John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

17. IV:30. Saturday.

Charles went to Boston and returned to dine— This was the second of a succession of days of extreme Summer heat— I barely looked into the Garden but soon took refuge in the house; from the intense power of the Sun— Bathed with my son John and Robert Buchanan. Swam from wharf to wharf, wearing a white night cap which gives full protection to the head, from the heat of the Sun. My Son Charles’s wife was confined to her chamber with a Sick head ache the whole day— About Sun-set I rode with my son John and his wife over Milton Hill, and was employed with Charles after dinner upon the Catalogue— The heat disqualifies me for writing— I this day first saw two shoots from the stems of the willow which about the tenth of June I cut off near the ground— Charles stuck it into the ground near the bottom of the Nursery. There are several shoots from the root which I left in the ground; one of which I this day found was 13 inches long— Those from the top-stem shew the time which it takes the severed twig, to get a new root— The transplanted young apples trees have taken about the same time to put forth new leaves— The young Oaks and Horse-Chesnuts have all ceased growing for the present year. The plums and two yearling apples are arrested or checked by small black-flies, Aphides and ants which lodge themselves in the germinating leaves and curl them up— Some of the peach twigs are mouldy. 501I read the first Philippic of Cicero. This Series of fourteen Orations, is principally remarkable, as containing the last accents of the expiring Liberty of Rome— They were composed, and, with the exception of the second, delivered in the years of Rome 709 and 710 the 63 and last year of Cicero’s Life— They follow immediately after the three Orations addressed to Caesar, and in character are strongly contrasted with them— By his victories in the civil Wars, Caesar had made himself the master of the world— Orations addressed to him were supplications for life and pardon— After his death the struggle of Cicero was to restore the Republic, and Antony occasionally affected to have the same object— The first Philippic is eminently beautiful— And is historically important as presenting a full exposition of Cicero’s motives, for attempting to pass into Greece, there to await the ensuing year and a change of Consuls; and for afterwards changing that intention, returning to Rome, and taking his Seat in the Senate— His answer to the threats of Antony for his absence from the Senate the preceding day, is full of moderation and of dignity. His address to the other Consul, Dolabella, who had been his Son in Law, and disciple is affectionate, and deeply affecting; and there is a thrilling solemnity, in the repeated intimations which he gives, that he sees and despises the imminent danger to his own life, with which he is surrounded.