1[Titlepage] (Adams Papers)
Titlepage for D/JQA/10, covering the inclusive dates mentioned, with only occasional gaps. The top line on this and the following page are written in an earlier hand, presumably the date on which he purchased the blank book. The same inscription appears on the top of the titlepages of D/JQA/11 and 12, which are identical 380-page leather-bound books all measuring 4¼” × 6¾”. Indolence is sweet...
2[January 1785] (Adams Papers)
Horace, Opera , London, 1744, p. 149 (inscribed “J.Q. Adams, Paris, March 15, 1785,” in MQA ), Bk. II, Satire III, lines 14–15: “You must shun the wicked Siren Sloth the quotation continues or be content to drop whatever honour you have gained in nobler hours” ( Horace, Satires, Epistles and Ars Poetica, transl. Fairclough Horace: Satires, Epistles and Ars Poetica with an English Translation ,...
3[January 1785] (Adams Papers)
Compliments to the Royal family at Versailles. My father carried twenty Guineas to distribute among the servants of the great folks, a tribute every minister is obliged to pay annually. Paris. Varietés ; at the palais Royal . Small Théatre, built in three weeks time. Le nouveau parvenu. Le palais du bon gout. L’lntendant Comédien malgré lui. Le mensonge excusable . Volange , an excellent actor...
4[February 1785] (Adams Papers)
Paris. In the afternoon with Mr. A. went for the books arrived from London. Not to be found. Bought other books. Weather somewhat cold. The whole month of January very mild. JQA began this month with the date “Tuesday February 1st. 1785.,” but his first entry is on the third. Neither set of books has been identified. Snowy, stormy weather all the morning, but clear in the afternoon. Mrs. and...
5[March 1785] (Adams Papers)
Coldest weather we have had this year. Reaumur’s thermometer at 8 degrees below the freezing point. Abbé de Chalût told me last evening, that neither he nor his brother, (and they are both turned of seventy,) remember ever to have experienced so cold weather in the beginning of March. Paris afternoon. La Servante Maitresse , and, the 20th. Representation of Richard Coeur de Lion , an Opera, at...
6[April 1785] (Adams Papers)
The Marchioness appointed two o’clock for us to be at her Hôtel. We dined at half after twelve, and were in the Rue de Bourbon at two, but it was too early. Mrs. Rucker, Mr. Jefferson, Coll. Humphreys, Mr. Williamos, Mr. West, went all with us. At about half past three we went from the Marquis’s hôtel and by the time we got to the Pont Royal, both sides of the quay were so amazingly crowded...
7[May 1785] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jarvis came out and dined with us at Auteuil. In the afternoon, Mr. Jefferson came out; he drank tea with us. No Rain yet: the drought is very great: the verdure is but small, tho’ the trees are covered with Leaves. Mr. A and myself went and dined with the Marquis de la Fayette, Comte and Chevalier de la Luzerne, Comte de la Touche, General du Portail: A Letter was brought after dinner to...
8[June 1785] (Adams Papers)
Small wind. The Season for Calm weather is coming forward, and I am afraid we shall have a long passage; in the afternoon we saw a ship and pass’d within a mile from her but the weather being dark and foggy we could not see her distinctly. Towards night the wind freshened. Our Wind has been very low for several days. 15 or 20 leagues a day is the utmost extent of our route. Mr. Well de Singler...
9[July 1785] (Adams Papers)
Calm weather all day. In the evening it began to lighten, and our thunder spire was fix’d; this is a small chain, fastened at the mast head; the other end of which hangs in the water, but as it is made, I believe in case of a thunder storm, it must be rather hurtful than of service. For the chain is so small, that I cannot think it would conduct much lightening; besides which it touches to a...
10[August 1785] (Adams Papers)
Return’d to the City at 7 in the morning. Breakfasted with Mr. Jarvis in William Street. Mr. Harrison did not return before noon. Dined with Mr. Constable, but found him at dinner when I went there. Drank tea there too, in Company with a number of ugly Ladies. I went in the evening to see Mr. Gerry but found him not at home. Walk’d on the batteries about an hour, and then return’d to the...
11[September 1785] (Adams Papers)
Went and sat with Mr. de Chaumont a couple of hours, and afterwards accompanied him, and Mr. Toscan &c to Concert hall; to see Mr. Turner’s scholars dance. Once every fortnight, there is such a forenoon ball, from 1. o’clock to three. There were a number of minuets and country dances performed pretty well: and all the beauties of Boston seem’d to be assembled there in one bright constellation....
12[October 1785] (Adams Papers)
I have been arguing with myself, whether I had best continue my Journal, or break it off at present. The events for the future will probably be a continual repetition one of the other: and will contain nothing that even I myself may desire to Remember. But I have thought that I shall surely have often observations to make upon diverse subjects, which it may be proper to commit to Paper. And I...
13[November 1785] (Adams Papers)
Walker came over, and dined here to day. In the afternoon all the family, except my brother Tom, and myself went to Mr. Redington’s. They pressed me to go too, but I wish to go as little into Company, while I am here as possible. An hundred things which I can neither foresee, nor prevent, draw me away from my studies and delay them: but where I can help it, I will not suffer them to be...
14[December 1785] (Adams Papers)
Several of the Ladies, and Gentlemen, went in a party to Methuen, about 10 miles distant, in slays. It being lecture day we had Mr. Adams, a minister of another parish in the town, Mr. True, and Mr. Parker, the present schoolmaster here, to dine. Mr. True preach’d the Sermon, and spoke well, though he was somewhat long. After lecture Miss Betsey and Miss Sukey Redington, came and drank tea...