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
121John Quincy Adams to William Cranch, 17 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
As there is a very good opportunity of writing to you by a Gentleman from South carolina who is about embarking for America I must write one short Letter to all my Freinds. I am in one of the schools which I was in when I was here before and am very content with my situation. I will give you an account of our hours. At 7 o clock A.M. we get up and go in to school and at 8 o clock we breakfast...
122John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday asked Mr. Pechigny if he thought it would do brother Charles any good to begin upon Latin at present, he answered me, that on the contrary, that he thought that it would spoil his taste for it; That he must conjugate verbs about a month, and then he might begin upon Latin, he desired me to ask you if you thought his proposition good and if you should he would Set Brother Charles...
123[Titlepage] (Adams Papers)
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124[July 1780] (Adams Papers)
At about eleven o clock took leave of all my Schoolmates, and went to Paris, with an intention to set out for Holland on thursday, next. Prepared everything for the journey. In the afternoon pappa went to Dr. Franklin’s for a Passport. At this time American ministers were empowered to issue passports to Americans traveling in the country to which they were accredited ( Adams Family...
125Tuesday 25th of July. (Adams Papers)
At about eleven o clock took leave of all my Schoolmates, and went to Paris, with an intention to set out for Holland on thursday, next.
126Wednesday 26th. (Adams Papers)
Prepared everything for the journey. In the afternoon pappa went to Dr. Franklin’s for a Passport. At this time American ministers were empowered to issue passports to Americans traveling in the country to which they were accredited ( Adams Family Correspondence Adams Family Correspondence , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963- . , 4:xv ).
127Thursday 27th. (Adams Papers)
Stevens went to the lewtenants of the Police for a passport to go out of the kingdom. He could not get it till 10 o clock. At twelve o clock we dined. Mr. Austin, Mr. Appleton, Mr. Dana, Mr. Thaxter Mr. Fox Captn. Robinson and Dr. Foulk took leave of us and at about 1 o clock we sot out. We passed over the boulevards and out of the porte St. Martin and left Paris. We had very good roads passed...
128Friday 28th of July 1780. (Adams Papers)
This morning we got up at about 5 o clock. We breakfasted upon tea and the Horses being come at about 6 o clock we sot away from Compiegne. We had very good roads. We dined in the carriage and went as far as Valenciennes. At a small city call’d Cambray we were stopped to be search’d but by the means of a half a crown conducted into their hands we passed along. At Valenciennes we were stopped...
129Saturday 29th 1780. (Adams Papers)
This Morning we got up at about 7 o clock and at about half after seven we set away from VALENCIENNES. We were stopped a going out of the city by the excisemen but by the way of yesterday passed along. When we had got almost at the end of our post we were stopped again, but the same way and we passed along. But at the end of the post we were stopped and by the excisemen who belong to her...
130Sunday 30th. (Adams Papers)
This Morning Pappa went out and at about half after one came home with Mr. Jennings who dined here. After dinner we went to the parc. We walked there some time after which we went to the cathedral. We met Mr. Jennings’s Nephew whose name is Bordly. We heard part of a sermon spoke in Flemish. We saw an alter the banisters of which were of Solid silver and cost 30000 Pound sterling. We heard...
131Monday 31st of July 1780 (Adams Papers)
This morning Pappa went to Mr. Jennings’s lodgings but he was not at home. At about half after eleven o clock Mr. Lee came here and stay’d till about half after twelve. At about twelve Mr. Jennings came and at about one we went to take a walk. We went to the place Royale. We saw the portico out of which the Counts Egmont and Horn came to be executed. It is at present barr’d up and there are...
132[August 1780] (Adams Papers)
This morning at about half after ten Mr. Jennings came here and at about half after eleven Pappa Mr. Jennings and Brother Charles went to take a walk. At about twelve they got back again. A little after twelve My Brother Charles and myself went to Mr. Bordly’s lodgings but he was not at home. Mr. Jennings dined at our Hotel. At about four o clock Mr. Lee came to see my Pappa. At Six o clock my...
133Tuesday 1st of August 1780 (Adams Papers)
This morning at about half after ten Mr. Jennings came here and at about half after eleven Pappa Mr. Jennings and Brother Charles went to take a walk. At about twelve they got back again. A little after twelve My Brother Charles and myself went to Mr. Bordly’s lodgings but he was not at home. Mr. Jennings dined at our Hotel. At about four o clock Mr. Lee came to see my Pappa. At Six o clock my...
134Wednesday 2d of August 1780 (Adams Papers)
This Morning my Brother Charles went to find Mr. Bordly but he was not at home. Charles and I went to find him at his Uncles but met him on the way there. We went in to water with him some ways out of town and got home about dinner time. Mr. Jennings came here after dinner and in the Evening Pappa and he went to take a walk. Mr. Bordly spent the Evening here. At about Nine o clock Pappa and...
135Thursday 3d. (Adams Papers)
This morning Mr. Jennings came and at about nine o clock he took leave of us and we set out from Bruxelles. After we had got out of the town we passed along a very beautiful canal. At about 4 o clock we arrived at Anvers, which is 4 Posts or 24 Miles from Bruxelles. After we got there pappa went and made a bargain with a boat man to go to Rotterdam but having arrived at our lodgings Pappa...
136Friday 4th of August. (Adams Papers)
This morning we set away at about 5 o clock. We went about two leagues on the pavements and then had for 9 leagues nothing but sand. We were stopped for the last time in her Majesties dominions and for the first in Holland. We got out of the sand and passed over a river we got at about 2 o clock P.M. At Moerdyk we passed a River and we took there a nother Carriage and went for Rotterdam. We...
137Saturday 5th of August 1780 (Adams Papers)
This morning Pappa brother Charles and myself went to see a Gentleman for whom Pappa had Letters: he invited us to dine with him. After that we went to see the city. We saw the statue of Erasmus, he is in the Grande Place, he holds a book in his hand, there are four inscriptions under it, two in Latin and two in dutch: we walk’d about the town, and came back at about twelve o clock, we went...
138Sunday 6th 1780 (Adams Papers)
At about 8 o clock got up and at about half after nine Pappa brother Charles and myself went to a Protestant Church where they spoke English . We heard a very good sermon. At about twelve o clock we got home. We dined at our lodgings and at about 5 o clock we drank tea there. After tea we went to take a walk. We walked all about the town and got back at about half after six. I will now give a...
139Monday 7th of August 1780 (Adams Papers)
This morning we got up at about 7 o clock and at about half after eight we set away from our Hotel. We went down to the boat and went on board. We went along down by some very beautiful meadows Where the cattle were feeding made it very beautiful. We went through Delft. We changed boats there. At Rotterdam Pappa bought a book which gives a description of Delft and I will take it down. This...
140Tuesday 8th of August 1780 (Adams Papers)
This morning Mr. Dumas came and we went with him about the town. The description is in the same book and I will take it down also. The Hague is justly esteemed one of the finest Towns in Europe. Those who have either seen, or occassionaly wrote of it, seem at a Loss for Words to express thier Admiration. An ingenious Gentleman, Fellow of the Royal Society, speaking of this Place when it was...