13. IV:30. Friday. Boat-Bath. Swam 22 minutes— Garden
visit.
- Johnson. Ariana F.
- Todsen— George P.
- Borland
- Roberdeau— Isaac
- Montandon
- Hunter
- Reynolds
- Derrick William S
- Wyer Edward
- Fillebrown Thomas
- Watts Beaufort T
Finding it necessary to intermit my morning ride, I took a Boat-bath in
the Potowmack, and swam 22 minutes with less fatigue than I had suffered
on Monday with fifteen— Visited the Garden on returning from the bath—
The Nursery before and the Yard after dinner— In the Eastern Seminary,
the tallest of my plumtrees is 2 feet high. The Peach trees 22 inches.
The Apple 14 inches— One of the Coffee kernels is bursting into a green
leaf— In the Southern Seminary, the wild Cherry trees, Althaea’s and
Catalpa’s of last year flourish luxuriantly— The Cherry trees, are some
of them three feet high— The walnut trees of the last year spend their
vigour in lateral twigs, and broad foliage— The main stem not rising at
all— I see in the Nursery one new unknown plant, and a very small shoot
opens in Seedling box N. 4. in the house— There are still 20 unpromising
Oaks in the yard—perhaps as many have been trampled down by the Cattle.
Mrs.
Johnson came to solicit my influence with the Secretary of the Navy, to obtain a
Clerkship in that Department now vacant— Dr Todsen came to thank
me for the appointment of physician to the Indian travelling deputation,
and to claim some additional compensation for his expedition to the
African Colony. He left a paper with me to that effect, but I told him
he must apply to the Secretary of the Navy— Coll.
Roberdeau called with Mr Montandon, and are to come
again at ten to-morrow. Borland the Carpenter had been here, and could not be
ready 574with the plank before to-morrow— Mr Hunter brought me
from the Commissioner of the Public Buildings, Elgar, an abstract of the Act of
Congress of 5 July 1812. authorizing the President of the United States,
to lease the reserved Lands in the City of Washington, for a term not
exceeding ten years, to improve the grounds for public walks, botanic
gardens or other public purposes— I told Mr
Hunter, I should consider his School or Academy as a public purpose
within the purview of the Act, and would inform him of the Conditions of
the lease if he would call again next Monday— Mr
Reynolds the projector of an Expedition to the South Pole
was here— A Bill for that purpose was reported by the Naval Committee to
the House of Representatives at their last Session, but the House could
not reach it in Season— A Resolution of the House did pass however
recommending that one of the Public Vessels should be employed on an
exploring Expedition to the South-Sea— Reynolds says that a Merchant
brig, will be sent with her upon Speculation— Mr
Derrick brought me the draft of a Letter from Mr Clay, to
the British Minister Vaughan,
in answer to his application for Northeastern boundary documents which I
approved— Edward Wyer came
gossiping for an hour. Mr Fillebrown of the Navy
Department told me he had heard Thomas
Scott of the State of Ohio, was an applicant for an
Office—and he came to tell me that this Scott was a swindler, and had
bilked his bail in this City of whom Fillebrown himself was one— I told
him I should not be in haste to confer an Office upon Mr Scott— He shewed me a Letter from the
Postmaster at
Chillicothe, informing him that Scott had not taken from the Office,
Fillebrown’s Letter to him, calling upon him to justify his bail—
Mr
Watts now Secretary to the Legation at St. Petersburg, came to thank me for the
appointment, and to take leave— Going to-morrow to embark at New-York— I
returned him the Medals he had left with me. I signed Blank Patents 46
single, 20 double and 20 for foreigners. Also 5 Commissions. Reading
Evelyn’s Silva.
