1[November 1779] (Adams Papers)
Titlepage and cover for JQA ’s early Diary, designated D/JQA/1 by Adams editors to indicate the first of the individual Diary books, booklets, or miscellaneous fragments. This Diary booklet, which measures approximately 7″ × 4¾″, consists of eleven leaves of paper folded over and stitched. Bound in with the sheets is a paper cover, and each page has been ruled off with a margin by JQA , in...
2[Titlepage and Cover] (Adams Papers)
Titlepage and cover for JQA ’s early Diary, designated D/JQA/1 by Adams editors to indicate the first of the individual Diary books, booklets, or miscellaneous fragments. This Diary booklet, which measures approximately 7″ × 4¾″, consists of eleven leaves of paper folded over and stitched. Bound in with the sheets is a paper cover, and each page has been ruled off with a margin by JQA , in...
3[Revised Titlepage] (Adams Papers)
Revised titlepage located on the inside front cover of D/JQA/1. This titlepage and the first page of entries in the Diary are reproduced in this volume (see the Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 1).
41779 November Friday 12th. (Adams Papers)
This Morning at about 11 o clock I took leave of my Mamma, my Sister, and Brother Tommy, and went to Boston with Mr. Thaxter, in order to go on board the Frigate the Sensible of 28 twelve Pounders. We arrived at Boston at about 1 o clock; dined at my uncle Smiths’, we expected to go on board in the afternoon but We could not conveniently—till to morrow. It was not until 30 July 1784 that JQA...
5Saturday 13th. (Adams Papers)
To day at about 1 o clock Pappa, and my Brother Charles, came to town, and at about 5 o clock we all went came on board and took our lodgings. My Brother Charles is to lodge with My Pappa and I with Mr. Thaxter. Immediately after Charles’ name, JQA placed a superscript number, the first of a series following the names of those referred to in the entries of 13–15 and 20 Nov. Such numbers, which...
6Sunday 14th. (Adams Papers)
This morning a great number of Gentlemen came on board, and amongst others Col Johonnot, with a son, of his who is a going to France with us. There are a great number of Passengers and the Frigate is very well mann’d. Col Johonnot introduced me to his son, with whom I hope I shall form, an acquaintance, which will be very agreable to me and I hope I shall endeavour to make myself agreable to...
7Mond 15th. (Adams Papers)
This morning a brig and a schooner went out I suppose after wood to the eastward. About 8 o clock the Gentlemen went to breakfast. Sammy Charles and I dont breakfast with them. About ten o clock we set sail in company with a brig which is to carry back the Pilot and the Courier De L’Europe who came from France with us. About half after three the Pilot went away from us; he told us he would...
8Thursday 18th. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday and day before there was nothing remarkable only that all day yesterday there was a calm but last night it freshen’d and now we have a Gale of wind.
9Friday 19th. (Adams Papers)
12 o clock. The Gale continues. Nothing else remarkable. 6 o clock. The wind has abated a great deal. There is now only a fresh breeze of wind.
10Saturday 20th. (Adams Papers)
This morning about 6 o clock spy’d a sail about 2 miles of f . We sent the courier de L’europe to speak with her. She put about and run. About nine o clock she set royals studden studding sails and chased us. About one o clock she came up with us and hoisted american colours. We hoisted french flag and pendant; we spoke with her. She was a brig eight weeks out of Salem. She has taken three...
11Sunday 21st. (Adams Papers)
Nothing remarkable to day except calm all day. 6 o clock. It begins to freshen. We go about 3 knots an hour.
12Monday 22d. (Adams Papers)
A fresh breeze all day from the SSE. The Captain says we are about fifty Leagues from the Grand Bank.
13Tuesday 23d. (Adams Papers)
The weather is very much like that of the Bank. The Courier has taken two fish. At twelve o clock we shall Sound. 4 o clock. We have not sounded. Very foggy all this day.
14Wednesday 24th. (Adams Papers)
This morning the Courier lost herself in the fog but at about ten o clock we found her again. I will now give a list of the names of the officers and principal passengers on board the Sensible. Captain Bidé de Chavagnes. A chevalier of the order of Saint Louis and captain of his most Christian Majesty’s frigate La Sensible. Le Ch evalie r de Gois briand Goësbriand 2’d in command Mr. Riordan Le...
15Thursday 25th. (Adams Papers)
This morning about nine o clock the courier lost her foretopmast. About twelve o clock she got it up. 6 o clock. We lay to for her she being a stern of us. She came up with us and we again set sail.
16Friday 26th. (Adams Papers)
This Morning a very fresh breeze from the N.W. 7 o clock. We now go 12 knots an hour; every face is fill’d with contentment.
17Saturday 27th. (Adams Papers)
I could not write any more yesterday because a Gale of wind came on which hinder’d me but to day it has abated a great deal. Nothing very remarkable to day. O! I had like to have forgot that last night the Courier lost her foremast and we were obliged to leave her.
18Sunday 28th. (Adams Papers)
6 o clock. Calm and cloudy. 9 o clock. It begins to freshen. 6 o clock P.M. A very fresh breeze. I beleive that we shall have no other sail but our fore sail sot set to night.
19Mon 29th. (Adams Papers)
The ship is very leaky. The passengers are all called to the Pump four times per day. 8 o clock AM, 12 o clock, 4 o clock PM, and 8 o clock PM.
20Tues 30th. (Adams Papers)
To day a middling breeze from the S.E or SSE. At 12 o clock to day being at the Pump there being very little water the beam struck my head and hurt me a little. The remainder of the page in the Diary contains a drawing of a bird and several designs by JQA , probably used as filler since he begins his entries for the new month at the top of the following page.
21[December 1779] (Adams Papers)
We housed all the Guns to day because she rolled a great deal. A fresh breeze from the S.S.E. Nothing remarkable to day. A fresh breeze from the South. Continual Squalls thunder and lightning. 6 o clock PM. The weather has cleared up. Pleasant weather. A fresh breeze from the S.W. The Captain intends to go to Spain to search the ship and see if he can find the leak. At twelve o clock We were...
221779 December Wed 1st. (Adams Papers)
We housed all the Guns to day because she rolled a great deal. A fresh breeze from the S.S.E. Nothing remarkable to day.
23Thur 2d. (Adams Papers)
A fresh breeze from the South. Continual Squalls thunder and lightning. 6 o clock PM. The weather has cleared up.
24Friday 3d. (Adams Papers)
Pleasant weather. A fresh breeze from the S.W. The Captain intends to go to Spain to search the ship and see if he can find the leak. At twelve o clock We were according to our agreement at 180 leagues from Cape Finister.
25Satur 4th. (Adams Papers)
A middling breeze from the SW. This afternoon about four o clock a land Bird came a hovering over the frigate; she being so tired we Caught her. Nothing very remarkable to day.
26Sun. 5th. (Adams Papers)
A middling breeze from the S.W. We replaced our guns. We took in the Main, and forsails in order to get the Anchors ready. The Captain expects to spy Land tuesday.
27Mon 6th. (Adams Papers)
This morning my brother Charles look’d out of Pappa’s window and said he saw a flock of Wild fowl. A fine breeze from the South. About twelve o clock being in my Pappa’s room I heard a noise upon deck. I went out and was told by one of the Gentlemen that we saw a sail. I immediately went up to the Main cross trees and saw a brig. The Gentlemen conjecture that she is a cruizer and intends to...
28Tuesday 7th. (Adams Papers)
Last night about nine o clock we saw a number of fish. We could not tell what they were; some say they are Dolphins some that they are Porpoises but it being dark we could not perceive them well only the path they made in the water. I write it in this days Journal because the Captain dont allow any light in the night for fear that there are some british frigates hereabouts; and I could not...
29Wednes 8th. (Adams Papers)
This morning about half after four o clock we saw a sail. At about seven o clock we could see her very plain. She hoisted spanish coulours and we french ones and fir’d a Gun: she goes before to Pilot us. We lay to all last night. 9 o clock. We just fir’d a gun for a signal for a Pilot to come on board but none comes yet. 11 o clock. There’s a pilot on board. 1 o clock P M. We have just now...
30Thursday 9th. (Adams Papers)
This morning My Pappa, Mr. Dana, Mr. Allen, Mr. Thaxter, Sammy Cooper, my brother Charles, and myself came on shore and we all but pappa went and dined at Coll. Fleury’s lodgings which are at a french tavern, the master of which was born in South Carolina. At half after six oclock we went to the play and came back at ten. One thing which is remarkable is that all our Voyage we have not had...