John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

343

21. IV:15. Sun rose clear.

Holbrook. Dr Smith— William Cutler. Revd Davis— John Davis— Isaac P.

Mr Quincy called this Morning, and took my Son George with him to Boston— George returned in the afternoon and brought out Michaux’s North American Sylva, with Dr Bigelow’s Medical Botany and his Plants of Boston, all which he had borrowed of the Doctor himself— Abigail S. Adams has painted for me leaves of the Scrub Oak which I found on the Bunker Hill Ledge, and which I took for the Bear Oak of Michaux. I still think it so, although the form of the leaf differs from that in the plate of Michaux. Vol 1. p. 82 or 99— Dr. Holbrook, who as a physician attended my father, gave me some particulars of his last days. He retained his faculties till life itself failed. On Saturday the first of this Month he had rode down to Mr Quincy’s, and after his return dined below—on Sunday he was much distressed by his cough, but neither then, nor on Monday kept his bed— My brother that day went to Boston— Mrs S. B. Clarke, my brother Charles’s daughter on Monday asked my father, whether she should write to me— He said at first “no—why trouble my Son”—but after a momentary pause, said yes; write to him— She wrote accordingly— In the Night of Monday, he suffered much— On Tuesday Morning, an express was sent for my Son George, who was at Boston attending on the celebration of the day— He came out immediately was here between Noon and One— He was recognized by my father, who made an effort to speak to him, but without success— George received his expiring breath between five and six in the afternoon— He had in the morning been removed from one bed to another and then back— Mrs Clarke said to him that it was the 4th of July, the 50th. Anniversary of Independence— He answered— “It is a great day— It is a good day.”— About one afternoon he said “Thomas Jefferson survives,” but the last word was indistinctly and imperfectly uttered. He spoke no more— He had sent as a toast to the celebration at Quincy—“Independence forever.”— Dr Holbrook said his death was the mere cessation of the functions of Nature by old age—without disease— W. Smith is the brother of Mrs Ch. Miller— Mr Cutler the Episcopal Clergyman of this place— Judge Davis and his brother came out this afternoon from Boston.— I bathed before dinner at the lower wharf, but the water chafes and inflames my skin so that I must suspend my baths, at least for two days— In the Evening I walked alone, to Mr John Greenleaf’s, and afterwards called at Mr Marston’s— Met at both places Miss Elizabeth Apthorp, and William, Son of the late G. W. Apthorp, who is a Student in the Freshman Class at Cambridge— Judge Davis promised me some Acorns of English Oaks.