- Adams John Q. 2
d
I rode into Boston with John Quincy;
stop’d at Mr
James H. Foster’s, and invited one of his daughters to
come out and spend some days with Mrs. Adams— I then went
to the Tremont Hotel, and introduced my namesake to Captain Joseph J. Nicholson, to
whom he delivered the order from the Secretary of the Navy, to receive him on board the
Potowmack frigate as a boy to do Midshipman’s duty. Captain Nicholson
received him very kindly and promised to take charge of him with
pleasure— He said he had four other youths in the same capacity—one of
them a son of Captain Perry, of the Navy, and
another a son of Mr John
Barney of Baltimore— He said he was then immediately going
on board the ship, and offered to take John on board with him— He
accordingly went with him, and after returning, took Louisa Foster out in the Chaise before
dinner— I called for a few minutes at Charles’s Office, where I saw him; and then attended the
adjourned meeting of the Committee of the Alumni of Harvard University—
There were eleven members who attended the Meeting, John Lowell, myself, Thomas B. Wales, Joseph Story, Jacob Bigelow, George Hayward, Charles P. Curtis, Jonathan M. Wainwright, William H Gardiner, Stephen C. Phillips, and Robert C. Winthrop, though not 412all at the same time— I proposed that Mr Lowell as the Senior Member of the
Committee should take the Chair; but he would not consent, and it being,
an adjourned meeting, I acted as Chairman— There was little discussion.
Mr Lowell declared himself decidedly
opposed to the object for which it was proposed to raise the funds,—and
gave his reasons for his objections— He had prepared a draught of a
Report stating that the Committee deemed the erection of a building to
hold the Library, the most important want of the University—that a
recent munificent bequest, (of Christopher Gore) would if applied to that purpose make
large provision for that object, and that until it should be
accomplished, it would be inexpedient to raise any fund by contribution
from the alumni of the University— Judge Story made a warm and eloquent
Speech in reply to Mr Lowell, repeating the
arguments that he had urged at the last Meeting for cheapening the
expense of Education, but observing that he was now satisfied that the
whole project was impracticable, and that nothing could be done, he
concluded by moving that the Committee should adjourn without day. I
observed that as the Committee had been appointed by the Meeting for the
discharge of a specific duty, I thought it would be incumbent upon them
to make a report of some kind to the constituent body—That although I
could not approve of raising a contribution for the object proposed by
the Meeting; the purpose itself of raising a fund by the voluntary
offerings of the graduates, to take effect at the period of the second
century from the foundation of the College, and for the benefit of the
University was one which I approved and cherished; and hoped might be
still carried into execution— A report therefore might be made to the
Meeting of next Commencement day, that the Committee finding the object
prescribed by the last meeting impracticable, would recommend the
raising of the fund for another object, and I would cheerfully
contribute my aid and contribution to the erection of a building for the
library. Three members of the Committee Daniel A. White of Salem, Theodore Lyman, now Mayor of Boston, and one other, had
declined serving on the Committee— I proposed that the Committee should
supply their places; but judge Story said that in that case he should
also decline serving on the Committee and wished his place might also be
supplied— After various remarks of several other members, it was finally
voted to adjourn the Meeting of the Committee to the first Monday in
August next, then to meet at 10 O’Clock in the morning at the same
place, to make up a report to the general Meeting the day before the
next Commencement— The Chairman, and the Secretary at the request of any
two members of the Committee being authorised in the meantime, to call a
special meeting of the Committee, if it should be necessary. The meeting
adjourned before one O’Clock— I called again at Charles’s Office, and
saw him; then paid a visit to Lieutenant
Governor Armstrong, whom I found at home; and then went
and dined at Mr James H. Foster’s— His
brother at Portsmouth’s wife, his three sons, his son James’s wife and
daughter, and his daughters Elizabeth and Mary
were there— Louisa had gone out with John Quincy— At four O’Clock
Gillet took me up in the
Stage, and I came home with eight women and three children besides
outside passengers— He came round by the new Settlement in Roxbury where
there are nearly thirty houses built since the last Spring, looking like
a new created City— Reached home after Sunset and found Louisa Foster
here.