John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

331

9. IV.— Sun rose 4:39— Washington— Baltimore— Frenchtown.

At 5 this morning I left Washington, with my Son John, in my own Carriage with four horses— Yesterday had been one of the hottest days of the Summer, and there was every prospect that this day would be not less so. A light easterly breeze however came up as the Sun rose, and continued through the day— The heat of the Sun was however intense— My Servant William Pote was sent with our trunks of heavy baggage in the Stage— We stopp’d half an hour between seven and eight at Ross’s tavern; and reached Merrill’s at Waterloo, where we breakfasted, before eleven— Mr Merrill told me that he had come this morning out from Baltimore, and was informed there that my father died on the fourth of this Month, about five o’clock in the afternoon. From the Letters which I had yesterday received this event was so much expected by me, that it had no sudden and violent effect on my feelings— My father had nearly closed the ninety-first year of his life: A life illustrious in the Annals of his Country, and of the World— He had served to great and useful purpose his Nation, his Age, and his God— He is gone, and may the blessing of Almighty Grace have attended him to his Account— I say not, may my last End be like his! it were presumptuous— The time, the manner, the coincidence with the decease of Jefferson, are visible and palpable marks of divine favour, for which I would humble myself in grateful and silent adoration before the Ruler of the Universe— For myself all that I dare to ask is that I may live the remnant of my days in a manner worthy of him from whom I came, and at the appointed hour of my maker die as my father has died; in peace with God and man, sped to the regions of futurity with the blessings of my fellow men— We proceeded on to Baltimore, and dined at Barnum’s tavern— I wrote a short Letter to my wife to be taken by the Coachman, who returns with the Carriage and Horses to Washington— At Baltimore I saw the New-York Evening-Post of Friday the 7th. containing a hand-bill of the 5th. issued from the Courier Office at Boston; with an Account of the proceedings of the Governor and Council of Massachusetts, and of the City Authorities of Boston, upon the decease of my father— Coll. Bentalou the U.S. Marshal called upon me and accompanied me to the Steam-boat Constitution Captain Thomas— We left the wharf at 5 in the afternoon, with a bright and fervent Sun;—and a very gentle breeze. Passengers in the boat few. I slept from 8 in the Evening till we arrived at Frenchtown at Midnight: There I took a Stage to Newcastle.