John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

30. IV:15. Tuesday. North-east Storm, with flooding rain the whole day. This weather confined me to the house, and it makes the climate as dark and gloomy as November in London— In the morning I finished reading the second book of Pliny’s Epistles, and Lord Orrery’s Translation of them, and here I must suspend my classical reading for the present— There cannot be a greater contrast of Epistolary Style, than between the Letters of Cicero and those of Pliny— They are of themselves pictures of the respective times in which they were written— There is an atmosphere of republicanism about every line written by Cicero—a perfume of absolute monarchy, about every word of Pliny. My Classmate at College Learned used to say that his Theme, was a very different thing, when written in his gown and slippers, with unshaven beard, and face unwashed, from what it was when he had prepared himself for writing in a clean ruffled shirt, his best new coat and silk Stockings— His compositions in full dress were in his own estimate far superior to those written in deshabille— Now Pliny writes in all the formal 47dignity of Laticlave, and Cicero in the loosest and most careless Pallium; but the comparison brings to a conclusion quite the reverse of that of my friend Learned. Yet the Letters of Pliny are richly worthy of the care with which they have been preserved— They are literary Jewels of pure brilliancy—full of thought, of sentiments of morality. The first Letter of the second book, giving an account of the funeral honours paid to Verginius Rufus, is admirable, though it leaves us to regret that the funeral Oration by the Consul Tacitus has not been preserved— The third is perhaps an exaggerated eulogium of a Greek declaimer or Lecturer upon all subjects after the manner of the Sophists— His name was Isaeus, and his powers of extemporaneous declamation according to the Statement of Pliny, were transcendent— In this Letter he tells the Story of an Inhabitant of Gades, who spurr’d by the fame of Livy the historian, went from the extremity of the Earth (I suppose from Cadix to Rome,[)] to see him, and then immediately returned— He relates also the anecdote of AEschines reading at Rhodes the Oration of Demosthenes against himself, and asking what they would have thought if they had heard the beast himself? a story told also by Cicero, but not by Plutarch— The Letter to Calvina touches upon the laws of inheritance and insolvency, and is the evidence of a very generous action in Pliny, by remitting to the Lady a heavy debt, due from her father’s Estate to him— The Letter to Lupercus, encloses part of an Oration by Pliny for his perusal and criticism— The next to Avitus tells of a supper which Pliny attended and at which the entertainer gave better fare and better wines to one part of his guests than to the others; a practice not uncommon then, but which Pliny justly censures. The 7th. to Macrinus, tells of a triumphant Statue decreed the preceding day, by the Senate, on the proposal of Trajan, to Vestricius Spurinna— The 8th. is a short Letter to Caninius whom he congratulates upon his enjoying the pleasures of the Country; and laments that the multiplicity of business deprives him of the same comforts— The 9th. is a warm canvassing Letter, in behalf of his young friend Sextus Erucius, a candidate for the office of tribune by election of the Senate— The 10th. is an ardent persuasive to Octavius to publish his works; of which he speaks in terms of high admiration— The 11th. and 12th. to Arrianus, are Reports of the proceedings in the Senate upon the impeachment of Marius Priscus who had been Proconsul in Africa, by the People of the Province and afterwards of Hostilius Firminus the Legate of Marius— Pliny and Tacitus were the Prosecutors— Marius was defended by Salvius Liberalis and Fronto Catius. Claudius Marcellinus defended Flavius Marcianus one of the accomplices of Marius— Pliny says that he spoke five hours, and that Tacitus was most eloquent and solemn— The accused were all condemned. The 13th. is to another Priscus warmly recommending Voconius Romanus— The 14th. is a ludicrous description of the manner in which causes were argued before the Centumvirs—a burlesque upon judicial trials— The 15th a Letter of seven lines, contains three ingenious moral reflections. The 16th. is another example of disinterested and generous probity— The 17th. a description of his Laurentine villa— The 18th a promise to select and engage a preceptor for the children of the brother of Mauricus. The 19th. assents to the request of Cerealis that Pliny would recite one of his Orations to several of his friends—and the 20th. relates to Calvisius three instances of base intrigues of Regulas—to enrich himself by swindling acquisitions of Legacies— In the Evening I read Moore’s Life of Lord Byron.