John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

18. IV:30. Sun rose 7:13. Walk round Capitol Square

General Van Rensselaer came again to urge the appointment of John Duer, as Attorney of the United States for the Southern District of New-York— He read me a Letter from Ogden Edwards to Duer, dated in September last, and encouraging Duer to make interest for himself by declaring a probability that he, would not apply for the office; preferring on the whole that which he holds of a State Judge— Joseph Butler brought me at last a petition for the discharge from prison of his brother Samuel; with the recommendation of Judges Cranch and Morsell, and of the District Attorney Swann, who had resisted before, and says he signs the recommendation reluctantly now— I signed the order for his discharge. Mr Fürst the Medalist, requested me to lend him the Portrait of my father, last painted by Stewart, for him to make from it the Die of a Medal. I dissuaded him from it, by saying that there was in this Country so little taste for Medals, that it would certainly be an unprofitable labour to him— He said he did not expect profit from it— But the Portrait was so admirable as a Representation of Old Age, that he wished to try the efficacy of his own Art in exhibiting the same thing. He would work upon it at his leisure; and without regard to or expectation of profit. I told him he should then have the Portrait; on condition of taking care that it shall receive no damage. He said he should want it for several months— Mr White the delegate from Florida, and Judge Brackenridge called together the Judge is returning, from Philadelphia to Pensacola. I invited them to this day’s dinner and they came— The Revd. Mr Williams, with Beard the Oneida Chief, and Dr Jemison, all half breed Indians came to take leave. Beard and Jemison are returning to New-York— Jemison came with Mr Garnsey, the member of the House from the District where the remnant of the six Nations yet abide— Commodore Rodgers came with Edward Pinkney, who is here from Baltimore, to prevail upon his brother Charles to go back there with him— He came to me to enquire if I could do any thing to save him— He has fallen into habits of intemperance. A young man of admirable parts; of quick perception, of great ingenuity and of elegant accomplishments, lost by this fatal propensity— I told his brother that I had done, and would yet do every thing for Charles that I could consistently with my own duties— That his place as Secretary of 404the Legation to Russia, had not been filled though he had been now nearly six months, in this Country— That he had no intention of returning to Russia, as he informed me that his physician had told him he would certainly lose his life if he should remain in that climate— That I had within a few days for the first time received a Letter from Mr Middleton, concerning him, and speaking of him in the most delicate and friendly manner— That the appointment of a Secretary to that Mission could not be long delayed, and that the possibility of bestowing any other appointment upon Charles Pinkney must depend upon his recovering entirely from his present habits— He asked if he might say this to his brother— I said certainly— He might assure him that nothing could be done for him while he gave himself up to such indulgences— Edward was anxious to be authorised to give him encouragement in the event of his reformation— I said I could give no expectations unless in the event of a total change of his habits, and I feared they were too deeply seated— Coll. Roberdeau introduced Mr Geddes and Mr Roberts who are employed on the Surveys for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal— He called a second time after having taken a Meridian observation with Mr W. Elliot— Mr M’lean the Postmaster General, called and took the papers relating to the appointments of Postmasters at Washington Pennsylvania, and at Utica New-York. He has appointed Mr Henderson at Washington, and I recommended to him Mr James Platt at Utica— He assented, but said it would occasion some clamour. Mr. Sparks came to take leave—being about to return to Boston, and intending to embark on the first of March for Europe— Mr Tyler called with Mr. Lyford who keeps the reading room at Norfolk. Mr Blunt came to renew his solicitation for the appointment of U.S. District Attorney at New-York. Mr Clay read to me a Letter from Peter B. Porter against Oakley whom he supposed to be a candidate. Governor Barbour took the papers relating to the demand of Lieutenant Greene for a Court of Enquiry. I thought it should be granted, for which I gave my reasons. That it could not be refused without denying him Justice— His claim under the Circumstances seemed to me a demand of positive right. Considerations of delicacy must give way before it— But if the Report of the Court of Enquiry should be against him I thought he might be dismissed without a Court Martial— We had also conversation upon the claim of Satterlee Clark to be still a District Paymaster. The Opinions of Messrs. Oakley and Storrs rest upon the single consideration of the deficiency of Evidence. Clark has nothing but the Letter of the Adjutant General C. J. Nourse, informing him, by Order of the Secretary of War, that the President had directed he should be dismissed from the Service— Oakley and Storrs say that the Act of dismission could be performed only by the President, and must be authenticated of Record as much as the Commission— But defect of evidence does not warrant the negation of the act— And Governor Barbour observed there was ample proof of the Act, in the subsequent appointment of another paymaster in the place of Mr Clark— I propose to refer the Papers to the Attorney General for his opinion— We spoke also of the question, of the second Comptroller R. Cutts, upon the Accounts of T. L. M’Kenney, Governor Duval and the Indian Agent Tipton. I thought a regulation would be necessary that no Officer on distant service should claim compensation for coming to Washington to settle his accounts, unless by Order from the Head of the Department. We had our weekly dinner party— Mark Alexander, James, Mrs and Miss Barbour, D. D. Barnard, T. H. and Mrs Benton, Mr Bleecker, H. M Brackenridge, John Branch, Richard A. Buckner, Saml Butman, R. V. De Witt, M. Dickerson, S. A. and Mrs Foot, W. Haile, Miss Harrow, Joseph Healey, Coll R. Jones, Captain T a C Jones, Coll Lawrence, John M’Kinley, Robert Orr junr. Condy and Mrs Raguet Joseph Richardson, Asher Robbins, W. B. Rochester, John Sloane Samuel L. and Mrs Southard, James Strong, John Taliaferro, Mr and Mrs Taliaferro, Judge Thompson, Mr and two Misses Wellford Joseph M. White Austin E. Wing, Mary Roberdeau and six in the family 33 at table.