Title: [August 1783]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

      August. 6th. 1783. Wednesday.

       This morning, I set out from the Hague, in Company with my Father; at about half past 4. o’clock in the morning. At 7. we arrived at Rotterdam; passed the Maes Meuse, and rode as far as Moerdyk, where we arrived at about 12. We were obliged to stay till 4. o’clock, because the wind, and tide were both contrary. We arrived at about 11. o’clock at night at the last Post before Antwerp, and cannot go any further because the gates of the City are shut from 9. o’clock at night untill 4. in the morning. The Land from the Hague to Moerdyk is good; and is for the most part planted with wheat, oats, and horsebeans; but for the 5. last Leagues the Land is very bad and produces nothing at all.

      Aug. 7th. Thursday.

       We were going this morning at about 3. We arrived at 7. at Antwerp. After breakfast we went to the cathedral Church, to see the Paintings. The most remarkable of them are.
       1.
       The descent from the Cross, regarded as the master Piece of Rubens. It is indeed most admirable: every Figure looks alive except the capital one and that equally accurately represents nature. On one side of the Picture is, another representing the annunciation, and on the other, is one representing the Purification. On the reverse is St. Christopher fording a river in the figure of an Hercules with the Child Jesus upon his back, and a Hermit holding a Lantern to Light him. Rubens has painted one of his wive’s for the Virgin Mary, and his Daughter for Mary Magdalen.
       2.
       The Ascencion of the Virgin, Mary: which being placed over the Altar, and the Priests saying Mass, I could not get a good look at. It is also one of the best Paintings, of Rubens; according to the Connoisseurs.
       3.
       The Martyr of St. Sebastian who is tied to a tree and pierced with arrows, by an Italian painter named Cocci. It is a good Picture.
       4.
       The battle of the Angels by Francis Florus. This Picture is good, but is the most remarkable for an Anecdote upon it. The Painter had a Daughter, who was beloved by a Black smith called Quintus Mezzus who demanded her in Marriage, but he would not consent to his Daughter’s marrying a Black Smith and refused him. Upon this, Mezzus set out for Rome and stay’d there 7. years, to learn the art of Painting. When he return’d, Florus, was about, (and had nearly finish’d) this picture. Mezzus one day went into his Cabinet while he was out; and painted a bumble bee upon the thigh of one of the fallen Angels. When Florus return’d to his work, he was deceiv’d and attempted to knock off the bee. But when he saw his mistake and found that Mezzus had done it; he granted him his request, and gave him his daughter. There are a number of other Paintings in this Church, but none of them are extraordinary.
       From thence we went to the Eglise de St. Jacques, which is only remarkable for the tomb of Rubens, and his Family. There is in it a Picture by Rubens: in which he has represented, his Grand-Father; his Father, himself, his two wives, his two Daughters, and his son. The Picture is a very fine one.
       We went also to see several private Collections; Mr. Stevens’s, Mr. van Lancker’s, and Mr. Beckman’s. There are a great number of very fine Picture’s at all of them; but, there is one, at Mr. Beckman’s representing Rembrandt’s mother; painted by Rembrandt; which surpasses all description. The art of portrait Painting was perhaps, never carried to so great a Perfection as in this Picture. She is represented with an old bible in her Lap; with a paper in it, her Spectacles in one hand, and the other; upon her breast, reflecting upon what she is supposed to have just been reading. Every step you take the bible shows itself in a different position. It is nature itself.
       At about 2. we left Antwerp, to continue our Journey, we rode as far as Halle, which is two Posts from Bruxelles on the Road to Paris. We arrived at about 9 o’clock in the evening.

   Probably Virgin with Saints, painted ca. 1637 (Edward Dillon, Rubens, London, 1909, p. 211, but note also p. 68).

      Aug. 8th. Friday.

       This morning we set out from Halle at about 3 o’clock, and rode without interruption untill we arrived at Cambray at about 2 1/2 afternoon. We dined at Cambray, and after dinner we went to the Cathedral Church, and saw the tomb of François de Salignac de la Mothe, Fenelon; Archbishop, of Cambray, and author of Telemachus. At 4. we left Cambray and rode till 10, when we arrived at Roye where we put up for the Night.

   Fénelon, French prelate and author of Les aventures de Télémaque, fils d’Ulysse, first published in 1699; it was construed as a satire on Louis XIV and his policies and brought Fénelon into disfavor (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale)J. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols..

      Aug. 9th. Saturday

       We Left Roye this morning about 5. o’clock and rode as far as Chantilly without Interruption. We dined at Chantilly, and I went to see the Gardens and Stables of the Prince de Condé to whom this Place belongs. The Stables are a fine Piece of Architecture, and every thing is in order. There are 240. horses in them, and each horse has his own manger; with his name over it. Inside of the building is this Inscription.
       Louis Henri, de Bourbon. 7 me. Prince de Condé À fait Construire ces batimens, Et ceux qui en dependent, commencés en 1719, et achevés, en 1735.
       The Gardens are Superb; there is a small river which runs down from above the Gardens, and furnishes all the jet d’eau’s with water. There are in the Gardens several small, houses, which on the outside look like Peasants hut’s, but are most elegantly furnish’d, and are beautiful inside. There is an equestrian Statue of the Connetable de Montmarenci in bronze, and a marble Statue of the grand Condé. We left Chantilly at about 4. o’clock P.M. and arrived at Paris at about 7. o’clock in the evening. The Land as I have already said is very good thro’ Holland but is miserable from the entrance of the Emperor’s Dominions to Antwerp, for the Space of 10 leagues, from Antwerp, to several Posts this side of Cambray; there is perhaps not better Land, nor more universally cultivated, in Europe. From thence to Paris, it is still good, but not extraordinary. The Road is as Follows.
       From the Hague to Rotterdam. 3 Dutch, Hours which make about 12. English Miles.
       From Rotterdam (after passing the Maes) to Moerdyk 6. Hours.
       Passage of the Moerdyk about 3. English Miles.
       From Moerdyk to —— 3 Hours.
       From —— to —— 5.
       From —— to Antwerp. 5.

      Posts.

      From Antwerp to
      Mechlin
      2.

      Bruxelles.
      2
      1/2

      Halle.
      1
      1/2.

      From Halle to
      Braine le Comte
      2.

      Castillan Casteau
      1
      1/2

      Carignan Quaregnon
      1
      1/2

      Quievraing
      1
      1/2

      Valenciennes
      1
      1/2.

      Bouchain
      2.

      Cambray
      1
      1/2

      Bon-Avis Bonavy
      1
      1/2

      Fins
      1
      1/2

      Peronne
      2.

      Marché le Pot
      1
      1/2

      Fonches
      1.

      Roye
      1.

      Conchy les Pots
      1
      1/2

      Cuvilly
      1.

      Gournay
      1.

      Le Bois de Liheu
      1.

      Chantilly
      2.

      Luzarches
      1
      1/2.

      Ecouen
      1
      1/2.

      Saint Denys
      1.

      Paris
      1.
      Post Royal

   In Holland there are no establish’d Posts. If a Person wants horses, he must make a private agreement for them. In the Dominions of the Emperor you pay 3. schellings, (near 2. shillings sterling) for each horse per post and commonly 2. schellings to the Guide, and in France you pay 1. Livre 5. Sols. per post for each horse, and to the Postillions commonly 15. sols, altho’ their due is no more than 5.

   Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (1736–1818), later a strong supporter of the monarchy at the time of the French Revolution (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale;J. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols. Larousse, Grand dictionnaire universelPierre Larousse, Grand dictionnaire universel du XlXe siècle ..., Paris, [1865]; 15 vols, and supplements.).

   Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, afterward Prince de Condé (1692–1740), usually known as Monsieur le Duc, who served as French prime minister until 1726 (same).

   Henri I, Duc de Montmorency (1534–1614), whose family intermarried with the Condés, was created constable of France by Henry IV in 1593 (same).

   Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé(1621–1686), important 17th-century commander of the French army (same).

   Uur, a Dutch league, equivalent to the distance traveled in an hour. Two such measurements were in use in Holland at this time, one, “20000 anciens pieds d’Amsterdam,” or 3.5 English miles, and the other, “20000 pieds de Rhin,” the more likely unit, equal to 3.9 English miles (Horace Doursther, Dictionnaire universel des poids et mesures anciens et modernes, contenant des tables des monnaies de tous les pays, Brussels, 1840; repr., Amsterdam, 1965, p. 209–210).

   In the margin: “Here you enter the Emperor’s Dominions.”

   In the margin: “A Post is 6. English Miles.”

   In the margin: “Just before you come to Valenciennes you enter into the Dominions of the King of France.”

   In the margin:

             Post Royal

            “A l’entrée et a la sortie des lieux ou le Roi fait son sejour momentanément la premiere Poste se paye double: mais a compter seulement de l’heure Le minuit qui suit le jour ou le Roi est arrivé, et jusqu’à minuit aprés le jour qu’il est parti. (Ordonnance du 25. Juillet 1739.)
            A l’entrée et a la sortie des Villes de Paris, de Versailles et Lyon, Même pendant l’absence du Roi, la premiere post se paye double. (Ord: des 8. Dec: 1738 et 28 Nov. 1756.)
            Extracts from the Post Book.”

      Aug. 10th. Sunday.

       This morning, at about 10 o’clock, I accompanied my Father to Passy, to see Dr. Franklin whom I knew already, and Mr. Jay, the american Minister at Madrid, whom I had never seen before; they were at breakfast and had a great deal of Company. Mr. Jay and my Father took a walk in the Garden and had a Conversation upon politicks, which, is of no Necessity here. From thence we went to Auteuil; to see Mr. Barclay, the American ConsulGeneral in France, but found he was gone, and therefore we saw only Mr. Ridley. The House where they are is a very fine one; but, above all there is in it, one thing, which is very curious. It is a small octogonal room with a bath in the middle of it, and in every one of the eight corners of it is a Looking-glass. The cieling, is also made of a Looking-glass; so that a person can see himself in more than thirty different positions in it. The garden is a small and pretty one filled with fruit Trees; we took a walk in it. Mr. Ridley told me that Sammy Cooper Johonnot and Ben. Bache, two of my old schoolmates here had returned from Geneva, where they have been for some time, and that Sam Cooper is gone to Nantes.

   JQA probably means, as is hinted in the following entry, that at this time political discussions were of no interest to him.

   Thomas Barclay, a merchant from Philadelphia, American consul in France from 1781, and consul general there from 1783; he was also a partner in the firm of Barclay & Moylan at Lorient. Barclay also rented the Hôtel de Rouault at Auteuil, in which JA and JQA occupied an apartment, 22 Sept.–20 Oct., following the execution of the Definitive Treaty, and to which JA brought his family the following summer (entries for 22 Sept., 20 Oct., below; JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:143–144, 171; JCCWorthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, Washington, 1904-1937; 34 vols., 20:698; 24:3; Jefferson, PapersThe Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Julian P. Boyd and others, Princeton, 1950- ., 11:496; Howard C. Rice Jr., ed., The Adams Family in Auteuil, 1784–1785 . . ., MHS Picturebook, Boston, 1956).

   Matthew Ridley, a Maryland merchant and agent for the state appointed to obtain a loan in Europe (Herbert E. Klingelhofer, “Matthew Ridley’s Diary during the Peace Negotiations of 1782,” WMQWilliam and Mary Quarterly., 3d ser., 20:95–98 [Jan. 1963]).

      Aug. 11th. Monday.

       This morning Mr. Hartley the British Minister for making Peace, came to pay a visit to my Father, but as he was out he desired to see me. I had some Conversation with him. He says he hopes the Peace will be soon signed. In the afternoon I went with my Father to Passy, and saw there Dr. Franklin and Mr. and Mrs. Jay. I also renewed my acquaintance with young Mr. Bache.
       We went at the same time to see the Abbés Chalut and Arnauld two gentlemen of letters, with whom my Father has been familiarly acquainted ever since his first arrival in Europe. We found with them the Abbé de Mably, famous for being the author of a work entitled Le Droit public de l’Europe; and of another entitled principes des Negociations, and the Abbé le Monnierwho has given to the world an elegant French Translation of Terence’s Comedies. As the general Turn of the Conversation was upon Politicks; there was nothing in it, necessary to be transcribed here.

   David Hartley the younger (1732–1813), M.P. for Hull and opponent of the war with America, had been serving the Fox-North coalition since April as plenipotentiary to negotiate and sign the Definitive Treaty (DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.; JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 2:303; 3:112–113).

   The Abbés Chalut and Arnoux taught JA French and advised him on book purchases (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 2:317; 4:60).

   Gabriel Bonnot, Abbé de Mably, French publicist, historian, and philosopher, with the Abbés Chalut and Arnoux, was a regular visitor to the Adamses. The two works to which JQA refers, Des principes des négociations, pour servir d’introduction au droit public de l’Europe, fondé sur les traités, The Hague, 1767, and Le droit public de l’Europe, fondé sur les traités conclus jusqu’en l’année 1740 . . ., Amsterdam, 1748, are among JA’s books (Catalogue of JA’s LibraryCatalogue of the John Adams Library in the Public Library of the City of Boston, Boston, 1917.). For the significance of the JA-Mably friendship, see JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 2:315; 3:102, and the source cited there.

   Guillaume Antoine Lemonnier’s three-volume Comédies de Térence was published in Paris in 1770.

      Aug. 12th. Tuesday.

       This morning my Father went to Versailles. At half past 12. I met the Abbé Arnaud at the Thuileries, and we walk’d together to Passy. I dined at the Abbé Chalut’s there, in Company with the Abbé de Mably and some other Gentlemen. The Abbé has travelled thro’ Poland, and talk’d a good deal about that Country. For the Climate he says that for the first fortnight in November it commonly snows there continually, and from that time untill the latter end of February, a continuation of very severe, colds. He has seen Reaumur’s Thermometer at the degree of 28 below.0. This is quite different from the weather at Petersburg. There, it snows every day more or less from the middle of November to the middle of January, and then commonly they have 3. weeks or a month of extreme colds. I have seen Réaumur’s thermometer in Petersburg at 31. degrees below.0. He also said something upon the Constitution of Poland, upon the Slavery of the people, the Tyranny of the Nobles, and the humiliations the Kings of Poland are obliged to undergo, and yet he said the Ambition of every one of the nobles was to be King. As they might expect it, because the Kingdom was Elective, and that they seldom choose, a King out of the Family of the preceding one, he said that in Poland the nobility had the vanity of desiring to be King, as the nobility in France, had the vanity of wishing to be a Duke. He says also that they could not Live in Poland without the Jews. T’was they who carried on all the commerce. The Nobility were too proud to engage in Commerce, the Slaves could not; every thing that was done there in that way, was done by the Jews, As there were very few other foreigners, who would chuse to settle in that Country. In the evening as my Father return’d from Versailles to Paris, he stopp’d at the Abbés, and took me in his Carriage. Mr. Hartley came and paid a visit to my Father; but it was intirely Political.

      Aug. 15th. Friday.

       This day I dined at Passy at Dr. Franklin’s with a numerous Company. In the evening I went to the Comedy at the Bois de Boulogne. Beverlei and le Français a Londres were the plays represented. Beverlei is what the French call a Tragedie bourgeoise, as Barnwell in English. The Subject of it is, a Man addicted to gaming, who ruins himself by it, or rather is ruined by a villain who pretends to be his Friend; and at last puts an end to his Life by Poison. It was intended to set the passion of gaming in its worst Light but the execution has not answered its Purpose, for it seems to encourage, a still worse passion; I mean suicide. However that was not the author’s intention. His design was very Laudable. Le Français a Londres is a Farce, calculated to show the difference of the French and English Characters and the author has carried both to a pleasing extravagance. I met at the Comedy, Mr. de Chaumont, whom I had not seen since I returned to Paris. He asked me a great many Questions, about Sweeden, Russia, Denmark, and all the Countries thro’ which I have been.

   By Bernard Joseph Saurin, Paris, 1768 (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

   By Louis de Boissy, first performed in Paris in 1727 (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. généraleJ. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols.).

   The London Merchant: Or, The History of George Barnwell, London, 1731, by George Lillo.

   Jacques Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, strong French supporter of American independence, who speculated in contracts supplying the Continental army and outfitting the navy. He also was landlord of the Hôtel de Valentinois, where Franklin maintained his residence rent-free from 1776 until his return to America in 1785 (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 2:298).

      Aug. 16th. Saturday.

       Dined at Mr. Brantsen’s; the Dutch Ambassadors, with a great deal of Company. In the evening I went to the French Comedy; the pieces represented were Rhadamiste et Zenobie a Tragedy by Crebillon and Le Français a Londres. The author of the Tragedy is regarded as one of the best dramatick poets of France. His Tragedies are all very deep, indeed, they are so much so, that several of them miscarried at their first Representation, on that account. The French in general are not Lovers of Tragedy, and it is but lately, that they can bear any, which finishes with the Death of the Hero. The Denouement of this piece is a King, who discovers he has killed his own Son without knowing him. Rhadamistus is sent to the King of Iberia, as Ambassador from Rome, to complain to him; for his arming his People, and to tell him they suspect him. In the midst of his discourse to the King he says.

        Rome de tant d’apprets qui s’indigne et se lasse
        N’a point accoutumé les Rois à tant d’audace.

       When the actor pronounced those verses, they rose an universal applause; which lasted for some minutes.

   Gerard Brantsen, Dutch minister plenipotentiary to Paris, 1782–1787, who was appointed ambassador extraordinary plenipotentiary in 1782 to negotiate the terms of peace with Great Britain (Repertorium der diplomatischen Vertreter aller LänderRepertorium der diplomatischen Vertreter aller Lander seit dent Westfalischen Frieden (1648), ed. Ludwig Bittner and others, Oldenburg, &c, 1936-1965; 3 vols., p. 263; Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Washington, 1889; 6 vols., 5:665).

   Rhadamiste et Zénobie, Paris, 1711, was the chief work of Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

   Act II, scene ii, lines 7–8 (Crébillon, Oeuvres. Nouvelle édition . . ., 3 vols., Paris, 1772, 2:31, in JA’s library at MB).

      Aug. 20th. Wednesday.

       Dined at Passy with the Abbé de Chalut.

      Aug. 21st. Thursday.

       This day My Father had a great Company to dine with him.

   The occasion for the dinner party is not known.

      Aug. 22d. Friday.

       This forenoon at 11 o’clock, I went, in Company with My Lord Ancram, Mr. Stewart and my father to see the Academy of the Abbe L’epée, who has undertaken to teach, people born deaf and dumb, not only to converse with one another very fluently, but also, to read and write, and he has succeeded entirely. It is astonishing to see how fast and how easily they make themselves understood, to one another, and still, more so to see them write, whatever he pleases, by the signs he makes them; there is not a word in the French Language which he has not found some way of expressing, and making them understand. He does it all gratis and receives whoever chooses to come to his Lessons. When the present Emperor of Germany visited Paris this was what pleased him the most in the whole City. He sent afterwards his Picture set in Diamonds to the Abbé, and accompanied it with a Letter written with his own hand; praising this humane institution.
       I Dined at the Duke de la Vauguyon’s the French Ambassador at the Hague, here by Congé at present. In the Evening I went to the French Comedy, where were represented Le Philosophe sans le savoir, and La Maison de Campagne; The first piece seems to be very Confused; all I could make of it was, that it was Calculated to show the foolishness and the wickedness of the Custom of Duelling: which have been shown many and many a Time; but always without effect and will be always so: as long as the laws which subsist about Duelling, have force in this Country. A Person here who fights a Duel is condemned to Death, and if any body is provoked and refuses to fight he is regarded as infamous, and if in the Army, he is broke and declared incapable of serving the King. This is exposing every one who is insulted by a scoundrel to the cruel alternative of infamy or Death.

   William Kerr (1763–1824), Earl of Ancram; Dugald Stewart, Scottish philosopher and professor at the University of Edinburgh (The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant by G[eorge] E[dward] C[okayne], ed. Vicary Gibbs and others, London, 1910–1959, 8:154–155; Benjamin Vaughan to JA, 8 Aug., Adams Papers; DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).

   Charles Michel, Abbé de L’Epée, celebrated French philanthropist (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. généraleJ. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols.).

   Joseph II.

   On leave.

   Michel Jean Sedaine, Le philosophe sans le savoir, Paris, 1766, and Florent Carton Dancourt, La maison de campagne, Paris, 1691 (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.; Cioranescu, Bibliographie du dix-septième siècleAlexandre Cioranescu, Bibliographie de la littérature française du dix-huitième siècle, Paris, 1965.).

      Aug 23d. Saturday.

       This morning I went and paid a visit to the Baron de la Houze the Minister of France at the Court of Denmark, who is here at present by Congé, and whom I had the honour of seeing at Copenhagen. He talked to me a great deal about America. He said he believed that France, England and Holland would carry on the greatest part of our Commerce; that the Nations of the North wanted a number of our Commodities, but had nothing but ready money (and very little of that) to give us in return. He said he believed that the population of America was equal to that of Sweeden and Denmark together; that he had made a Calculation, and that those two Kingdoms did not contain more than four millions of souls, that Denmark would never be more peopled, while the present Constitution lasted, for the whole Nation consisted of the Nobility and the Serfs: and that Nothing could discourage Population more than personal Slavery, that Sweeden it was true was not in that State; that the Peasantry were free, but that both the Population and the Finances of that Country had been exhausted, by the ruinous Wars of Charles the 12th. and their Consequences which were still felt in Sweeden, but that the Commerce of that Kingdom was increasing every day, and that it promised soon to be in a flourishing Condition, and in that Case, the Population would also increase. He then Spoke of the Duties which ships were obliged to pay for the passage of the Sound, he said it was an unjust tribute which all Nations were obliged to pay to Denmark, and it was the fault of the other Nations that suffered it. I asked him, how Denmark came by it, rather than Sweeden, the coasts of which are on the opposite Side. He said that all those coasts belonged formerly to Denmark when this imposition began, by some Dutch Ships having paid voluntarily a duty; and Denmark made herself a right of it, and have obliged every ship that passes to pay the duty; and altho’ the province of Scania which forms the Coast on the other Side, has been since ceded to Sweeden still Denmark has kept up that right; besides, he said, there was another reason, which was that on the Sweedish side there were several sand banks, and the water was not deep enough for large vessells to pass over, so that they were obliged to pass very near the Danish side. He said it brought the King a revenue of about 6 millions of livres per annum: and that the expences of the fortress &c. mounted to about two millions.

      24.

       Comédie Italienne voyage de Rosine et Felix ou l’enfant trouvé.

   Pierre Antoine Augustin de Piis and Pierre Yves Barré, Les voyages de Rosine, Paris, 1783; Felix, ou l’enfant trouvé, Paris, 1777, by Michel Jean Sedaine, with music by Pierre Alexandre de Monsigny (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

      25.

       Comédie Italienne le bon ménage, et Blaise et Babet. Mr. T——r returned.

   Jean Pierre Claris de Florian, Le Bon ménage, ou, la suite des deux billets, Paris, 1783; Blaise et Babet, ou, la suite des trois fermiers, Paris, 1783, by Jacques Marie Boutet de Monvel, with music by Nicolas Dezède (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.; Larousse, Grand dictionnaire universelPierre Larousse, Grand dictionnaire universel du XlXe siècle ..., Paris, [1865]; 15 vols, and supplements.).

   John Thaxter had decided to visit London while JA was away from Paris in Holland and just shortly before his own return to the United States (John Thaxter to John Thaxter Sr., 28 July, MHi:Thaxter Papers; JQA to Samuel Cooper Johonnot, 25 Aug., CtY:Beinecke Library).

      Aug. 27th.

       This forenoon I went to see the Pictures which are exposed to view in the Gallery of the Louvre; there are some good paintings there amongst a great number of indifferent ones. After dinner I went to see the experiment, of the flying globe. A Mr. Montgolfier of late has discovered that, if one fills a ball with inflammable air, much lighter than common air, the ball of itself will go up to an immense height of itself. This was the first publick experiment of it, at Paris. A Subscription was opened some time agone and filled at once for making a globe; it was of taffeta glued together with gum, and lined with parchment: filled with inflammable air: it was of a spherical form; and was 14 foot size in Diameter. It was placed in the Champ de Mars. At 5. o’clock 2. great guns fired from the Ecole Militaire, were the signal given for its going, it rose at once, for some time perpendicular, and then slanted. The weather, was unluckily very Cloudy, so that in less than 2. minutes it was out of sight: it went up very regularly and with a great swiftness. As soon as it was out of sight, 2. more cannon were fired from the Ecole Militaire to announce it. This discovery is a very important one, and if it succeeds it may become very useful to mankind.

   The Montgolfier brothers, Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne, had made the first successful unmanned balloon flight on 5 June 1783 (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. généraleJ. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols.).

      Aug. 28th. Thursday.

       The Journal de Paris of this day, says a great deal about the flying globe. It speaks of it as follows.

        “L’experience ingenieuse que M. M. de Montgolfier ont fait à Annonay interesse assés pour qu’on ne soit pas surpris de l’empressement qu’on a mis à la repeter. A peine la souscription qui devoit en faciliter les moyens fut elle ouverte par M. Faujas de Saint Fond et deux ou trois de ses amis, que le Public s’empressa de la remplir. Des Princes, des Ministres, les Academies, les Gens de Lettres, les Artistes envoyerent leur souscription; et l’ardeur generale prouva que si l’on présentait plus souvent aux Francois des experiences utiles ou brillantes, on leur trouverait le zele qu’on vante chéz leurs rivaux.”
        “M. Faujas fut chargé par l’assemblée des premiers Souscripteurs de diriger l’operation. On doit rendre justice à l’activité, à l’intelligence, à la chaleur qu’il mit a repondre à leur confiance. Il imagina d’employer le taffetas enduit de gomme elastique et l’air inflammable. Le gaz et l’enveloppe dont s’etoient servi M. M. de Montgolfier n’etant pas connus, Mr. Faujas instruit que M. M. Robert, jeunes Mecaniciens du premier merite, possedaient le secret de dissoudre la gomme elastique, eut recours à leur talent, à leurs lumieres. Mr. Charles voulut bien se preter et contribuer aux diverses experiences qu’on fit chéz lui.
        Jusqu’alors on n’avoit observé l’air inflammable que dans les pistolets de Volta, dans des bouteilles de gomme elastique, dans des bulles de savon; il etait à craindre qu’un grand volume de matiere aussi subtile ne donnat des resultats dangereux. Il parut prudent de n’assembler le Public qu’aprés quelques essais: ils furent faits, et tranquiliserent.
        Le vingt trois, la machine s’eleva jusqu’au dessus des toits. L’affluence du peuple indiqua quelle serait sa curiosité le jour de l’experience. On craignit que les barrieres du terrain de M. M. Perrier ne fussent trop foibles: cette sage consideration fit preferer le Champ de Mars. La nuit du 25 au 26. M. M. Robert et Mr. Charles ont poussé le zele jusqu’à se charger de porter et de veiller eux mêmes la machine.
        L’operation indiquée a eu lieu hier a cinq heures précises. Une mêche allumée a donné le signal, et deux coups de canon ont annoncé au Public le moment de l’experience; Ils avoient aussi pour object d’avertir les Observateurs, placés a differentes stations. Aussitôt aprés le signal, le Globe s’est élevé, et au bout de quelques minutes il a disparu. Deux autres coups de canon ont annoncé ce dernier moment, Le nuage qui eclipsait le Globe s’est dissipé, on la vu de nouveau. Son petit volume apparent a fait juger qu’il etait à une hauteur considerable, et la circonstance du mauvais tems en aura sans doute rendu l’appreciation difficile. Des applaudissemens réitérés on êtê de nouvelles preuves de l’interet du Public. On prie les personnes qui trouveront cette machine d’en donner avis au Bureau de ce Journal et d’en constater l’etat autant qu’il sera possible.
        Toute la gloire de cette decouverte appartient à M. M. de Montgolfier; cette experience n’a été faite, que pour la constater. Les Souscripteurs se croiront trop heureux si leur exemple excite a servir les Sciences et les Arts, en facilitant des épreuves trop couteuses pour être faites par de simple particuliers.
        Des esprits paresseux fatiguent de cette question: A quoi tout cela mene ’t’il? On prendra la liberté d’ajouter à ce qu’on leur a deja repondu, que le Sage ne presente les calculs de son imagination qu’aprés les avoir appuyés d’experiences qu’on n’a eu ni le tems ni la facilité de faire à l’aide du Globe aérostratique.”

       The following verses were also in the Journal de Paris of this day.
       Sur le Globe Ascendant.

   Barthélemy Faujas de Saint Fond, geologist and traveler (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. généraleJ. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols.).

    Jacques Alexandre César Charles, physicist and aeronaut, who, with the Montgolfiers, tested a hydrogen-filled balloon at Champ de Mars on 2 Aug. and took part in manned experiments several months later (same).

   There follows a 62-line poem, omitted here, by Paul Philippe Gudin de la Brenellierie, dramatist, essayist, and occasional poet (same).

      Aug 29th. Friday.

       The Journal de Paris of this day, speaks as follows of the flying globe.

          “Nous venons d’apprendre que le Ballon, aprés avoir voyagé pendant trois quarts d’heure dans les regions de l’air et hors de la vue, est tombé à Gonesse, distant de Paris de quatres lieues; l’on y a reconnu une ouverture produite par l’explosion qui a dû se faire, lorsque ce Globe a atteint un air qui, lui opposant moins de resistance, a permis au gaz inflammable de réagir à son tour contre l’air atmosphérique. Cet accident ne seroit certainement pas arrivé, et l’on auroit eu le plaisir de jouir plus longtems de cette superbe experience et d’y appliquer les calculs, si l’on ne l’avait pas rempli d’une trop grande quantité de gaz. Plusieurs Savans Academiciens, et M. Faujas de S. Fond lui même etoient d’avis, avant l’operation de ne pas remplir le ballon en entier; mais une circonstance particuliere n’ayant pas permis à ces Messieurs dans l’enceinte, le ballon a été remplir sans combinaison et sans methode, et c’est ce qui a occasionné cet accident, qu’il serait injuste d’attribuer a M. Faujas de St. Fond, ni même à M. M. Robert. Lon doit dire aussi que le Public a été trés étonné de ce qu’on n’a pas admis dans cette même enceinte M. de Montgolfier que le voeu general y appellait, et que tout ce qu’il y a de plus illustre dans la Nation desiroit de voir.”

   In D/JQA/7 for this day, JQA has written: “Opéra Alexandre aux Indes et la Rosiere ballet,” references to Étienne Morel de Chefdeville’s Alexandre aux Indes, Paris, 1783, with music by Jean Nicholas Le Froid de Méreaux; and Maximilien Joseph Léopold Philippe Gardel, La rosière, Paris, 1783, which were performed that day at the Académie Royale de Music (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.; Journal de Paris, 29 Aug.).


Title: 4.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. Hartley’s.


Title: 7.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       C. Ital: Blaise et Babet, a la Clochette.


Title: 9.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Diné à Passi. C. Ital: Jeannot et Colin, l’heureuse Erreur et les Vendangeurs.


Title: 10.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Diné à Auteuil. Eclipse totale de la Lune.


Title: 11.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       C. Ital: Blaise et Babet et Isabelle et Gertrude.


Title: 13.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       C. Fr: Mercure galant et Partie de Chasse de Henri 4.


Title: 14.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Fete de S: Cloud. Diné entre là et Auteuil. M: T——r parti.


Title: 16.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Varietés Amusantes Foire St. Laurent.


Title: Monday Septr. 22th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       This morning (as my Father has been for some days very ill and the Country air being thought necessary for him) we removed from Paris to Auteuil at Mr. Barclay’s. The flying Globes are still much in Vogue: they have advertised a small one of eight inches diameter, at 6 livres a piece without air and 8 livres with it, but it has been carried so far that several accidents have happened to persons who have attempted to make inflammable air, which is a dangerous operation, so that government have prohibited them.


Title: 24.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Mme. Ridley accouchée.


Title: [September 1783]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

      September. 2d. 1783.

       Dined at Auteuil. French Comedy: le Joueur et le Retour imprévu.

   Jean François Regnard, Le joueur, Paris, 1697, and Le retour imprévu, Paris, 1700 (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.; Cioranescu, Bibliographic du dix-septième siècleAlexandre Cioranescu, Bibliographie de la littérature française du dix-huitième siècle, Paris, 1965.).

      3.

       Signature of the Definitive Treaty.

   Unable to make any appreciable progress with their negotiations since the signing of the Preliminary Treaty on 30 Nov. 1782, the British ministry and American commissioners finally accepted those preliminary articles, with some changes, at Hartley’s lodgings in the Hôtel d’York on this day (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:142; Richard B. Morris, The Peacemakers: The Great Powers and American Independence, N.Y., 1965, p. 461–465, 548, 552).

      4.

       Dined at Mr. Hartley’s.

      7.

       C. Ital: Blaise et Babet, a la Clochette.

   See entry for 25 Aug., note 1 (above).

   La clochette, Paris, 1766, by Louis Anseaume, with music by Egide Romuald Duni (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

      9.

       Diné à Passi. C. Ital: Jeannot et Colin, l’heureuse Erreur et les Vendangeurs.

   Florian, Jeannot et Colin, Paris, 1780; Joseph Patrat, L’heureuse erreur, Paris, 1783; Pierre Antoine Augustin de Piis and Pierre Yves Barré, Les vendangeurs, ou, les deux baillis, Paris, 1780 (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

      10.

       Diné à Auteuil. Eclipse totale de la Lune.

      11.

       C. Ital: Blaise et Babet et Isabelle et Gertrude.

   This was the third time JQA had seen this musical comedy in less than three weeks.

   Isabelle et Gertrude, ou, les sylphes supposés, Paris, 1765, by Charles Simon Favart, with music by Adolphe Blaise (Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

      13.

       C. Fr: Mercure galant et Partie de Chasse de Henri 4.

   Edme Boursault, Le mercure galant, ou, la comédie sans titre, Paris, 1679; Charles Collé, La partie de chasse de Henri IV, Paris, 1766 (Cioranescu, Bibliographie du dix-septième siècleAlexandre Cioranescu, Bibliographie de la littérature française du dix-huitième siècle, Paris, 1965.; Brenner, Bibliographical ListClarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789, Berkeley, 1947.).

      14.

       Fete de S: Cloud. Diné entre là et Auteuil. M: T——r parti.

   An annual festival held on the grounds of the royal palace of St. Cloud (Journal de Paris, 4 Sept. 1785).

   John Thaxter left for Philadelphia, carrying with him the Definitive Treaty with Great Britain, and the original Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Netherlands, the latter signed at The Hague on 8 Oct. 1782 (JA to Benjamin Rush, and to the President of Congress [Elias Boudinot], both 14 Sept., LbC, Adams Papers; Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, 8 vols., Washington, 1931–1948, 2:59–90).

      16.

       Varietés Amusantes Foire St. Laurent.

   An annual fair held from July to September (Jacques Antoine Dulaure, Histoire civile, physique et morale de Paris . . ., 10 vols., rev. and corr., Paris, 1825, 8:199–203; Almanach royal, 1783Almanach royal, année M.DCCLXXVHI [8cc.]. Présenté à sa majesté pour la première fois en 1699, Paris, no date., p. 628).

      Saturday Septr. 20th.

       The enthusiasm of the People of Paris for the flying Globes is very great, several Propositions have been made from Persons, who to enjoy the honour of having been the first Travellers through the air, are willing to go up in them and run ten risques to one of breaking their necks: one of the queerest propositions, is the following one taken from the Journal de Paris of Yesterday.

          À Messieurs les Navigateurs Aérieus.
          Je partage avec vous Messieurs, le désir de voyager dans les airs, et je crois devoir vous faire part de la premiere idée que m’a fait naitre l’elevation du Globe Aérostatique au Champ de Mars. Je desirerois en qualité d’Amateur des Beaux Arts que la grace de la machine fut jointe à la facilité des mouvemens, et à la sureté du voyageur; cela m’a fait croire que la forme la plus heureuse seroit celle du Cheval Pegasse, d’une grandeur beaucoup plus forte, sans doute que Nature.
          Son corps servirait de recipient au gaz; sa tête, les crins en avant, feroit l’office de la proue; ses ailes modereraient l’elevation et determineroient la vitesse; sa queue seroit le gouvernail; et les quatre pieds, dans l’attitude d’un cheval qui galope, chargés dans leurs extrémités d’un corps pesant, proportionné au reste de la machine, serviroient de lest, et assuréroient au Cavalier Aérien une attitude constante. Tout seroit construit avec une legere carcasse de baleine recouverte d’un taffetas enduit de gomme élastique.
          On dévine aisément la place d’une soupape qui s’ouvrant à la volonté du Navigateur, laisseroit echapper promptement, par le rapprochement de ses genoux, une portion du gaz et tempereroit la legerete du Cheval dans le cas ou il voudroit s’emporter par de lá les nués.
          Je joins ici un Croquis de mon idee
          J’ai l’honneur d’être &c. περσηΪθ.

           Note des Redacteurs

          Ayant reçu, de la part de l’Amateur, la planche gravée, nous avons cru faire plaisir à nos Souscripteurs, en eu faisant tirer le nombre d’exemplaires suffisant pour joindre à chaque feuille de ce Journal.”

       This is nearly a Copy of the print which was with the Journal de Paris.
       As this discovery is a very important one, it is worth while to collect every good thing that has any Relation to it, the following are some verses upon the Subject, also printed in the Journal de Paris of yesterday.

        Les Prodiges des Sciences et des Arts.

       Yesterday a ballon Aërostatique, was sent up from Versailles, the following is the account given of it in the Journal de Paris of this day.

          “L’experience dont nous avons parlé dans nôtre feuille d’avant hier a été faite hier dans la premiere Cour du Chateau de Versailles, au milieu d’un concours prodigieux de Spectateurs. On tira une premiere boite à une heure aprés midi, pour annoncer le moment de l’introduction du gaz dans la Machine; une seconde boite indiqua celui ou elle fut remplie, sous les ordres de M de Montgolfier. Cette operation dura dix minutes ou environ. Une troisieme boite annonça l’instant ou l’on coupa les cordes qui la retenaient pour la livrer à elle même. Elle s’enleva aussitôt, et produisit sur tous les spectateurs une espece d’admiration par son volume imposant. On avoit attaché à la partie inferieure de ce Ballon, un panier d’osier, dans lequel etoient un mouton un canard et un coq, et au dessous, un barometre. L’ascension de cette machine paroit avoir été d’environ deux cent toises; le vent d’ouest l’a forcé à prendre un cours horisontal qui a dure vingt-sept secondes, aprés quoi elle a commence à decliner plus sensiblement, et a fini par tomber dans le bois de Vaucresson, au lieu appellé le Carrefour-Maréchal, distant d’une demi lieue du point de son depart. M. Pilatre de Rozier, y est arrivé le premier; il a trouvé le Ballon separé du panier ou etoient les animaux par un amas de bois coupé. Le mouton mangeoit dans sa cage; le canard et le coq paroissoient n’avoir point souffert, et le baromêtre etoit renversé sans fracture.”

   That is, descended from Perseus (Charles Du Fresne Du Canage, Glossarium ad Scriptores Mediae et Infimae Graecitatis..., Lyons, 1688, repr., Graz, 1958).

   Pasted into D/JQA/8 on p. 30 is a pencil sketch, approximately 3″ × 4″, traced from the original printed one, of a winged horse and rider which appeared as an insert in the Journal de Paris. The original is laid in between p. 30 and 31.

   Here follows a forty-line poem, omitted here, by Michel de Cubières (known as Cubières-Palmézeaux) (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. généraleJ. C. F. Hoefer, ed., Nouvelle biographie générale depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu’à nos jours, Paris, 1852-1866; 46 vols.).

      Monday Septr. 22th.

       This morning (as my Father has been for some days very ill and the Country air being thought necessary for him) we removed from Paris to Auteuil at Mr. Barclay’s. The flying Globes are still much in Vogue: they have advertised a small one of eight inches diameter, at 6 livres a piece without air and 8 livres with it, but it has been carried so far that several accidents have happened to persons who have attempted to make inflammable air, which is a dangerous operation, so that government have prohibited them.

   Less than three weeks after the signing of the Definitive Treaty, the Adamses moved from Paris into the lodgings of Thomas Barclay at Auteuil so that JA might recover from a debilitating fever. They remained there until 6 Oct. (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:142–144; entry for 10 Aug., note 2, above).

      24.

       Mme. Ridley accouchée.

   Ann Richardson, whom Matthew Ridley married in England in 1775, gave birth to a son, Lucius, on this day. They were also living in the house of the Comte de Rouault at Auteuil to which they had moved for the sake of Mrs. Ridley’s health (Herbert E. Klingelhofer, “Matthew Ridley’s Diary during the Peace Negotiations of 1782,” WMQWilliam and Mary Quarterly., 3d ser., 20:95 [Jan. 1963]; Matthew Ridley, Journals, 24 Sept. 1783, MHi:Matthew Ridley Papers).

      26.

       Diné chés M: Franklin.

      30.

       Départ de M. Barclay.


Title: October. 17. 1783.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Diné chéz M: l’Abbé de Chalut.


Title: Monday October 20th. 1783.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Left Auteuil, with my Father, for London, at about 9 o’clock in the morning; rode 9 ½ posts as far as St. Just and stopp’d for the night. We dined at Chantilly.


Title: Tuesday. 21st.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Set away from St. Just at about 7 ½ o’clock; dined at Amiens; the Capital of the Province of Picardy: stopp’d at Abbeville; after having rode 11. posts.


Title: Wednesday 22d.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       In our Carriage at 6 o’clock, went 9 posts before dinner. Dined at Boulogne. Arrived at Calais at about 7 ½ o’clock having rode 13. posts. Lodged at Monsr. Dessein’s: Hotel d’Angleterre.


Title: Thursday 23d [–Friday. Octr. 24th.].
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       This morning at 10 o’clock we went on board the Packet Boat; for Dover. We got out of the harbour with a great deal of difficulty as the wind was quite Contrary, but as soon as we were out a Calm came on which lasted till about 11. o’clock at night. Some wind then arose which brought us near the Port of Dover: at about 2 in the morning; but the wind being very strong; we were obliged to go on board a Pilot Boat: which put us on shore at about 3: in the morning of Friday. Octr. 24th.
       Stay’d all day at Dover; we went up on the top of one of the cliffs: they are extremely high: the weather was somewhat foggy, but upon a clear day; the view must be very extensive, out at sea; and the coasts of France (which are about 20 miles distant) must be very easily seen; and make a fine appearance. We saw upon this hill several sheep; much larger, than any I have ever seen in France, owing probably to the manner of keeping: the Land appears more covered with verdure, and richer than that of France; this, my father thinks, is entirely owing to the different cultivation, as the soil seems to be the same here as that on the other side.


Title: Saturday. Octr. 25.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       We set away from Dover in a post chaise and pair; went through Canterbury; the chief see of all England. We were told there was a curious Cathedral there but had not time to go to see it. We dined at Rochester: a considerable city: 43 miles distant from Dover. We arrived at Dartford at about 4 ½ and stopp’d there for the Night.


Title: Tuesday. 28th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       The forenoon we went to see the Monuments in Westminster Abbey: we saw a great Collection of tombs of Kings, Heroes, Statesmen, and Poets. There are some very ancient monuments: a number of figures in wax and the chairs in which the kings and Queens of England are crowned: they are said to be more than 1400. years old: we had not time to examine very attentively this building: and shall probably pay it another visit: At 6 o’clock. P.M. I went to the Drury Lane Thêatre, where was represented the Tragedy of Hamlet, with the Citozen. I must confess; I do not think they act Tragedy so well here as in Paris: the Tragedy was not acted, as I expected it would be: there is I think something like affectation; throughout the actors. They lay an emphasis upon almost every word; yet in some places they speak, both too low and too slow. For Instance, when the Ghost first appears to Hamlet he starts and cries out

        “Angels and ministers of Grace defend us,” &c.

       and speaks a speech of about 20 lines: which the actor is above full a quarter of an hour delivering; continually in the same situation; which makes the action of the stage languish a great deal. As for the small piece they play’d that, I think as well as they do in France, but if I judge by this one play they do not equal the French in Tragedy.


Title: Wednesday 29th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Took private lodgings; at Mr. Stockdale’s, opposite Burlington House Piccadilly.


Title: Thursday 30th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       This forenoon I went with some Gentlemen and Ladies to dine out of town. We pass’d over Westminster Bridge and Black Friars, and went through Islington, over High gate hill, to Hampstead; where we dined. The appearance of the Land on this road is extremely rich, and at this time of year, the verdure is nearly as great, as it is in France in the Month of May. The Prospect is said to be the finest near London. It is very beautiful. We dined at the assembly house in Hamsted, and returned into Town by a different Road from that out of which we went.


Title: Friday Octr. 31st.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. Vaughan’s: in the evening we went to the Drury Lane Theatre, where Isabella, or the Fatal marriage and the Irish Widow, were represented. Mrs. Siddons; supposed to be the first Tragick performer in Europe, play’d the part of Isabella. A young Lady, in the next Box to where we were, was so much affected by it as to be near fainting and was carried out. I am told that every Night Mrs. Siddons performs; this happens, to some persons. I never heard of anything like it, in France: Whether this proves there is more Sensibility here, that the Tragedies are deeper, or that they are better performed, is a problem. Perhaps all those Reason’s may be given.


Title: [October 1783]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

      October. 17. 1783.

       Diné chéz M: l’Abbé de Chalut.

      Monday October 20th. 1783.

       Left Auteuil, with my Father, for London, at about 9 o’clock in the morning; rode 9 ½ posts as far as St. Just and stopp’d for the night. We dined at Chantilly.

   First entry in D/JQA/9, which covers the period 20 Oct.–6 Dec., but lacks entries for 27 Oct.; 5, 19, 22, 27–28 Nov.; and 3–4 Dec. This Diary booklet, measuring approximately 4½″ × 7¼″, consists of nine sheets of folded paper to create 36 pages, only 17 of which were eventually used by JQA. The booklet is accompanied by a thinner sheet of paper, folded over like the booklet, though somewhat shorter and wider, which is laid in at the end of diary entries for 1783. With some gaps, it contains entries for 8 Aug.–11 Sept. 1784.

   While resting in Auteuil, JA gradually recovered from his fever, but was still “extremely emaciated and weak.” He was urged by his friends and doctor to travel to England and take the waters at Bath. By mid-October he had decided upon a stay there of six weeks. During all this time JQA kept up with some of his studies. He began translating Caesar’s Commentaries (M/JQA/44, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 239), probably continued to translate some of Horace’s Odes (M/JQA/42, same, Reel No. 237), a task begun under the tutelage of Dumas, and copied various pieces of English poetry from William Enfield’s highly popular anthology and elocutionary book, The Speaker, or Miscellaneous Pieces, Selected from the Best English Writers . . ., London, 1774 (M/JQA/43, same, Reel No. 238). Most of his time, however, was probably spent as secretary to his father, who commented that JQA wrote in “a good hand very fast, and is very Steady, to his Pen and his Books” (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:142–144; Book of Abigail and JohnThe Book of Abigail and ohm Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, and Mary-Jo Kline, Cambridge, 1975., p. 364).

      Tuesday. 21st.

       Set away from St. Just at about 7 ½ o’clock; dined at Amiens; the Capital of the Province of Picardy: stopp’d at Abbeville; after having rode 11. posts.

      Wednesday 22d.

       In our Carriage at 6 o’clock, went 9 posts before dinner. Dined at Boulogne. Arrived at Calais at about 7 ½ o’clock having rode 13. posts. Lodged at Monsr. Dessein’s: Hotel d’Angleterre.

   Pierre Quillacq, or M. Dessein (or Dessin) as he was called, gained a great reputation from Laurence Sterne’s allusions to him and his hotel in A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy (AA2, Jour. and Corr.Journal and Correspondence of Miss Adams, Daughter of John Adams,... edited by Her Daughter [Caroline Amelia (Smith) de Windt], New York and London, 1841-[1849]; 3 vols., 1:8; A Sentimental Journey, ed. Gardner D. Stout, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1967, P. 87, 336–338).

      Thursday 23d –Friday. Octr. 24th..

       This morning at 10 o’clock we went on board the Packet Boat; for Dover. We got out of the harbour with a great deal of difficulty as the wind was quite Contrary, but as soon as we were out a Calm came on which lasted till about 11. o’clock at night. Some wind then arose which brought us near the Port of Dover: at about 2 in the morning; but the wind being very strong; we were obliged to go on board a Pilot Boat: which put us on shore at about 3: in the morning of Friday. Octr. 24th.
       Stay’d all day at Dover; we went up on the top of one of the cliffs: they are extremely high: the weather was somewhat foggy, but upon a clear day; the view must be very extensive, out at sea; and the coasts of France (which are about 20 miles distant) must be very easily seen; and make a fine appearance. We saw upon this hill several sheep; much larger, than any I have ever seen in France, owing probably to the manner of keeping: the Land appears more covered with verdure, and richer than that of France; this, my father thinks, is entirely owing to the different cultivation, as the soil seems to be the same here as that on the other side.

      Saturday. Octr. 25.

       We set away from Dover in a post chaise and pair; went through Canterbury; the chief see of all England. We were told there was a curious Cathedral there but had not time to go to see it. We dined at Rochester: a considerable city: 43 miles distant from Dover. We arrived at Dartford at about 4 ½ and stopp’d there for the Night.

   JQA’s probable connotation here is “interesting” or “noteworthy” (OEDThe Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford, 1933; 12 vols, and supplement.).

      Sunday Octr. 26th.

       We came away from Dartford at about 8. o’clock; and arrived at London at about 11: the distance from Dover is. 72, miles: we took up Lodgings at Osborn’s Adelphi Hotel John Street; in the Strand.

   Osborne’s Hotel was in the Adelphi Buildings, extending from the Strand to the Thames, which were constructed in 1768 by the Adam brothers and used as dwellings and warehouses; John Street, off the Strand, was created by this development (Wheatley, London Past and PresentHenry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, London, 1891; 3 vols.; Walter Harrison, A New and Universal History, Description and Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, The Borough of Southwark, and Their Adjacent Parts . . ., London, 1775, p. 525 and illustration facing that page).

      Tuesday. 28th.

       The forenoon we went to see the Monuments in Westminster Abbey: we saw a great Collection of tombs of Kings, Heroes, Statesmen, and Poets. There are some very ancient monuments: a number of figures in wax and the chairs in which the kings and Queens of England are crowned: they are said to be more than 1400. years old: we had not time to examine very attentively this building: and shall probably pay it another visit: At 6 o’clock. P.M. I went to the Drury Lane Thêatre, where was represented the Tragedy of Hamlet, with the Citozen. I must confess; I do not think they act Tragedy so well here as in Paris: the Tragedy was not acted, as I expected it would be: there is I think something like affectation; throughout the actors. They lay an emphasis upon almost every word; yet in some places they speak, both too low and too slow. For Instance, when the Ghost first appears to Hamlet he starts and cries out

        “Angels and ministers of Grace defend us,” &c.

       and speaks a speech of about 20 lines: which the actor is above full a quarter of an hour delivering; continually in the same situation; which makes the action of the stage languish a great deal. As for the small piece they play’d that, I think as well as they do in France, but if I judge by this one play they do not equal the French in Tragedy.

   The Citizen, by Arthur Murphy, was published in 1763 (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.).

      Wednesday 29th.

       Took private lodgings; at Mr. Stockdale’s, opposite Burlington House Piccadilly.

   John Stockdale, London publisher and bookseller, became a long-time friend and correspondent of JA and later of JQA. He began shortly hereafter to publish works of American authors, including a reprint of John Almon’s edition of JA’s Novanglus letters, History of the Dispute with America . . ., in London, 1784 (DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.; JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:149, 189, 313–314).

      Thursday 30th.

       This forenoon I went with some Gentlemen and Ladies to dine out of town. We pass’d over Westminster Bridge and Black Friars, and went through Islington, over High gate hill, to Hampstead; where we dined. The appearance of the Land on this road is extremely rich, and at this time of year, the verdure is nearly as great, as it is in France in the Month of May. The Prospect is said to be the finest near London. It is very beautiful. We dined at the assembly house in Hamsted, and returned into Town by a different Road from that out of which we went.

      Friday Octr. 31st.

       Dined at Mr. Vaughan’s: in the evening we went to the Drury Lane Theatre, where Isabella, or the Fatal marriage and the Irish Widow, were represented. Mrs. Siddons; supposed to be the first Tragick performer in Europe, play’d the part of Isabella. A young Lady, in the next Box to where we were, was so much affected by it as to be near fainting and was carried out. I am told that every Night Mrs. Siddons performs; this happens, to some persons. I never heard of anything like it, in France: Whether this proves there is more Sensibility here, that the Tragedies are deeper, or that they are better performed, is a problem. Perhaps all those Reason’s may be given.

   Probably William or Benjamin Vaughan, sons of Samuel Vaughan, a London merchant, and Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Hallowell of Boston. The younger Vaughans were sympathetic to the American cause, and several later resettled in America; Benjamin, as secretary to Lord Shelburne, was instrumental in obtaining concessions for the American commissioners in 1782 (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:54; Early Recollections of Robert Hallowell Gardiner, 1782–1864, Hallowell, Maine, 1936, p. 118; entries for 6 Nov. 1783, 2 Oct. 1788, below).

   David Garrick, Isabella; or, The Fatal Marriage, London, 1757; and The Irish Widow, London, 1772, also by Garrick (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.).

   Mrs. Sarah Siddons had made her triumphal return to the London stage the previous year in this role (DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).


Title: Sunday Novr. 2. 1783.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       I went this forenoon to take a view of St. Paul’s Church, which is the largest, and most magnificent Protestant church now standing and excepting St. Peter’s at Rome the largest in the World. But we could not get into it, because on Sundays it is open only in Service time; and we were there between services, so we saw only the outside of it. It was built of a whitish stone, but the lower Parts of it are now of a browny, smoaky Colour, occasioned by the smoke of the City; they say this gives it a Venerable appearance; but for my Part I think it would look much better in its first Colour. Several gentlemen dined with us.


Title: Monday Novr. 3. 1783.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Went in the Evening to the theatre, Drury Lane where Measure for Measure, with the Apprentice were represented. Mrs. Siddons play’d the part of Isabella in measure for measure, because it had been said, she could not speak Shakespeare’s lines; and that she could not play in Comedy; for the first part she prov’d the contrary; as she play’d extremely well, but the critics say she has not yet play’d in Comedy; as the Character of Isabella has nothing Comick in it; in this play; and the piece itself Notwithstanding it’s ending well, being more a Tragedy than a Comedy.


Title: Tuesday Novr. 4th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       This forenoon we went with Messrs. Jay, Bingham, and W. Vaughan, to see the Holophusicon, or Sir Ashton Lever’s Museum; there is an immense Collection, of all sorts of Natural History; But the most Compleat part is that of the birds, of which he has between three and four thousand; they are extremely Curious; and worth more examination than we had time to give to them. But besides this he has a Room full of curiosities all collected in the Countries which were discovered in the last Voyage of Captn. Cook. There are a Number of their Idols made of Wood: others of feathers of bird: and also a kind of Robe which their Chiefs put on upon certain occasions, made of birds feathers, their cloths and their war instruments, and their fishhooks with the ropes. All these things are very curious, and for the most part, they are very ingeniously done, and show those People had arrived at a certain degree of Civilization. Their Ropes are made as well as any in Europe, and their fishhooks tho’ of stone are very well made. From Sir Ashton Lever’s we went to the British Museum: which is much more extensive, and Comprehends all sorts of Curiosities. 1. a Library of printed books. 2. a Library of Manuscript Books. 3. Antiquities. 4. Coins and Medals and 5. Natural History. For this Last article, Sir Ashton Lever’s Collection is much more perfect: but among the others’ there are some very curious things, particularly in the Manuscripts. We saw some original Letters of Henry the 8th. and the ensuing Kings and Queens of England to Charles the 1st. Letters also of Oliver Cromwell, and Pope’s first Rough transcript of the Iliad. There are many more very Curious things in this Place, but we had not time to examine them attentively.


Title: Thursday Novr. 6th. 1783.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       This day, being Term day, we went, with Mr. Jennings, and saw the procession of the Lawyers, and Judges to Westminster Hall; and we saw the four Courts; the Kings Bench, Common Pleas, Chancery, and Exchequer, all sitting. Dined at M: W. Vaughan’s.


Title: Friday Novr. 7th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       In the forenoon I went with M: W. Vaughan; and saw the Pantheon; a place of public entertainment; it is only remarkable for one Room which is very large and elegant. We went also to see the Cathedral of St Paul’s; the largest Protestant Church, extant. It is very magnificent on the outside; but the inside is by no means extraordinary; there is one thing which they say is to be met with no where else. It is a gallery which is about 100 yards in circumference. If a Person whispers in it: what he says is as distinctly heared on the opposite side as if the person was near. It is called the whispering gallery: we went up to the top of the Church, from which we had a very fine view of the City. From thence went to the academy of arts in the Adelphi; to see a Series of Paintings, by a Mr. Barry; representing the Progress of Society, in six different Pictures.
       Dined at Mr. Copley’s.


Title: Sunday [9th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Dr. Jebbs.


Title: Tuesday Novr. 11th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       This day the Parliament met for the first Time; the Prince of Wales took his seat in the House of Peers, as duke of Cornwall, the King also made his most gracious speech from the Throne: All the Peers were in their Robes which are scarlet and white; the Kings, and the Prince of Wales’s were of purple velvet.


Title: Wednesday Novr. 12th. 1783.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Went to the Drury Lane Theatre; the pieces represented were, the West Indian and Fortunatus.


Title: Friday Novr. 14th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined with Mr. Grierson. In the evening; we went to see Hughes’s Royal Circus, or exercises of equitation, which are not equal to those performed by Astley at Paris which I saw some time agone.


Title: Saturday Novr. 15th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. West’s. In the evening I went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw Douglas, and the Poor Soldier: Mrs. Crawford appeared in the Character of Lady Randolph in Douglas.


Title: Sunday Novr. 16th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. Hartley’s.


Title: Monday Novr. 17th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. W. Vaughan’s: spent the evening at Mr. Fitch’s.


Title: Tuesday Novr. 18th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. Oswald’s.


Title: Friday Novr. 21st.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined with Mr. Fitch at the St. Albans Tavern.


Title: Monday Novr. 24th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Genl. Roberdeau, and his Son dined with us. In the Evening, we went with Mr. West to the Academy of Painting sculpture and Architecture: we first went into a Room where there was a naked man standing and about 25 or 30 students taking his figure, either in drawing, or in plaister: afterwards we went and heard a very good Lecture upon Anatomy: these Lectures are Read every monday evening. After the Lecture we went into a Room, where were a Number of Casts from the most Remarkable Antique Statues. Some of the finest of which were 1. Apollo Pythonem Jaculans, Apollo is represented as just having shot his arrow at the serpent Pytho: it is a very much admired Statue. 2dly. the Gladiator Repellens. This Piece is very famous and casts of it are very Common. 3dly. the Gladiator moriens, where he is represented as sitting down, to die after receiving the Wound. 4th. An Hercules: or rather a fragment of an Hercules for the Head and neck, both the arms, and both the legs are lost—what Remains is said to be very fine by Connoisseurs. 5th. a Venus de Medicis. This is so well known all over the world as needs nothing to be said of it. 6th. a Laocoon which is perhaps, the finest of them all. It is supposed to be about 2500 years old; and Virgil is said to have taken his beautiful description from it. (Aeneid Book 2. verse. 200, et seq:) The institution was made by the present king and, he made a present of Somerset House a very grand building to the Royal, and Antiquarian Societies and to the academy of Painting &c.


Title: Tuesday Novr. 25th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Castle of Andalusia, with the Devil upon two Sticks.


Title: Wednesday Novr. 26th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Went again to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Magic Picture with the Quaker.


Title: Saturday Novr. 29th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       In the morning at about 9 o’clock, set out for Richmond which is 10. miles from London, and said to be the most Beautiful Spot in England, and perhaps in Europe. It is upon a hill, which Commands a vast plain in which Plain the River Thames runs winding about for a great ways in the midst of the Meadows, which even at this Time are covered with verdure. Returned to Town to Dine.


Title: Sunday. Novr. 30th.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. Bingham’s.


Title: [November 1783]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

      Saturday November 1. 1783.

       This morning I went with Mr. W. Vaughan to see the Paintings of Mr. Pine, and Mr. Copley, and Sir Joshua Reynolds. The Death of the Earl of Chatham, by Mr. Copley, is the most Remarkable of the Paintings We saw; it is very Beautiful. We went also to see Mrs. Wright’s waxwork. Dined at Mr. Bingham’s.

   Robert Edge Pine was born in London and emigrated to Philadelphia in 1784 with the intention of executing an ambitious plan of American historical paintings and portraits of Revolutionary leaders (DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).

   Mrs. Patience Lovell Wright, the American wax modeler and Revolutionary spy for America, who moved to England in 1772 and opened a popular waxworks in London (DABAllen Johnson and Dumas Malone, eds., Dictionary of American Biography, New York, 1928-1936; 20 vols, plus index and supplements.).

   William Bingham, Philadelphia banker, land speculator, and later U.S. senator. Bingham had come to Europe, for business and pleasure, with his wife, Ann Willing, and remained there until 1786, seeing much of the Adamses at The Hague, Paris, and London. JQA found Bingham “Very ignorant, very vain and very empty” (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:149; entry for 18 April 1785, below).

      Sunday Novr. 2. 1783.

       I went this forenoon to take a view of St. Paul’s Church, which is the largest, and most magnificent Protestant church now standing and excepting St. Peter’s at Rome the largest in the World. But we could not get into it, because on Sundays it is open only in Service time; and we were there between services, so we saw only the outside of it. It was built of a whitish stone, but the lower Parts of it are now of a browny, smoaky Colour, occasioned by the smoke of the City; they say this gives it a Venerable appearance; but for my Part I think it would look much better in its first Colour. Several gentlemen dined with us.

      Monday Novr. 3. 1783.

       Went in the Evening to the theatre, Drury Lane where Measure for Measure, with the Apprentice were represented. Mrs. Siddons play’d the part of Isabella in measure for measure, because it had been said, she could not speak Shakespeare’s lines; and that she could not play in Comedy; for the first part she prov’d the contrary; as she play’d extremely well, but the critics say she has not yet play’d in Comedy; as the Character of Isabella has nothing Comick in it; in this play; and the piece itself Notwithstanding it’s ending well, being more a Tragedy than a Comedy.

   By Arthur Murphy, London, 1756 (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.).

      Tuesday Novr. 4th.

       This forenoon we went with Messrs. Jay, Bingham, and W. Vaughan, to see the Holophusicon, or Sir Ashton Lever’s Museum; there is an immense Collection, of all sorts of Natural History; But the most Compleat part is that of the birds, of which he has between three and four thousand; they are extremely Curious; and worth more examination than we had time to give to them. But besides this he has a Room full of curiosities all collected in the Countries which were discovered in the last Voyage of Captn. Cook. There are a Number of their Idols made of Wood: others of feathers of bird: and also a kind of Robe which their Chiefs put on upon certain occasions, made of birds feathers, their cloths and their war instruments, and their fishhooks with the ropes. All these things are very curious, and for the most part, they are very ingeniously done, and show those People had arrived at a certain degree of Civilization. Their Ropes are made as well as any in Europe, and their fishhooks tho’ of stone are very well made. From Sir Ashton Lever’s we went to the British Museum: which is much more extensive, and Comprehends all sorts of Curiosities. 1. a Library of printed books. 2. a Library of Manuscript Books. 3. Antiquities. 4. Coins and Medals and 5. Natural History. For this Last article, Sir Ashton Lever’s Collection is much more perfect: but among the others’ there are some very curious things, particularly in the Manuscripts. We saw some original Letters of Henry the 8th. and the ensuing Kings and Queens of England to Charles the 1st. Letters also of Oliver Cromwell, and Pope’s first Rough transcript of the Iliad. There are many more very Curious things in this Place, but we had not time to examine them attentively.

   Sir Ashton Lever, English collector and naturalist, founded his museum of natural history, the Holophusikon, in Leicester Square in 1774 (DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).

      Thursday Novr. 6th. 1783.

       This day, being Term day, we went, with Mr. Jennings, and saw the procession of the Lawyers, and Judges to Westminster Hall; and we saw the four Courts; the Kings Bench, Common Pleas, Chancery, and Exchequer, all sitting. Dined at M: W. Vaughan’s.

   That is, the beginning of Michaelmas Term, one of four yearly sessions of English courts of law.

      Friday Novr. 7th.

       In the forenoon I went with M: W. Vaughan; and saw the Pantheon; a place of public entertainment; it is only remarkable for one Room which is very large and elegant. We went also to see the Cathedral of St Paul’s; the largest Protestant Church, extant. It is very magnificent on the outside; but the inside is by no means extraordinary; there is one thing which they say is to be met with no where else. It is a gallery which is about 100 yards in circumference. If a Person whispers in it: what he says is as distinctly heared on the opposite side as if the person was near. It is called the whispering gallery: we went up to the top of the Church, from which we had a very fine view of the City. From thence went to the academy of arts in the Adelphi; to see a Series of Paintings, by a Mr. Barry; representing the Progress of Society, in six different Pictures.
       Dined at Mr. Copley’s.

   Originally a theater and public promenade, the Pantheon on Oxford Street was redesigned by James Wyatt and reopened in 1772; the renovated building was noted chiefly for its promenade in the rotunda (Wheatley, London Past and PresentHenry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, London, 1891; 3 vols.).

   JQA has confused the Royal Academy of Arts, whose exhibition room was in the New Somerset House, up the Strand from the Adelphi Buildings, with the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, which was located at the Adelphi. James Barry’s major work, the Progress of Society, which portrayed in six pictures illustrating the cultivation of “human faculties” in the civilization of mankind, was exhibited in the Great Room of the Society of Arts (Walter Harrison, A New and Universal History Description and Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, The Borough of Southwark and Their Adjacent Parts . . ., London, 1775, p. 525; Wheatley, London Past and PresentHenry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, London, 1891; 3 vols., 3:272; The Yale Edition of Horace Walpole’s Correspondence, ed. W. S. Lewis and others, New Haven, 1937– ,29:33; Ralph N. Wornum, ed., Lectures on Painting by the Royal Academicians, Barry, Opie and Fusel, London, 1848, p. 42–43).

      Saturday Novr. 8. 1783.

       Went with Mr. West to see the Queen’s Palace called Buckingham House; from its having been built by Villiers: Duke of Buckingham; in the first Chamber, are the famous Cartoons of Raphael; which were Painted on Paper to be taken on Tapestry; at Brussels; there are 7. of them; they represented several of the Acts of the apostles; the name of the Painter makes it unnecessary to say, in what manner they are executed. In another Room we saw a Number of Paintings of Vandyk, among which was a Picture of Charles the 1st. on horseback; a striking likeness and an admirable Picture. Another Room full of Pictures of Rubens —a Room decorated by Paintings of Mr. West: among which are, the death of General Wolfe, of the Chevalier Bayard; and of Epaminondas, Regulus coming out of the Senate, and Hannibal, swearing eternal enmity to the Romans. The Kings Library, in which there are 90. folio volumes of Maps. His private model chamber—this is very curious. There are the models of all the ships in the Kings service, of all the dock yards, and fortifications: and an exact model of the fortress of Gibraltar. These are the Principal curiosities in this House; tho’ there are a great many other things in it, worth seeing. Dined at Mr. Roger’s.

   Benjamin West, the leading American-born neoclassical painter.

   Buckingham House was built by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham and of Normanby, not George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham. It was subsequently sold to George III in 1762 (Compton Mackenzie, The Queen’s House, London, 1953, p. 10–12).

   The West paintings, commissioned by George III, are listed in John Galt, The Life of Benjamin West, London, 1816–1820, repr., Gainesville, Fla., 1960, p. 207.

   Daniel Denison Rogers, a Boston merchant, who was traveling in Europe with his wife “in Hopes of reestablishing her Health” (Adams Family CorrespondenceAdams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963- ., 4:348; Samuel Cooper to JA, 22 July 1782, Adams Papers).

      Sunday 9th.

       Dined at Dr. Jebbs.

   John Jebb, doctor of medicine, encyclopedic scholar, and a thoroughgoing supporter of America from the outset of the quarrel between England and her colonies. JA described him as a man “for whom I have the highest Esteem; as one of the best Citizens of the little Commonwealth of the just upon Earth” (Caroline Robbins, The Eighteenth-Century Commonwealthman ..., Cambridge, 1959, p. 370–372; JA to John Stockdale, 31 Jan. 1784, LbC, Adams Papers).

      Monday Novr. 10th.

       Went to the Covent Garden Theatre. King Henry VIII. and the Lord Mayor’s day, or a flight to Lapland; with the Grand Procession. Lord Mayor’s day.

   The day of the lord mayor of London’s inauguration, held usually every 9 Nov., is marked with a pageant known as the Lord Mayor’s Show. JQA saw Lord Mayor’s Day; or, A Flight from Lapland, a speaking pantomime, originally produced in 1782, representing this show, with songs and dialogue added by John O’Keeffe. The “Grand Procession” was the afterpiece, advertised as “an Historical Procession of the Several Companies with their respective Pageants” (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.; Hogan, ed., London Stage, 1660–1800Charles Beecher Hogan, ed., The London Stage, 1660-1800, Carbondale, 111., 1968.).

      Tuesday Novr. 11th.

       This day the Parliament met for the first Time; the Prince of Wales took his seat in the House of Peers, as duke of Cornwall, the King also made his most gracious speech from the Throne: All the Peers were in their Robes which are scarlet and white; the Kings, and the Prince of Wales’s were of purple velvet.

   George Augustus Frederick (1762–1830), Prince Regent, 1811–1820, and afterward King George IV.

      Wednesday Novr. 12th. 1783.

       Went to the Drury Lane Theatre; the pieces represented were, the West Indian and Fortunatus.

   The West Indian, London, 1771, by Richard Cumberland; Fortunatus, an unpublished pantomime, by Henry Woodward, originally produced in 1753 (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.).

      Thursday Novr. 13th.

       Dined at Mr. J. Johnson. In the evening we went to see the Transactions of the Royal Society; but unluckily we happened to come on a very barren Night: nothing was read, except a dry, unphilosophical account of the late Earthquake in Calabria: after which we went and supp’d with the Club at the London Coffee House.

   Joshua Johnson (1742–1802), Maryland merchant, who undertook various commissions for the congress and his native state during and after the Revolution, and eventually served as U.S. consul in London, 1790–1797. He was the father of Louisa Catherine, JQA’s future wife, who was eight years old at this time. On JQA’s first trip to Europe he had met Johnson in Nantes, where the Johnsons were then living (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 2:300).

   “Account of the Earthquake in Calabria, March 28, 1783, In a Letter from Count Francesco Ippolito to Sir W[illiam] Hamilton. From the Italian,” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London . . ., abridged edn., ed. Charles Hutton and others, 15 (1809):373, 383–386.

   Styled by Franklin, “the Club of Honest Whigs,” it met fortnightly on Thursdays at the London Coffeehouse, Ludgate Hill. Its members were primarily dissenting clergymen and men of scientific interests, and it was frequented by visiting Americans (Verner W. Crane, “The Club of Honest Whigs: Friends of Science and Liberty,” WMQWilliam and Mary Quarterly., 3d ser., 23:210–233 [April 1966]).

      Friday Novr. 14th.

       Dined with Mr. Grierson. In the evening; we went to see Hughes’s Royal Circus, or exercises of equitation, which are not equal to those performed by Astley at Paris which I saw some time agone.

   Both Charles Hughes and Philip Astley were English equestrian performers who set up rival shows (Raymond Toole-Scott, Circus and Allied Arts: A World Bibliography, 1500–1970, 4 vols., Derby, England, 1958–1971, 4:95; DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).

      Saturday Novr. 15th.

       Dined at Mr. West’s. In the evening I went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw Douglas, and the Poor Soldier: Mrs. Crawford appeared in the Character of Lady Randolph in Douglas.

   Douglas, London, 1757, by John Home; The Poor Soldier, a comic opera by John O’Keeffe, first produced on 4 Nov. (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.; Hogan, ed., London Stage, 1660–1800Charles Beecher Hogan, ed., The London Stage, 1660-1800, Carbondale, 111., 1968.).

   That is, Mrs. Ann Spranger Barry, née Street, whose Lady Randolph in Douglas was regarded as one of her two greatest characterizations. At this time she was known by her stage name, Mrs. Crawford (DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).

      Sunday Novr. 16th.

       Dined at Mr. Hartley’s.

      Monday Novr. 17th.

       Dined at Mr. W. Vaughan’s: spent the evening at Mr. Fitch’s.

      Tuesday Novr. 18th.

       Dined at Mr. Oswald’s.

   Richard Oswald, the British peace commissioner who negotiated and signed the preliminary articles of peace with the United States on 30 Nov. 1782 (JA, Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:81–82).

      Thursday Novr. 20th.

       Dined at Mr. Rogers’s.

      Friday Novr. 21st.

       Dined with Mr. Fitch at the St. Albans Tavern.

   The Tavern, on St. Albans Street, Pall Mall, was renowned for political and fashionable dinners and meetings (Wheatley, London Past and PresentHenry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, London, 1891; 3 vols., 1:12).

      Sunday. Novr. 23d.

       Dined with Mr. Champion.

   Probably Richard Champion, a Bristol ceramist and close friend of American Commissioner Henry Laurens after his release from the Tower. In 1782 Burke had Champion appointed to government office, in which capacity he established contact with other Americans. In 1784 he anonymously published Considerations on the Present Situation of Great Britain and the United States of America . . ., urging free trade in American-West Indian commerce; a presentation copy is among JA’s books at MB (Dixon Wecter, “An Unpublished Letter of George Washington,” S.C. Hist. and Geneal. Mag., 39:151–156 [Oct. 1938]; David Duncan Wallace, The Life of Henry Laurens . . ., N.Y., 1915, p. 390–391; Catalogue of JA’s LibraryCatalogue of the John Adams Library in the Public Library of the City of Boston, Boston, 1917.).

      Monday Novr. 24th.

       Genl. Roberdeau, and his Son dined with us. In the Evening, we went with Mr. West to the Academy of Painting sculpture and Architecture: we first went into a Room where there was a naked man standing and about 25 or 30 students taking his figure, either in drawing, or in plaister: afterwards we went and heard a very good Lecture upon Anatomy: these Lectures are Read every monday evening. After the Lecture we went into a Room, where were a Number of Casts from the most Remarkable Antique Statues. Some of the finest of which were 1. Apollo Pythonem Jaculans, Apollo is represented as just having shot his arrow at the serpent Pytho: it is a very much admired Statue. 2dly. the Gladiator Repellens. This Piece is very famous and casts of it are very Common. 3dly. the Gladiator moriens, where he is represented as sitting down, to die after receiving the Wound. 4th. An Hercules: or rather a fragment of an Hercules for the Head and neck, both the arms, and both the legs are lost—what Remains is said to be very fine by Connoisseurs. 5th. a Venus de Medicis. This is so well known all over the world as needs nothing to be said of it. 6th. a Laocoon which is perhaps, the finest of them all. It is supposed to be about 2500 years old; and Virgil is said to have taken his beautiful description from it. (Aeneid Book 2. verse. 200, et seq:) The institution was made by the present king and, he made a present of Somerset House a very grand building to the Royal, and Antiquarian Societies and to the academy of Painting &c.

   Daniel Roberdeau, Philadelphia merchant and member of the Continental Congress, 1777–1779, who spent 1783–1784 traveling in Europe with his eldest son, Isaac. The Roberdeau and Adams families remained close friends for three generations (Adams Family CorrespondenceAdams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963- ., 2:352–353; CFA, DiaryDiary of Charles Francis Adams, Cambridge, 1964- . Vols. 1-2, ed. Aida DiPace Donald and David Donald; vols. 3-6, ed. Marc Friedlaender and L. H. Butterfield., 2:132, 133, 135; 4:130–131 and passim).

   The Royal Academy of Arts.

   Verses 201–227 (Virgil, Works, in Latin and English . . ., ed. Joseph Warton, 3d edn., 4 vols., London, 1778, 2:150–153, one of several editions JQA owned at this time, and now at MQA).

   The Royal Society of London for the Advancement of Natural Science, chartered by Charles II in 1663 and given apartments in the new Somerset House in 1782, and the Society of Antiquaries of London, chartered by George II in 1751 and given apartments in 1781 (Wheatley, London Past and PresentHenry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions, London, 1891; 3 vols.).

      Tuesday Novr. 25th.

       Went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Castle of Andalusia, with the Devil upon two Sticks.

   Castle of Andalusia, by John O’Keeffe, with music by Samuel Arnold, first performed in 1782; and Samuel Foote’s highly successful comedy first produced in 1768 (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.; Hogan, ed., London Stage, 1660–1800Charles Beecher Hogan, ed., The London Stage, 1660-1800, Carbondale, 111., 1968.).

      Wednesday Novr. 26th.

       Went again to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Magic Picture with the Quaker.

   The Magic Picture, London, 1783, by Henry Bate Dudley; The Quaker, London, 1777, by Charles Dibdin (Biographia DramaticaDavid Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ..., London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4.; DNBLeslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography, New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements.).

      Saturday Novr. 29th.

       In the morning at about 9 o’clock, set out for Richmond which is 10. miles from London, and said to be the most Beautiful Spot in England, and perhaps in Europe. It is upon a hill, which Commands a vast plain in which Plain the River Thames runs winding about for a great ways in the midst of the Meadows, which even at this Time are covered with verdure. Returned to Town to Dine.

   The purpose of the excursion, JA later recalled, was to visit former Massachusetts governor Thomas Pownall and Pennsylvania proprietor Richard Penn (Diary and AutobiographyDiary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols., 3:151).

      Sunday. Novr. 30th.

       Dined at Mr. Bingham’s.


Title: Sunday August 8th. [1784].
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Left London, travelled to Sittingbourne. 43. miles.


Title: [9th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Monday arrived at Dover and sailed for Calais.


Title: [10th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Tuesday 5. A. M. arrived at Calais, in the afternoon took Post, and went as far as Boulogne, 4. Posts.


Title: [11th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Wednesday went from Boulogne to Amiens.


Title: [13th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Friday, visited the curiosities at Chantilly. Arrived at Paris.


Title: Monday [16th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Dined at Mr. Hartleys.


Title: Tuesday [17th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Moved out to Auteuil.


Title: [19th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Thursday went into Paris shopping.


Title: Saturday. [21st].
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Went to Paris. Gave Gregson a watch to repair. Am to have it again, Wednesday next.


Title: Sunday August 22d.
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Mr. Jefferson and his Daughter, Coll: Humphreys, and Genl. dined with us.


Title: [24th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Tuesday morning. Went to Paris.


Title: [25th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Wednesday dined at the Abbé de Chalut’s.


Title: Thursday [26th].
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Went to Gregson’s for Watches. He was not at home.


Title: [27th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Friday dined with the Abbés at Passi.


Title: Saturday[28th].
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       We had a large Company to dine with us.


Title: [30th.]
From: Adams, John Quincy
To:

       Monday afternoon went into Paris. Subscribed for the Journal de Paris. Drank tea with Mrs. Valnais.