27 April 1831
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Steam Power
171

27. V:30. Wednesday— Steam-boat President— Long-Island Sound

Blunt Joseph Verplanck and his Sister Morton— Genl. Jacob Scott. Winfield. Genl. Mrs Scott. Maury James— and Son Morton— Genl.’s Son Parish Mr and Mrs Miss Payne Mosquera Quincy Josiah junr White. Stephen Wolcott Oliver.

We took passage on board the Steam-boat President Captain Bunker for Providence— She was to depart at five in the afternoon, but our Carriage and horses, were embarked at Noon, when the tides was low, and the deck of the vessel on a level with the wharf. I paid a visit to the Ex-President Monroe at the house of his Son in Law Samuel L. Gouverneur— He was confined to his chamber, and extremely feeble and emaciated— Congress passed at their last Session an Act making a further allowance to him for his claims of thirty thousand dollars which have been paid him. He has advertised for Sale his Estate in Loudoun County Virginia, and proposes to go there in a few weeks, but it is doubtful whether he will ever be able to leave his chamber— Mr Monroe is a very remarkable instance of a man whose life has been a continued 172Series of the most extraordinary good fortune, who has never met with any known disaster has gone through a splendid Career of public service— Has received more pecuniary reward from the public than any other man since the existence of the Nation; and is now dying at the age of seventy-two in wretchedness and beggary. I sat with him perhaps half an hour. He spoke of the commotions now disturbing Europe, and of the recent Quasi-Revolution at Washington; but his voice was so feeble that he seemed exhausted by the exertion of speaking. I did not protract my visit; and took leave of him in all probability for the last Time— On returning to my lodgings I had a succession of visitors till dinner time— The younger brother of G. C. Verplanck with his Sister—General Morton and his Son—General and Mrs Scott—Mr Maury, heretofore Consul of the United States at Liverpool and his Son; who arrived here two or three days since in the packet which sailed from Liverpool the first of this Month—Mr and Mrs Parish, with Miss Payne Edmund Blunt and Mr Mosquera, an Exile from the Republic of Columbia, of the party opposed to the late General Bolivar—Mr Josiah Quincy junr of Boston, who is here on a tour with his wife for her health—Mr Stephen White, Oliver Wolcott, Mr and Mrs Charles A. Davis were here while we were out and left Cards. General Scott before he paid his visit sent to enquire if it would be agreeable to me to receive it; and I met his advance to reconciliation with cordiality. I received three invitations— One from Mr Hamblin, manager of the Bowery Theatre, to attend this Evening the performance of Richard the third by Booth— One from the National Academy of Design, to view their sixth annual exhibition this day, previous to its opening to the Public: and one from a Committee of Citizens, who give tomorrow a Public Dinner to Gulian C. Verplanck one of the Representatives in Congress from the City of New-York, for his exertions in the cause of Literature— In obtaining at the last Session of Congress a revision and improvement of the Law of Copy-rights. I was prevented by visitors from viewing the Exhibition, and declined the two other invitations— Joseph Blunt dined with us— At 5. we walk’d to the bottom of Courtland Street and embarked in the Steamboat President, Captain Robert S. Bunker; and immediately left the wharf. The morning had been fine, with clear Sun Shine but a chilling Easterly wind. From Noon it had been gradually clouding up; and threatened a Northeast Storm— Mrs Adams was desirous of postponing our departure, and wished me to accept the invitation to Verplanck’s dinner— But I have a strong aversion to postponements of departure, especially for appearances of weather, and never flinch from embarking when my Captain is willing to go— I persisted and we embarked— The storm came on just as we left the wharf; and by the time we came to Sands’s point, and entered Long-Island Sound it blew a heavy gale of wind— The evening was dull and gloomy, and many of the Passengers were sick.

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