Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2

17th.

19th.

291 18th. JQA

1787-09-18

18th. Adams, John Quincy
18th.

We had some more writing to do this forenoon. Mr. Parsons, went to Exeter, where the supreme court for the State of NewHampshire are now sitting. At 12 o'clock, I attended Townsend before Mr. Justice Tracy. One M'Intier had prosecuted a Sarah Bayley for defamation in saying that he was a thief. The parties could not agree: they had not their evidence ready, and the court was adjourned till three o'clock. Townsend and I dined with his worship: Mrs. Tracy is an agreeable woman: still handsome; but with her share of Vanity: at three o'clock the Court was again opened: the parties had agreed to compromise the matter, and Bayley is to pay the costs: neither of them I believe could be easily defamed, but had the case been tried I suspect the plaintiff would have recovered damages. After this weighty affair was brought to a conclusion, I took a walk with the Squire and Townsend, about 3 miles out of Town to one Sohier's; where we eat a couple of fine musk-melons; it was dark before we got back to Mr. Tracy's. We stopp'd there, and play'd backgammon, about two hours; after which Townsend and I returned to our homes.