John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

160 Hartford. Tuesday 17. November 1840. New-Haven.

17. IV.45 Tuesday—

Hopkins of Buffalo Curtis Baldwin Roger S. Daggett Edwards H. L. Ingersoll R. I. Ludlow Revd. M Some others

At 1/2 past 5. A.M. I took the Cars from Hartford to New-Haven. My tavern bill, at Hartford had been paid— The Night had been frosty; and the morning was bitter cold— But the Sun rose bright and the whole day was fair— In the cars two passengers introduced themselves to me—Mr Hopkins of Buffalo New-York, and Mr Curtis, Sheriff of the County of New-Haven— I talked again too much. At 8 A.M. we arrived at New-Haven, and I took lodgings at the Tontine Hotel— Breakfast— Immediately after, Mr Roger Sherman Baldwin called on me, and invited me to his office in his house, whither I went with him— He read to me sundry papers, and gave me one containing an argument, drawn up, by him all, relating to the Negro-prisoners taken in the Amistad— We had two hours of conversation upon the whole subject, in which he exposed to me his views of the case; the points which had been taken before the District and Circuit Courts; and the motion to dismiss the appeal which he supposes the proper course to be taken before the Supreme Court— He read to me numerous authorities on the several points which he proposes to urge at the trial; and said he hoped the Supreme Court would take up the case in the first or second week of the Session.— I visited the prisoners, with Mr Baldwin— Mr Wilcox the Marshal of the District— Mr Pendleton, his deputy, and keeper of the house where they are confined together— The three girls are in a separate house, and I did not see them— There are 36 men, confined all in one chamber perhaps 30 feet long by 20 wide—sleeping in 18 crib beds in rows two deep on both sides the length of the chamber— They are all but one young men, under 30. and of small stature—none over 5 feet 6. Negro-face, fleece and form—but varying in shades of colour from ebon black to dingy brown— One or two of them are almost mulatto bright. Cinque and Grabow, the two chief conspirators, have very remarkable countenances— Three of them read to us part of a chapter in the English New Testament— Very indifferently— One boy writes a tolerable hand— Mr Ludlow teaches them; but huddled together as they are, and having no other person to talk with but themselves their learning must be very slow— I dined at Mr Baldwin’s, with 8 or 10 others— Mrs Baldwin’s is a daughter of old Roger Sherman— Her mother, and brother, Mr Baldwin’s father, Chauncey Goodrich and Mr Ludlow were of the company. President Day Professor Kingsley and Professor Silliman came in after dinner— I walked with Professor Silliman to his house, to tea—His wife, Son, 3 daughters—one married.— Coll. John Trumbull—this day from New-York— born in 1756.—very unwell—said he was done up—worn out.— With Dr Silliman I visited Mrs Gerry—her 4. daughters— Went with Mr White to Mr Ludlow’s Church— Delivered the Lecture on Society and civilization— Full house. Attention— Applause— Home to my lodgings at 9. P.M.