Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2
1788-08-09
Thompson went to see Miss Roberts at Newtown. I cannot read with so much satisfaction for some days past, as I usually do, as my eyes are very troublesome. Walk'd in the evening, but quite alone: I finished a day or two since, my performance for the 5th. of next month;1 and am now very closely engaged in a matter which has been accumulating upon me these two months.
According to JQA's draft copy of the Phi Beta Kappa speech, he had completed it on 6 Aug.