John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

25. IV. Saturday.

West. Davis Isaac P. Amory Nathaniel. Everett. Alexander H. Bailey John

Planted in the Nursery a Row from West to East in the line of the young Elm. 13 Cap white Oak Acorns, all sprouted. Horse Chesnuts, Apple seeds, Ashpods, Cherries, Peaches, Plum stones—Pear Cores, Buttons and 2 berries of the Unknown— Morning visit from Mr West, the exhibiter of his father’s Picture of Christ rejected. Nathaniel Amory, Isaac P. Davis and Alexander H. Everett— Much conversation upon the recent French Revolution, the hereditary monarchy, exclusively in the male line; and the proposed abolition of the hereditary house of Peers— Unquiet times in prospect, for France and for all Europe— Mr Davis invited me to dine with him next Saturday; and said he would ask his brother the Judge to meet me— I accepted his invitation— Rode after dinner with Mrs Adams to Braintree— Visit afterwards from Mr Bailey, who is yet undetermined whether to decline a re-election to Congress from the Norfolk District or not— He had expected that General Dearborn would be elected in his place; but he now believed the General was not heartily enough Anti-masonic to carry the Election— Mr Mann will also be one of the prominent Candidates, and there were some doubts of the correctness of his principles— Mr Bailey spoke of the nomination which first appeared in the Boston Courier of me, to represent the Plymouth District in the next Congress. Where and with whom, and in what motive this project originated is yet a mystery; but it has taken root in the District, and I received this morning the Hingham Gazette of yesterday, in which my name is proposed in an Editorial Article and in two Communications— Mr Bailey said he had been asked by several persons whether I would accept the Office if elected; and enquired whether he might answer that question if again put to him as it certainly would be— I said I could not answer it myself— To say that I would accept, would be so near to asking for a vote, that I did not feel disposed to go so far— I wished the People to act spontaneously; at their own discretion. If they 551should elect me, whether I could serve them might depend upon circumstances. The meeting of the Congress would not be till December of the next year. What the state of things might then be I could not foresee. If I should finally decline, I would give notice of it to the People of the District in Season to enable them to agree upon another person, to take the place as effectually as they could now— Mr Bailey said there was no prospect that they could now agree upon a Candidate, or that a choice would be effected, if I should decline— My son John’s eldest child Louisa, was unwell yesterday and more so all this day. I finished reading Cicero de Legibus.