Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1
1786-01-29
Mr. Allen preach'd here to day. In the morning from Matthew VI. 33. But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. I liked
the Sermon well enough, all but this Sentence. The antecedent to 396which the pronoun relative his here
refers, is God. Surely those of the hearers who had studied
Grammar, were not to be told this, and those who had not were probably ignorant of the
meaning affixed to the words, antecedent, and pronoun relative. I thought, his prayer was exceeding good. His
afternoon discourse was from John XIV: 27: Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you. He seems to be fond of grammatical disquisitions,
and talk'd about Synonimous terms, excepting that I was pleased with his speaking.
Very moderate weather, and exceeding fine; more adapted to the month of April, than to the present Season.
1786-01-30
Rain'd almost all day. Finish'd the first Book of Homer's Iliad, which is far more entertaining than the Cyropaedia; there is a vast deal of simplicity in the Poetry, but at the same time great dignity, and so much Nature, that it is not without Reason, that an English Poet has said of him,
I began in the evening a Letter to my Sister.2
JQA was undoubtedly thinking of the following lines from Pope:
“Nature and Homer were, he [Virgil] found, the same.
Convinc'd amaz'd, he checks the bold design:
And rules as strict his labour'd work confine,
As if the Stagirite o'erlook'd each line.
Learn hence for ancient rules a just esteem;
To copy nature is to copy them.”
(“An Essay on Criticism,” lines 135–140).
Letter not found.
1786-01-31
Began upon the 4th Book of the Cyropaedia. The wind at about noon, shifted to the North West, and grew cold very fast. Assembly Night, and as all the young folks in town were there, I staid at home. Nancy return'd at 12. o'clock from the Assembly.
Finished the Satires.
About 2 months longer, will put an end to my Residence here, and I shall then rejoice for more than one Reason.