24 June 1838
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Religion Smithsonian Institution Health and Illness
535

24. V:15 Sunday

Mrs Frye Campbell Archibald

Attended at St. John’s Church— Mr Hawley read the morning service for the 3d. Sunday after Trinity by mistake for the 2d. A Stranger preached from John 11.40. “Jesus saith unto her, said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” a well written, and affecting discourse upon that transcendently wonderful miracle; the raising of Lazarus from the dead.—of which event the preacher gave a narrative with commentary as he went along; dwelling emphatically upon the fact that it was performed at the petition of a woman— I spoke to President Van Buren, and asked half an hour’s conversation with him at 6. O’Clock this evening to which he acceded— Mrs Frye was here after morning church but would not stay— A. Campbell dined with us. After dinner heard Mr Hawley read prayers for the 2d. Sunday after Trinity, and preach from 1. Peter. 1.18. “For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”— The atonement. Immediately after Church I went to the Presidents, and putting into his hand the Letter which I have received in duplicate from R. Rush, of 15. May requested him to read it— I then had a conversation of nearly two hours with him upon the Smithsonian bequest—referring to my report; and intreating him to have a plan prepared to recommend to Congress for the foundation of the Institution, at the commencement of the next Session of Congress.— I suggested to him the establishment of an Astronomical observatory—with a Salary for an Astronomer and Assistant—for nightly observations and periodical publication— Then annual courses of Lectures, upon the natural moral and political Sciences— And above all no jobbing— No Sinecures—No Monkish Stalls for lazy idlers— Mr Van Buren received all this with complacency, and apparent concurrence of opinion— Said he would look into my report— Wished me at leisure to name any persons who I thought might be usefully consulted— Appeared very favourably disposed to the Establishment of an Observatory, and willing to do right— I urged upon him the deep responsibility of the Nation to the world, and to all posterity worthily to fulfil the great object of the Testator— I only lament my inability to communicate half the solicitude, with which my heart is on this subject full; and the sluggishness with which I shall fail properly to pursue it. If I can but remember, to write upon it to L. Cass and T. Aspinwall—and to converse upon it with Edward Everett, and the Winthrop’s— Judge Nathaniel Pope paid us an evening visit— Dr Thomas was here to see Mary’s daughter Fanny whose health droops under the intense heat of the Season— Dr Huntt left the City last Wednesday, to seek relief and restoration if possible at the Virginia Sulphur Springs.

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