John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

24. VI: Mr Cushman of Maine called this morning at my house, and spoke of the appointment of a District judge of the United States, in Maine, in the place of Albion K. Parris, elected Governor of the State. Cushman is for Whitman, a member of Congress from the State; besides whom the Candidates are Ashur Ware, a Mr Ames, and Williamson, also a member of Congress from the State— Cushman said Williamson would call upon me to-morrow morning.— At the Office, I had a visit from Dr. Glendy, who in the course of half an hour’s Conversation gave me a history of his adventures in this Country, since his arrival here from Ireland, in 1799. particularly his relations with Mr Jefferson, to whom he had brought Letters of recommendation. I dined with the Russian Minister, Poletica, it being the Emperor Alexander’s birth-day— About 25 in company, heads of Departments, and the Corps Diplomatique— The dinner was rather dull— Mr Canning came late, and Mr Baker, the British Consul General who was with him, on entering the Parlour; went up and spoke to the Baron Hyde de Neuville, who immediately went with him out of the Room. When dinner was announced, on passing into the dining Hall, we found Mr De Neuville, and Baker were there— Hyde and Canning neither spoke to nor looked at each other— Mr Poletica, asked me for the toast as usual, upon which I gave the Emperor Alexander, and the cause of the Cross: which he returned by toasting the President of the United States, and the cause of Peace, as long as possible— None of the other usual toasts in honour of the holy allies were given; we were a very short time at table, and the company retired almost immediately after dinner. The President of the Senate Gaillard, and the Speaker of the House P. P. Barbour were of the Company. I asked Stackelberg the Swedish Chargé d’Affaires, whether he had seen the quarrel between Hyde de Neuville, and Canning, in the Entrance Hall, at the President’s— He had seen it all; and twice interposed between them— I asked him what they had said? He answered he did not know—by which he merely meant to decline telling what they had said— Poletica was a little more communicative— He said that the quarrel had long been brewing— That one of its principal recent causes, was a Letter of Sir George Collier’s, lately published in all the Newspapers, and containing severe reflections upon the French Government, as still suffering the Slave-trade to be carried on under their flag. Mr De Neuville had been much hurt at this Letter, and Canning had indulged himself in some sarcastic remarks upon it— At the Ball given by De Neuville last week in honour of the Duchess of Angouleme’s birth-day, Mr Canning went away before supper; De Neuville, spoke of this to Canning, while sitting at table at the President’s; and expressed his regret at the circumstance— Canning it seems answered that there were places where he took pleasure in staying, and others where attendance was mere compliance with forms— De Neuville was much offended at this, but said nothing more at table. They left the Drawing-room after dinner, nearly at the same time; and before the Carriage of either of them had arrived— While in the entrance-hall De Neuville took Canning aside, to ask explanation of what he had said at table; but instead of being satisfied with his answer, was more incensed by it— The irritation increased on both sides, until De Neuville, raising his voice, said “oui Monsieur, je vous la repete en présence de tout le Corps Diplomatique, que la franchise et la politesse sont des qualités éminemment Françaises[”]— Poletica did not say what was Canning’s answer; but the fact was that before they parted there was menace of personal violence between them on the spot— By De Neuville with the clenched hand; by Canning, in laying his hand upon his sword— Poletica says that De Neuville was wrong in breaking out, there, and that he is now sensible of it— But he says the original wrong was in Canning, who is apt to 189make sarcastic remarks. There has been some correspondence between them, since Friday, but apparently no adjustment of the difference between them hitherto. Mrs Adams was rather better this day; we had an oyster supper at home—