Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2

3d. JQA 3d. Adams, John Quincy
3d.

A Snow storm came on, in the afternoon, and continued in the night. We saw Mr. Ellery this evening at the professor's. Some-156thing further than the common sentiments of friendship, subsists between this gentleman and Miss Peggy. If his disposition be, but one half so amiable as her's, their union must be lasting, and productive of much happiness.1

Freeman and Forbes pass'd the evening at our chamber.

1.

Peggy Wigglesworth married John Andrews in 1789.

4th. JQA 4th. Adams, John Quincy
4th.

The wind was very high all the forenoon; and although the sky was clear, the drifting of the snow, has made it very disagreeable walking. We dined at the President's: he was more sociable than I have seen him before. Mrs. Willard and Mrs. Miller, are both very agreeable. The weather in the evening being fine, we walk'd down to Mr. Dana's, and pass'd two or three hours with them; Mrs. Dana, removed from our minds an impression unfavourable to Miss Foster.

Curst be the wretch, whose soul, to nature deaf, Views with indifference another's grief Without a sigh, afflictions voice can hear And even mock misfortune with a sneer! The human lot is misery and woe And evils, from unnumber'd sources flow. When dire misfortune with her baleful train, Oerwhelm a mortal with excessive pain, The kind emotions of a tender heart Command the sympathetic tear to start.
5th. JQA 5th. Adams, John Quincy
5th.

The occurrences of the day, were not remarkable. I did not study much. I have been reading Sheridans lectures upon elocution,1 and am pleased with them. They contain many usefull instructions, and ought to be perused by every person who wishes to appear as a speaker. His praises of the Greeks and Romans, may be warmed with the heat of enthusiasm, and his censure of modern Oratory is perhaps too severe: but every candid reader must acknowledge, that the contrast, which he shews, is but too well grounded.

We passed the evening with Forbes at his chamber.

157
1.

Thomas Sheridan, A Course of Lectures on Elocution..., London, 1762 (Harvard, Catalogus Bibliothecae, 1790, p. 149).