Huntt, who came and prescribed Laudanum. I got to bed about one in the Morning— Answer from Genl. Van-Ness for President & Directors of Metropolis Bank.