111John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I can never keep my pen out of my hand when ever there is an oportunity of writing and as there is one now by a Captn. Lovett I will make the best of it. I am Sorry to inform you that the Jason and Monmouth are taken and Manly for a third time is in a british prison but you very probably will have heard of this before this reaches you but what more than makes up for it is that there are 50,000...
112Thursday 20th. (Adams Papers)
Sot out about 3 o clock P M. Nothing remarkable. Gaps appear among the final days recorded in JQA ’s second Diary booklet. There were no entries for 21–22 Jan., on which days the party was en route from Bilbao to Bayonne; for 24 Jan., the day they spent in that French provincial town; and 26–28 Jan., while traveling to Bordeaux. Some details of this part of their trip are provided in JA ’s...
113Sunday 23d. (Adams Papers)
Nothing remarkable for these 3 days. At about 5 o clock P M arrived at Bayonne. Nothing more remarkable to day.
114Tuesday 25th. (Adams Papers)
Set away at about 9 o clock. At about half after 9 began to Snow. Snow’d 2 hours. Went 45 miles to day.
115Saturday 29th. (Adams Papers)
Nothing remarkable Since we left Bayonne. At about 5 arrived at Bordeaux. Mr. Vernon and Mr. Bonfeild came to see us. William Vernon Jr. , also known as William H. Vernon, was the son of a wealthy Newport, R.I., merchant and member of the Continental Navy Board. To gain experience in trade young Vernon had been sent to France under JA ’s care at the time Adams made his first voyage to Europe...
116Sunday 30th. (Adams Papers)
We all dined at Mr. Bonfeild’s. After dinner went to the play. Had Amphitrion and Cartouche. Probably Molière’s Amphitryon, but possibly Jean Baptiste Raguenet, Amphitryon, ou les deux arlequins, a musical parody of Molière’s play, n.p., 1713; Marc Antoine Legrand, Cartouche, ou les voleurs, Paris, 1721 ( Cioranescu, Bibliographic du dix-septième siècle Alexandre Cioranescu, Bibliographie de...
117Monday 31st. (Adams Papers)
Went about to see the town. Saw the Shipping which made a Grand appearance. The Gentlemen dined out but us younkers dined at home. After dinner we went to the hotel d’Angleterre and after that to the comedy, but could find no places. Such scenes of “a Grand appearance” may have inspired several sketches of ships and soldiers which appear at the end of this Diary booklet, on the last leaf and...
118John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
As there is an opportunity of writing to you, I must by no means let it Slip me; I have wrote you a Small account of my Voyage and that we were obliged to put into Ferrol in Spain. After a terrible journey from thence to Paris of about 1000 Miles we have at last once more reach’d Paris, the day after we arrived Pappa put me to one of the Pensions where I was before, and I am very content with...
119John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 22 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am once more settled down in a school and am very content with my situation. I was the other night at the Foire St Germain in Paris which is a publick place and full of curiosities. We went and saw a Woman who (in truth) was not very tall but who weigh’d 450 weight. The large part of her arm was as big round as my body and she cover’d With her thumb a Crown peice. Her thimble was big enough...
120John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 16 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Make Latin, Explain Cicero Erasmus Appendix Peirce Phaedrus. Learn greek Racines greek Grammar Geography geometry fractions Writing Drawing As a young boy can not apply himself to all those Things and keep a remembrance of them all I should desire that you would let me know what of those I must begin upon at first. I am your Dutiful Son, RC ( Adams Papers