- Bogan John A
- Abbott
Chilly rain all the morning— I had a very bad night and feel as if my
Constitution was breaking up. I received two days since a Letter from a
Stranger advising me now to retire from the world, the only reason for
my postponing which is that I cannot afford it. There is another which I
should have much trouble to overcome, but which I would encounter— That
is the vacuity of occupation, in which I could take an interest— More
than 60 years of incessant active intercourse with the world has made
political movement to me as much a necessary of life as atmospheric air—
This is the weakness of my nature, which I have intellect enough left to
perceive, but not energy to controul— And thus while a remnant of
physical power is left me to write and speak, the world will retire from
me before I shall retire from the world— Mr Bogan was here again this
Morning to ask for his petition, which I had looked up, and had ready to
give him. He asked if it could be presented at the extra Session of
Congress— I said I could offer to present it; though I could not promise
that the house would receive it. He desired me then to keep it, and I
concluded to speak to the Secretary of the
Treasury upon the whole subject of the employment of work
men on the public buildings— But I was compelled to postpone my visits
to the Departments of State and of the Treasury— Mr Abbott was here and I agreed
with him to deliver a Lecture to-morrow evening, at Dr Laurie’s
Church at 1/2 past 7—a tax that has become perfectly odious to me. He
asked me if I should have any objection to their taking up a collection
after the Lecture— I said no, provided it was understood that no part of
it was to come to me— They want the money for contributions to their
library— I went to the City Hall to enquire at the Registrar’s Office,
for the registry of Drady Ann
Whitlow a free mulatto woman who is living with us as
Cook; but her name could not be found on the register— She has a
mutilated certificate from Charles County Maryland, from which the name
of the certifying clerk is torn off; and she is now liable to be taken
up and sold every day of the year for want of papers. I went next to the
Capitol, and enquired at the Office of the Secretary of the Senate for a Document written by
Mr
Leavitt and ordered by the Senate to be printed— Mr Leavitt had written to me requesting me to
procure a copy, or copies of it for him— But it is not yet printed— At
the Office of the Clerk of the
House, I received two sheets of the journal drawing to the
close of the Session— The sky cleared up towards evening and I walked
round the President’s Square— The filing, assorting and answering my
budget of Letters in arrear proceeds sluggishly absorbing precious time,
and heaping Pelion upon Ossa for future struggles never to be
successful— I received this Evening a long Letter from my Son, with much heraldry from a man
named Grace, at the Havana—