5 November 1827
adams-john10 Margot Rashba Impressment Recreation
329

5. IV:30.

M’Kinnon Mary. Elgar— Joseph Southard Saml. L. Tyler— Benjamin O. Jones— Roger Holmes— Brent— Daniel Trumbull— John

Mrs M’Kinnon is the wife of a Tailor at Baltimore, who came here to solicit a place of Messenger, or any thing else for her husband. I informed her that she must apply to the Heads of Departments for a Messengers Office, and that there was no vacancy to which I could appoint Mr M’Kinnon— Mr Elgar called, and I enquired about the paving of the North side of the square, North of the President’s House— He gave me his reasons for commencing it narrower than that of the adjoining Streets, in a written paper— But the difference being only between 15 and 17 feet, for the sake of uniformity and to accommodate the inhabitants of that vicinity, I told him, I thought it would be best to widen the pavement to the same dimensions with that of the adjoining Streets— He assented; but said it could not then be finished this year. He also observed that there was a similar, and greater contraction of the pavement on the Capitol Square, to that which he had proposed here. I told him I had determined to have a stove put up in this house, similar to those lately built under the Rotunda, at the Capitol; and asked if it could be paid for from the appropriation for the public buildings— He said he was sorry that it could not— I said I would then pay for it from the appropriation for furniture—although it is an expenditure more properly chargeable to the other— Mr Southard brought me a Letter from Commodore Chauncey, with complaints and charges made to him against Midshipman J. Q. A. Boyd— Mr Southard thought there was now no alternative left, but to dismiss him from the service, which I accordingly authorised him to do. Mr Tyler came, and told me he was going to Albany— That he had been obliged to sell his house, and had lost all his property by endorsements and engagements for others— That he was going to pass this winter at the South, and next Spring should seek a Settlement in one of the Northern States— Coll. Jones came with a young man named Hoomes from Virginia; an applicant for an appointment of Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and who brought with him a number of Letters 330recommendatory in his favour— Mr Brent came and took a despatch lately received from Mr Gallatin, stating the substance of a conversation, with Mr Huskisson, relating to the impressment of Seamen— I rode out with my Son John into the woods beyond the Eastern Branch— I found some black walnuts, but no acorns— A herd of swine accounted for their absence— We went over the lower, and returned by the upper Bridge: and came round by the Penitentiary, whence I walked home in 55 minutes— Coll. Trumbull called here this evening; told me his pictures at the Capitol were now finished, and invited me to go and look at them— He took back his model of a Stair-case; and said he should remain here, till after the commencement of the Session of Congress; long enough to ascertain whether they would employ him again—

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