John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. VII. Mr T. Cook was here, about a negro woman, Jenny, belonging to Mrs Hellen, whom she wishes to sell, and the sale of whom to Mr Edwards I interposed to prevent— She has several Children—one an infant of about 6 Months, and another two years old— This last Mr Edwards would not take; and they were about separating her from that and all her other Children except the infant— The husband Basil, was actually sold to Governor Edwards, and he took him with him— But Jenny was not unwilling to part with him— 148Mrs Hellen was determined to sell them all, and to save her from being separated from her Children, I promised to make good what they should sell for less than 200 dollars, the condition of Sale being that they should not be sold out of the District. Mr Cook however now informed me that this stipulation though often made is easily, and frequently evaded— At the Office, Captain Randall came, and the appropriation Bill having passed was now furnished with his papers for his departure— He is to leave the City next Wednesday. Mr Addington came to enquire concerning a Resolution of the House of Representatives passed at the instance of Edward Livingston of Louisiana, and the object of which was to ascertain if any Nation claimed certain rocks and Islats in the Gulph of Mexico, near the Coast of Florida— Addington said he had received a communication from the Governor of the Bahama Islands; informing him that they were within his Jurisdiction.— Mr Addington spoke also of the Act of the South-Carolina Legislature, concerning coloured persons arriving in the State, on board of ships; and said he had received a new express Instruction from his Government to make a new complaint, in the case of a British vessel from which three men had been taken to the great injury of the Captain. He asked what had been done in the case of which he had complained last Summer— I said that having learnt immediately after receiving his Letter that the man had been discharged, no farther measures had been taken concerning it. He said he was aware of the delicacy of the subject, and would avoid making any representation relating to it without absolute necessity— E. Wyer came and passed his half hour, in desultory Conversation— Evening at the Theatre— John Bull, and the Forest of Rosenwald, a Melodrama, upon the tale of Raymond and Agnes, or the bleeding Nun— The house less than half filled— Mr Southard walked home with me— Past Midnight before the performances closed— Mrs Adams for the first time left her chamber and dined with us below.