In April, 1828, John Adams, the secretary and messenger of John Quincy Adams, was charged with the delivery of a Message to each House of Congress. Whilst passing from the Hall of Representatives, after delivering his Message to that body, to the Senate Chamber, he was waylaid and assaulted in the rotunda by Russell Jarvis in the presence of a Member of the House, who interposed and separated the parties. The President notified the Senate of the assault; but, though a resolution was introduced declaring it a contempt, that body adjourned sine die without taking action.