John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. V: I omitted this day my usual attendance at the Office. Dr: Freeman of Boston called, but I could not see him. took a solitary walk of near two hours, before dinner; and spent the remainder of the day, and the Evening at home. I expected with some anxiety by the Mail, Letters from Quincy; but was disappointed— None came— Alas! what could they have told me?— If there is existence and retribution beyond the grave, my Mother is happy— But if Virtue alone is happiness below, never was existence upon Earth more blessed than hers— She was married on the 25th. of October 1764. at the age of twenty, and had five children; three sons and two daughters— Two only of the Sons have survived her— Never have I known another human being, the perpetual object of whose life, was so unremittingly to do good— It was a necessity of her nature— Yet so unostentatious, so unconscious even of her own excellence, that even the objects of her kindness, often knew not whence it came. She had seen the world—its glories without being dazzled; its vices and follies without being infected by them— She had suffered often and severely, from fits of long and painful sickness, always with calmness and resignation— She had a profound but not an obtrusive sensibility— She was always cheerful; never frivolous. she had neither gall nor guile. Her attention to the domestic economy of her family was unrivalled— Rising with the dawn, and superintending the household concerns with indefatigable, and all-foreseeing care. She had a warm and lively relish for literature; for social conversation; for whatever was interesting in the occurrences of the time, and even in political affairs— She had been during the war of our Revolution, an ardent patriot, and the earliest lesson of unbounded devotion to the cause of their Country that her children received, was from her. She had the most delicate sense of propriety of conduct—but nothing uncharitable—nothing bitter— Her price was indeed above rubies— But oh! my father! my aged and ever-venerated father! what solace is now left that can attach him to life?— Merciful God, be thou his stay and his staff; and in thy sovereign goodness provide for him consolations, such as this world cannot give— It is for him, and to hear from him that my anxiety now bears upon my mind— I received this day a large budget of despatches from an Agent in South-America, named Worthington, who has been swelling upon his agency, until he has broken out into a self accredited Plenipotentiary; and the long expected Report from C. A. Rodney, one of the late Commissioners to South-America. Graham has declined signing it, and is to make some additional remarks of his own. Rodney’s Report, is that of an enthusiastic partizan of the South-American Cause, but communicating scarcely any information additional to that which was already known— It consists of a very superficial historical 433review of the South-American Revolution; and an apologetic eulogium upon the present Government of Buenos-Ayres. Graham admires them much less; and Bland holds them in abhorrence and contempt— Johnson Hellen left us this day; and sets out next Thursday upon his return to Princeton College, where he is in the junior Class. My wife was taken unwell with the swelling, and inflammation in her ear and head, with which she has so often and so much suffered.