Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2
The day was spent like the preceding ones. There was some company here in the afternoon.1 I give as much of the little lei-421sure time I have, as I can conveniently to some lectures upon History and general Policy a new publication of Dr. Priestley,2 whose literary powers may be truly called athletic. There are several other late performances, which I am desirous of reading, but more particularly Mr. Gibbon's continuation of his History of the decline and fall of the roman Empire: which is not however, yet completed.3
JQA adds, in his line-a-day entry, “Folks from my uncle's” (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 16).
Joseph Priestley, Lectures on History, and General Policy; To Which is Prefixed, An Essay on a Course of Liberal Education for Civil and Active Life, Birmingham, England, 1788 (MQA).
The final three volumes were published in 1788 (
DNB
).