John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

8. IV:40

The Succession of visitors, occupied almost the whole of this day— Mr Jarvis the Speaker of the House of Representatives of this Commonwealth, and Dr Thomson of Charlestown came together— Mr Brooks and Mr Everett, who has just recovered from a severe illness. Mr Brooks invited me to go and pass a Sunday with him at his house in Medford; which I promised; and to send him notice by my Son Charles— Mr Appleton and Mr Bailey. Mr Appleton made some enquiries concerning the renewal of the commercial Treaty with Sweden, now in the hands of his Son, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States at Stockholm; and asked whether if he should conclude the Treaty he might not be the bearer of it himself on a leave of absence— I said I believed that could not be admitted. Mrs Lunt, and the young Ladies and gentlemen with her were here at tea— Miss Sigourney is a daughter of the late Charles Sigourney, an acquaintance of mine at Amsterdam in 1781— His eldest Son was at Washington in the Spring of 1825. with his wife who is a Poetess of some renown. Mr Luke Drury, late Collector of the Port of Bristol, Rhode-Island, was here this Evening He brought me Letters recommendatory from John Pitman, judge of the U.S. District Court in that State, and from three other respectable persons, one of them, Rector of St. Michael’s Church, at Bristol. Drury was a few days before I left Washington, dismissed from his Office of Collector, for delinquency long continued, and increasing, after repeated warnings— His appointment had originally been made under no good auspices, through the influence of James D’Wolf, then a Senator from Rhode-Island, and by the rejection of an honest man, named Bates— Mr. Drury now acknowledged and deeply lamented his delinquency— Seemed desirous of imputing it to domestic misfortunes, and his having a numerous family to support; and rather intimated than affirmed that if time had been allowed him he would have paid up his arrearages by next May— He spoke of the ruin of his fortune; of the wreck of his reputation; of the distress of his family, professed religious compunctions, and shed some tears— I thought his religion, and his tears out of place— He appeared apprehensive of further measures of rigour against him, to recover the monies due from him as Collector— I told him that if he had any proposals to make, soliciting an indulgence of time, he must address a Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, who would do everything consistent with his public duties, to accommodate him— That I lamented his misfortune, and had with great reluctance resorted to the measure of removing him. That I could individually do nothing for him, but would readily assent to any indulgence of time, which the Secretary of the Treasury might think proper to allow— He asked if I thought he should be more likely to succeed in his application by going to Washington and addressing the Secretary in person— I said it would make no sort of difference— That if he went in person, he must still make his application in writing; and the Secretary would decide upon it in the 263same manner, whether he should see him or not— I wrote little this day. Bathed at the wharf at Noon, with my Son Charles, T. B. Adams jr. J. Q. jr. and Jos. H. and Antoine— After dinner I took out from the Town Library Torcy’s Memoirs and dallied away perhaps two hours in examining the passages relating to the bribe offered by Louis the 14th. to the Duke of Marlborough, and which Junius says was only not accepted. They are in Vol. 1. p. 141— Vol. 2. p. 15. 62. 67. 79. 89. and 158. The last is the explicit authority from Louis to Torcy, to promise the Duke two, three or four Millions of Livres, according to a graduated scale of terms favourable to France, upon which by the Duke’s influence peace might be concluded— Torcy represents the Duke, as greedily avaricious, and personally interested in the continuance of the War— As having a commanding influence, and entire controul over the result of the Negotiations; but insincere, and full of dissimulation: professing an ardent desire for Peace, and a profound reverence for and personal attachment to Louis 14— Torcy says that he had at a prior period, quietly listened to proposals flattering to his passion for unbounded wealth, and intimates that they had been made through the Duke of Berwick, and the Marquis d’Allegre. Louis says that he had caused a promise of reward to be made to Marlborough, if he should deserve it by his conduct, and that he was surprised at the obstacles he had thrown in the way of the Peace, after the assurances that he had given of his wish to contribute to that event— Torcy shews that the Duke sought private interviews with him—and affectedly referred to his previous intercourse with the Duke of Berwick, and the Marquis d’Allegre, with all the particulars of which Torcy let him know that he was acquainted— He adds that the Duke most earnestly repeated the protestations of his desire to deserve the protection of the king of France, after the peace—but that he Torcy receiving no aid from the Duke, made no positive engagement with him, but held with him such discourse as was suited to confirm the expectations he had formed— But that when he spoke to the Duke about his private interests the Duke blushed, and appeared to wish to turn off the conversation— It appears on the whole, that Marlborough was willing enough to receive Louis’s money; but was not prepared to give him any equivalent for it, but heartless protestations and indefinite professions. Charles went this afternoon to Boston—