John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

61 Washington Sunday 2. March 1845.

2. V:30. Sunday

The Newspapers had announced that the Revd. Mr Taylor, the Seamen’s preacher of Boston would officiate in the Hall of the House of Representatives at 11. O’Clock this morning. But he did not arrive. Mr Tuston the chaplain performed the usual services for the last Lord’s day of the Session, and preached a short Sermon of nearly three quarters of an hour, from Acts 16.30. the last words of the verse—“what must I do, to be saved?” a singular coincidence with the discourses of Mr Pyne— Mr Tuston said nothing very impressive upon the subject of his text—but his address was an affectionate and grateful valedictory to his congressional auditory. He has been for six successive Sessions the chaplain of the Senate, and takes pride in the acknowledgment that he has during all that time been treated with undeviating respect and kindness, by all the members of both houses of Congress— As a second exercise we had an address in behalf of Sailors from the Revd. Mr Dennison the Colleague of father Taylor who travels to obtain subscribers for a Sailor Newspaper called the Sheet Anchor— Mr Dennison is not quite so methodical, or so various of topics as Mr Colton, and still less so than Mr Taylor. He touched upon the peculiarities of the Sailors character— The dangers of the Seas, of the rocks and of the shores—the sudden and dreadful vicissitudes to which he is exposed, and the extraordinary learning of some common seaman, one of whom he once heard dispute upon the bible in seven different languages. There was earnest exhortation to promote the temperance reform among the Seamen, and to abolish the Spirit ration in the Navy.— The hall was crowded, and the galleries well occupied— Very few members of Congress were in attendance—among them was Henry Johnson, Senator from Louisiana, who accompanied Mrs Hamilton, the widow of Alexander Hamilton, in the 90th. year of her age, who has been passing the winter here with the manuscript papers of her eminent husband for sale to Congress—encouraged by their purchase of those of Washington and of Madison— Johnson introduced me to her— She said she had known my father and mother— After dinner at St. John’s Church Mr Pyne read the Evening service, and for the 4th. Sunday in Lent, and preached a second Sermon upon the text from Acts 16.30. “What must I do to be saved?[”] An elaborate, ingenis, earnest, close, argument for the indispensable necessity of a saviour, for man conscious of sin, and of his utter inability to save himself— Odi et arceo— It cannot be, the more this doctrine is pressed upon me, the more my soul stiffens against it. I rely upon the mercy of God.