John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

24. IV:45. Monday.

Mr John Cranch came and requested of me a Letter of introduction to Mr Leslie in London, which I promised— He said he proposed in the course of the Summer to embark for Leghorn, and to spend if possible two years in Italy, after which he intends to go to England— His object is to improve himself in the art of painting, for which he has a strong natural talent— Mr Deeble took my collection of pamphlets to bind them— Mr Johnson was here before dinner— Mr Rush called to take leave and I returned the collection of my father’s Letters to him, which he lent me about two years since, and of which he has repeatedly requested the return— Mr Handy and Mr Gilliss came together. I had sent to ask to see Mr Handy before my departure for the North— Mr Handy shewed me a passage from a Letter of Mr Barker to him, making acknowledgment for my allowance of six Months longer for him to try the chance of obtaining more for his house than I offered—a price which he thinks rather too low. I shall wait therefore till the Autumn— I agreed also to leave the Note from the Treasurer of the Presbyterian Church as it now stands—but disagreed to one charge for fifty Months of a contribution which was undertaken to pay the Note to me, and to which I did aid, until after all the others had ceased— And as the Note was not paid; I did not think the charge should remain on me alone, merely to reduce the debt to me. The accrueing interest upon the Note now rather more than pays the charge upon my pew. Mrs Tudor sent this afternoon, requesting me to call and see her— I went immediately and her object was to talk of her deceased son William— Mrs Stewart who had recovered from the first shock of their loss, read me Extracts from several of her brothers Letters, very creditable to his character. I told them that I had offered Alexander H. Everett to write a biographical notice of William Tudor for the North-American Review and that he had accepted the Offer. Mrs Tudor requested me to return the Memorandum which she sent me— I finished reading Cicero’s Oration for Cluentius which presents a Scene of complicated human depravity; such as one would hope to be without example in modern times— Undoubted corruption by bribery of the judges—but whether the bribery was by Cluentius or by the father of the Prosecutor—Oppianicus— He was dead, and one of the charges against Cluentius was that he had caused him to be murdered by poison— But Cicero charges him with six or eight atrocious murders; and among them two of his own children— This is the Oration of which the Analysis is given in Blair’s Lectures. It has otherwise I believe not been translated into the English Language.