John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

5. IV. Wednesday.

I received a Letter from Mrs Maria Brooks, I believe an English woman; a Stranger to me. She informs me that she has written a poem, called Zophiel, in six Cantos, which has the approbation of Robert Southey and Washington Irving— It is now in the Press in England, under the direction of Mr Southey— Mrs Brooks expects it in a few days, and wishes me to accept a copy of it, when it comes— She wishes also a recommendation of it by me, and proposes to publish an edition of it in every one of the large cities of the United States—the profits of the Sales to be applied to the benefit of the Polish Patriots— Mrs Brooks sent me with her Letter—one to herself from Robert Southey, written at Keswick in March last, about the publication of the Poem— He promises that it shall last— Also a slip from Evening Gazette at Boston containing a very favourable Review of Dermot MacMorrogh, signed M, and no doubt written by herself—a French Translation in Manuscript of the Harper’s Song in Dermot, and the arguments of the six Cantos of Zophiel— I answered this Letter, and it was altogether a painful task— The Labour of the day though very short— I was morning and afternoon in my garden, and gathered a parcel of Elm Seeds under the Trees. Having ascertained that they come up freely, I would now collect a large parcel to plant them, though I believe it now too late— I found on the largest of the Cherry trees that I have raised in the garden Nursery, Myriads, perhaps hundreds of thousands of a small black louse or fly, and the same leaves covered with black Ants— Here and there a seedling Oak is coming up, of the many hundreds which I planted last Autumn— Almost all my seedling Apples of the present year, are scorched to death by the Sun— The Cherries follow to like destruction—it is doubtful whether one of either kind will be left— The wild cherry bears it much better.— In spending four or five hours a day in the nursery, I do not sufficiently realize it as a waste of time.