13 December 1841
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Anti-Slavery Petitions Smithsonian Institution
555 Washington Monday 13. December 1841.

13. V. Monday

Elizabeth Pierce— Addison John Todsen George Dr.

I received yesterday a note from Mrs Mary M— Telfair, with a volume of poems by Mrs Dana, and a request that I would peruse it, and should be informed this morning why it was sent to me— I looked over the book and found it a considerable duodecimo volume of doleful verses, on numerous deaths of the family relatives of the authoress Mrs Dana— The versification generally good; and the composition above mediocrity— This morning Miss Pierce came, and I returned the book to her— She said it was for sale, but I saw no cause to buy. She said Mrs Dana was here, with her father Mr Palmer, a presbyterian clergyman, who would be glad to be elected chaplain to the house— I said I had promised my vote for Mr Clark, but if he should not be chosen I would cheerfully vote for Mr Palmer— Mr Addison came as a candidate for the office of assistant door keeper to the house, in the place of John W. Hunter who died last Night— Dr Todsen was also here to refresh my memory, on the fact of his being a candidate for employment in the Department of State. At the house it was 20 minutes past 12 when the Speaker took the chair— He had been till then hurried and worried in his chamber, making out his Committees. When the house was called to order they were announced—he has appointed on the Committee of Foreign Relations

Adams, Cushing, Everett, W. Cost Johnson, Granger, Gilmer, Hunter, Rhett Proffit and on the Select Committee on the Smithsonian bequest. Adams, Habersham, Truman Smith, Underwood, Benjamin Randall, Charles J. Ingersoll, Hunter Houston and Bowne— Briggs moved a Resolution that the Clerk should pay the funeral expences of the late assistant doorkeeper Coll. John W. Hunter, and then a Resolution abolishing the Office of Assistant door-keeper as unnecessary. Carried by yeas and nays 177 to 23— A chaplain was chosen— Revd. John N. Maffett— Methodist Episcopal—of 198 votes he had 133.— Taliaferro offered a Resolution reviving old Memorials, Petitions, resolutions and Bills— Wise was afraid it would take in abolition petitions; but the Speaker said they had not been received. Underwood offered a Resolution for the Speaker to appoint four Stenographers to report the proceedings of the house, and moved a suspension of the rules for its reception, but the house refused— Sundry documents from the Departments were presented by the Speaker and disposed of. Adjourned about 2. At 7 in the evening I attended a stated monthly Meeting of the National Institute of Literature and Science— Numerous— Much business—judge Cranch’s report read and adopted—adjourned at 9. Letter from Miss Welsh—cheering— [symbols]— Charles got home Saturday Morning.

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