7 June 1829
adams-john10 Sequoia Dooley Religion Steam Power
190

7. V:30. Sunday—

Law. Thomas Frye N. & Mrs     Thomas J Smith— W. S. and Mrs Harrison. Richard Ringgold Tench Huntt Henry

I rode to the Presbyterian Church and heard Mr Campbell, from Philippians 2:8. [“]And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.” It was communion day and the Sermon was occasional— The communion service was performed; partly by Mr Campbell, and partly by Dr Laurie who came in after it had commenced— There is more solemnity in the Presbyterian manner of administering the communion than in that of any other that I have witnessed— As I was walking home from Church I met Mr. Thomas Law, who had called to take leave of me— He said he expected to sail in about three weeks for England— He thought he should never return to this Country. He leaves his Son Edmund here, in very ill health— I overtook also two persons walking who spoke to me— One said his name was Marsh; the other Adams, both from the interior of New-York. They had been at Church, and walked on the way I was coming, I believe only for the sake of speaking to me. Mr and Mrs Frye with their Son Thomas and Mr and Mrs W. S. Smith dined with us. Mr Harrison the first Auditor, Mr Ringgold the Marshal, and Dr Huntt came in while we were at dinner, and spent perhaps two hours with us.— We heard of the explosion of the Steam Frigate Fulton, at Brooklyn Navy-Yard, New-York Thursday last; with loss of more than thirty lives, and as many wounded— The Calamities of others repeat the admonitions of my own— I continue reading the Life of Columbus, and on reading this Evening the narrative of the conduct of Martin Alonzo Pinzon, on the first voyage, and before, the very important and essential part performed by him in fitting out the expedition, the dangers he encountered, and the services which he rendered in the execution of it, the glory that he might have shared and the disgrace that he did incur, his mortification, contrasted with the triumph of Columbus both arriving on the same day at Palos—his remorse and speedy death, leaving a dishonoured name while that of Columbus brightens from age to age; led me into a train of meditations upon human Nature— How many Pinzon’s there are of the human species in all ages—and how few Columbuses in any Age.

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