John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

26. X.— I rose about ten, this Morning, and the Doctor, who soon afterwards came, thought the inflammation of my eye had considerably subsided since yesterday, and hoped it would pass off without making the application of the leaches or of a blister necessary. But the latter part of his day, the inflammation returned with double violence— The pain became intensely severe, and almost without interval. The physic the foot-bath and the elder flower tea were repeated, and the abstinence continued apparently without effect I suffered so much that I could not even listen to my wife’s reading.— After George came home from School, we sent him to London, to procure a Candlestick with a shade— He brought one out, but it was not prepared with the green silk, and otherwise did not suit. We determined to change it for another— A pair of branches— Mr Grubb sent me out a Note from Mr Coffin, giving notice of his intention to go in a few days, for Liverpool and the United States, and offering to take Letters— Also a Letter from Mr Shaler, at Algiers, dated 28 July, giving an Account of the Peace lately made there by him and Commodore Decatur, and some good information concerning that Country. The Letter was forwarded by Messrs: Baring Brothers— Also a Card from Mr Chester, who had been at the Office in Charles Street, with information that the Queen was to hold a drawing room this day, and would then receive me. The drawing Room is on account of the two Austrian Archdukes John and Lewis, who have just arrived in England, where they are to pass several Months; and also for the reception of the new Austrian Ambassador, Prince Esterhazy who has arrived with the Princes— Mr Grubb informed Mr Chester of the illness, which rendered it impossible for me to attend upon the Queen this day, of which Mr Chester promised to make his Report to Her Majesty. Mr Chester enquired if I had received from Mr Neumann, the Austrian Chargé d’Affairs, a notification that the Archdukes would this day receive the foreign Ministers— I had not, and if I had, must have made the same excuse as, to the Queen. When George returned from town, Mr Grubb sent me by him two Notes just received from Lord Bathurst— The first dated on the 20th: inst. unsigned, and relating to the Petition of Millard— He states that it had been found upon due enquiry that the crime of which the Prisoner was convicted was of such a Nature that Lord Sidmouth could not consistently with his public Duty, advise the Prince Regent to extend the Royal Mercy to the said Millard.— The second Note is dated on the 25th: instant—is signed, and contains an elaborate answer of eighteen folio pages to the remonstrances made by the Secretary of State, Mr Monroe, and renewed by me here, against the carrying away of Negro Slaves, by the British Admirals, in violation of the first Article of the Treaty of Ghent. It is a positive and peremptory refusal of all satisfaction. I can reply nothing to it now; and probably shall not reply without fresh instructions from the Secretary of State.