Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2

453 6. JQA

1788-09-06

6. Adams, John Quincy

Saltmarsh. Read. Mr. Cranch's.

Sunday September 7th. 1788. JQA

1788-09-07

Sunday September 7th. 1788. Adams, John Quincy

Sunday September 7th. 1788.

The Marquis to Sainneville, commander of the french Squadron now in the harbour, and the Chevalier Maccarty de Martegues captain of the Achille, dined here to day. Several other officers were detained by the badness of the weather.1

In his line-a-day entry, JQA mentions “Meeting, forenoon” (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 16).

8. JQA

1788-09-08

8. Adams, John Quincy

Company afternoon. Angier.

9. JQA

1788-09-09

9. Adams, John Quincy

Went over to Milton.

Wednesday September 10th. JQA

1788-09-10

Wednesday September 10th. Adams, John Quincy

Wednesday September 10th.

The Governor with the Captains of the french vessells, the french Consul, and some other gentlemen dined with us.

11. JQA

1788-09-11

11. Adams, John Quincy

11.

Mrs. Smith and Louisa. W. Cranch.

Friday September 12th. JQA

1788-09-12

Friday September 12th. Adams, John Quincy

Friday September 12th.

I left Braintree to return to Newbury-Port. Found Bridge in Boston. Dined at Mr. Smith's. We left Boston at about five o'clock and rode ten miles; to Newhall's tavern; where we lodge.

Saturday Septr. 12th. [i.e. 13th]. JQA

1788-09-13

Saturday Septr. 12th. [i.e. 13th]. Adams, John Quincy

Saturday Septr. 12th. i.e. 13th.

Breakfasted in Salem: saw Amory and Learned. Dined at Ipswich. We got to Newbury-Port, at about five. We lodge this night at Mrs. Hooper's.

Sunday Septr. 13th. [i.e. 14th]. JQA

1788-09-14

Sunday Septr. 13th. [i.e. 14th]. Adams, John Quincy

Sunday Septr. 13th. i.e. 14th.

I did not sleep a wink the whole night. My nerves are in a very disagreeable state of irritation. I attended meeting all day at Dr. 454Tucker's, with Bridge. I called in the evening at Mr. N. Carter's, and at Mr. Tufts's to deliver letters. At Mr. Tufts's I saw Mr. Shaw, who, I find preached for Mr. Andrews this day. I retired early, and went to bed, but could get no sleep. After laying about three hours, I got up and went over to Dr. Swett, and requested him to supply me with an opiate, which he did; it gradually composed my nerves, and gave me a few hours of sleep.1

This is the first of several references during the fall of 1788 to JQA's uncertain state of health. David Musto has argued that he was in a depressed state of mind, owing to the pressure that his family was placing on him to distinguish himself (to perpetuate the “family myth”) and to his own worries about his future in an overcrowded legal profession. Musto's explanation for the resolution of these difficulties, which apparently occurred only months later, is largely undocumented (“The Youth of John Quincy Adams,” Amer. Philos. Soc., Procs. , 113:269–282 [Aug. 1969]).