John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

27. IV. Saturday. Sun rose 6:26.

I rose at four and walk round the Capitol Square, returning before Sun-rise: but from the eastern window he is intercepted. I had no visitors, but was closely engaged all day in the Russian and Turkish War pushing on with the Campaign of Count Paskevitch of Erivan in 1829— This is mere drudgery, to pick out a connected narrative from a succession of Reports and Bulletins— There is also the inconvenience that all these materials are of one side—the Turks having neither bulletins nor printing presses. It is probable that if the other side should also tell their story, the Russian victories would not be quite so splendid, and would appear to have been rather more dearly purchased. There is some difficulty in abridging narratives of sieges and battles; and for a person not practically familiar with them some hazard of committing ridiculous blunders— But I drive through my work, hoping that it will take me not more than another fortnight— I read twenty Letters of the 13th. Book of the Epistles to Atticus— They appear to have been written principally at Asturae— They relate among other things to his composition of the Books de Oratore de Finibus the Academic Questions, and de Officiis— He was long determining whether to address one of the Books to Varro or not— Also of the persons whom he shall introduce as Interlocutors. He speaks with high self-approbation upon the books de Oratore— The Letters are again filled with Greek; and his language is very difficult to understand, having been purposefully written 384as he says in one place αφεϛερος, and in another διa σεμειων. What he apprehended his correspondent himself would not understand cannot be very easy to a reader of this age, and the Graeco Latin Glossary in the Clavis does not always explain the Greek words so as to make them intelligible— I have also read in the English Quarterly Review an Article upon the Life and writings of Dr Samuel Parr, which has led me to some reflections— Parr was a whig, and the greatest Classical Scholar in England. The reviewer is a Tory, and while acknowledging the Genius and Learning, and amiable character of Parr, constantly labours to make him ridiculous; and to disparage the application of his Talents— There needs another side of the subject to be seen: for the Reviewer makes out his case, by shewing the grossest inconsistencies of opinion, in Parr’s correspondence, and although there are eight Volumes of the Works there is no one great work to go down to Posterity— The criticisms upon the Sermons, upon the Epitaphs, upon the Style of Parr, are written in a Spirit of unkindness; but are yet plausible— Living it is good to receive instruction from an enemy Dead, it is glorious to receive extorted commendation from a foe— We saw this day the death of Mrs P. C. Brooks, announced in the New-York American— She died last Sunday A heavy loss to her husband and family—