51Tuesday Novr. 25th. (Adams Papers)
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 Dramatica David Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ... , London,...
52Wednesday Novr. 26th. (Adams Papers)
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 Dramatica David Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ... , London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4. ; DNB Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The...
53Saturday Novr. 29th. (Adams Papers)
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...
54Sunday. Novr. 30th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Bingham’s.
55[December 1783] (Adams Papers)
This evening I went with Mr. West to the Academy of Painting &c. and had the same entertainment as that of which I spoke last Monday. This day my father dined out; in the evening I went to the Drury Lane Theatre, had the Beaux Stratagem with the Ladies Frolick. George Farquhar’s The Beaux’ Strategem , London, 1707; The Ladies’ Frolick , London, 1770, by James Love, pseudonym for James Dance (...
56Monday Decr. 1st. 1783. (Adams Papers)
This evening I went with Mr. West to the Academy of Painting &c. and had the same entertainment as that of which I spoke last Monday.
57Tuesday Decr. 2d. (Adams Papers)
This day my father dined out; in the evening I went to the Drury Lane Theatre, had the Beaux Stratagem with the Ladies Frolick. George Farquhar’s The Beaux’ Strategem , London, 1707; The Ladies’ Frolick , London, 1770, by James Love, pseudonym for James Dance ( Biographia Dramatica David Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ... , London,...
58Friday Decr. 5th. 1783. (Adams Papers)
In the evening I went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Merchant of Venice , with Love a la Mode ; a young Lady appeared for the first Time she play’d upon any Stage in the part of Portia . Love à la Mode , London, 1793, by Charles Macklin, first produced in 1760 ( Biographia Dramatica David Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ... ,...
59Saturday. Decr. 6th. 1783. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. W. Vassal’s at Clapham. William Vassall , once a prominent Bostonian, now a loyalist refugee, whom JA later described as “one of my old friends and clients ... a man of letters and virtues, without one vice that I ever knew or suspected, except garrulity” ( Sibley-Shipton, Harvard Graduates John Langdon Sibley and Clifford K. Shipton, Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard...
60John Quincy Adams to Elizabeth Cranch, 18 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
While I was at St. Petersbourg, I had, the Pleasure, of receiving a Letter from you; I answered it, but since that time I have shamefully neglected writing to you. I own my fault, and promise to repair it for the future; and I hope, that you will pardon me, upon that Condition. The only reason I had for it, was a bad one. I feared that if I wrote, you would perceive that the improvements I had...
61John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have only time to write a few lines for the present as the Post is about to depart. On Saturday the 15th. instant I sailed in the Packet Boat from Hellevoetsluys, and had another, long tedious voyage, tho’ the weather was so fine as to compensate for it in some measure. I arrived yesterday in the afternoon at Harwich, from which place I came in the Stage Coach here. The Adelphi Hotel, being...
62John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 20 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have been looking out for lodgings, yesterday and this day, and have at length found a bed Room, in the House, where Mr. Smith lodges; and as he intends to go into the Country next week, I shall then take those Rooms which he now occupies. Captain Calohan , is expected every day, and it is very probable that within a fortnight, I shall hear from our Ladies. I have not seen Mr. Stockdale yet,...
63John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday, I met Mr. Bridgen at the Coffee House; he told me he had a book for you, and this morning he sent it to my lodgings; Mr. Watson who leaves this place to morrow, has been so kind as to offer to take charge of any thing I wish to send, and will deliver you the volume, with this. The Parliament have done nothing as yet, as all the time has been taken up, in swearing in the Members,...
64John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received your favour by Dr. Parker, and was very glad to find you pleased with your situation, tho’ I was myself in pretty low Spirits. I have been continually endeavouring to get acquainted with some person who would introduce me into the House of Commons, and have not as yet succeeded; on the other hand, Callihan is arrived; has had a delightful passage, but in lieu of our...
65John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 6 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last Wednesday Mr. W. Vaughan, got me introduced into the house of Commons, and I was there, from about 2. in the afternoon till 1. the next morning. The Subject, was a very dry, uninteresting one to me, it was the Westminster election, and the time, till 10 at night was taken up in hearing the Council counsel , on one side for Mr. Fox, and the electors of Westminster who petitioned, and on...
66John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am so pleased with your Letters, in general, that you may well believe that of the 6. has contributed very much to my Happiness. As you have found the Way into the Gallery, I hope you will not neglect it, but attend every Day. It is a great and illustrious School. I return you inclosed, the Letter from Mr. Dexter to Mr. Temple, to whom present my Compliments. In a Letter I wrote a Year ago...
67John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 15 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I this day receiv’d your favour of the 11th. instant and expect to send the Books away, in the course of this week, if I receive no contrary orders from you I shall leave this place, to morrow se’en nig ht, and shall attend Parliament, and the courts of Justice, which are now sitting, as often as possible, in the mean time. Mr. Whitefoord, who has been extremely polite and kind to me,...
68John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 18 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
In my last Letter, I informed you of my intention to set off for the Hague next Wednesday; since that I have thought that it would be more prudent for me to wait ’till the Saturday after; because Mr. Smith is now in the Country, and will in all probability return before in the course of the next week, and I shall then be able to see him before I go: I believe he intends returning to America...
69John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 30 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I was so lucky as to have a passage of 26 hours from Helvoet sluis to Harwich and arrived in town this morning. I will not attempt to describe my feelings at meeting two persons so dear to me after so long an absence: I will only say I was completely happy. You will perhaps have heard before this reaches you, that Mr. Jefferson is arrived, and is gone forward to Paris. This may perhaps alter...
70John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 6 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have not received as yet any answer to the letters we wrote you the day I arrived in town; and are yet in a State of great uncertainty and doubt whether to go over to Holland or to go directly on to Paris to meet you there. We have got all ready to leave this Place to morrow morning if we had received any directions from you, and indeed we had some thoughts of setting off for Harwich at any...
71[August 1784] (Adams Papers)
Left London, travelled to Sittingbourne. 43. miles. In the latter part of Dec. 1783, JA and JQA traveled from London to Bath via Oxford, but were unable to remain long at the famous spa because of the unsettling news that the Dutch loan which JA had obtained the previous summer had been overdrawn. Although JA ’s health had improved little during his short stay in England, he and JQA left...
72Sunday August 8th. [1784]. (Adams Papers)
Left London, travelled to Sittingbourne. 43. miles. In the latter part of Dec. 1783, JA and JQA traveled from London to Bath via Oxford, but were unable to remain long at the famous spa because of the unsettling news that the Dutch loan which JA had obtained the previous summer had been overdrawn. Although JA ’s health had improved little during his short stay in England, he and JQA left...
73[9th.] (Adams Papers)
Monday arrived at Dover and sailed for Calais. The trip from London to Paris is reported in fuller detail by 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. , 1:7–14).
74[10th.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday 5. A. M. arrived at Calais, in the afternoon took Post, and went as far as Boulogne, 4. Posts.
75[11th.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday went from Boulogne to Amiens.
76[12th.] (Adams Papers)
Thursday, from Amiens to Chantilly.
77[13th.] (Adams Papers)
Friday, visited the curiosities at Chantilly. Arrived at Paris. The Adamses visited the seat of the Prince of Condé and saw his kennel, stables, theater, and gardens ( same 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. , p. 11–14).
78Sunday August 15th. 1784. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Barclay’s.
79Monday [16th.] (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Hartleys.
80Tuesday [17th.] (Adams Papers)
Moved out to Auteuil. Over the course of the preceding four months, JA in correspondence with Thomas Barclay had made arrangements to rent the house in which he and JQA had obtained apartments shortly after the signing of the Definitive Treaty (entry for 10 Aug. 1783, note 2 , above). The Hôtel de Rouault and the Adamses’ life there are colorfully described by AA in Howard C. Rice Jr., ed.,...
81Wednesday [18th.] (Adams Papers)
Coll. Humphreys arrived. David Humphreys , a former aide-decamp to Washington, was appointed on 12 May secretary to the Commission (which included JA , Franklin, and Jefferson) to negotiate treaties of amity and commerce with foreign powers ( DAB Allen Johnson and Dumas Malone, eds., Dictionary of American Biography , New York, 1928-1936; 20 vols, plus index and supplements. ; JCC Worthington...
82[19th.] (Adams Papers)
Thursday went into Paris shopping.
83Saturday. [21st]. (Adams Papers)
Went to Paris. Gave Gregson a watch to repair. Am to have it again, Wednesday next.
84Sunday August 22d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jefferson and his Daughter, Coll: Humphreys, and Genl. dined with us. Martha Jefferson had only recently arrived with her father in Paris from America. She remained in France, attending school and studying French, until the end of Jefferson’s diplomatic mission in 1789 (Edward T. James and others, eds., Notable American Women, 1607–1950: A Biographical Dictionary , 3 vols., Cambridge,...
85[24th.] (Adams Papers)
Tuesday morning. Went to Paris.
86[25th.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday dined at the Abbé de Chalut’s.
87Thursday [26th]. (Adams Papers)
Went to Gregson’s for Watches. He was not at home.
88[27th.] (Adams Papers)
Friday dined with the Abbés at Passi.
89Saturday[28th]. (Adams Papers)
We had a large Company to dine with us. The company included the Abbés Arnoux, Chalut, and Mably, Benjamin Franklin, David Hartley, and John Paul Jones ( 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. , 1:17).
90[30th.] (Adams Papers)
Monday afternoon went into Paris. Subscribed for the Journal de Paris. Drank tea with Mrs. Valnais. Mrs. Joseph Dupas de Iden de Valnais , née Eunice Quincy (1760–1793), daughter of Henry Quincy (1727–1780) and distant cousin of JQA . Eunice married Valnais in 1781 while he served as French consul in Boston. He was recalled to France shortly thereafter ( Descendants of Edmund Quincy, comp....
91[September 1784] (Adams Papers)
Dined at Dr. Franklin’s. Thursday morning went into Paris. Mr. and Mrs. Mather, and Mrs. Hay dined with us. Went to the French Comedy and saw le mariage de Figaro. Samuel Mather and his wife, Margarette (Gerrish) Mather; he was the son of the Rev. Samuel Mather. Young Samuel had been chief clerk of the Boston customs office until he fled to England with the loyalists, but he returned to...
92Wednesday September 1st. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Dr. Franklin’s.
93[2d.] (Adams Papers)
Thursday morning went into Paris.
94Friday [3d]. (Adams Papers)
Mr. and Mrs. Mather, and Mrs. Hay dined with us. Went to the French Comedy and saw le mariage de Figaro. Samuel Mather and his wife, Margarette (Gerrish) Mather; he was the son of the Rev. Samuel Mather. Young Samuel had been chief clerk of the Boston customs office until he fled to England with the loyalists, but he returned to Massachusetts after his father’s death ( Sibley-Shipton, Harvard...
95Saturday[4th]. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Jefferson. Went to the Italian Comedy in the Evening; had la fausse magie, and Zemire et Azor. La fausse magie , Paris, 1775, by Jean François Marmontel, with music by André Ernest Modest Grétry. The pair also collaborated on Zémire et Azor , Paris, 1771 ( Brenner, Bibliographical List Clarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789 ,...
96[5th.] (Adams Papers)
Sunday dined at Mr. Grand’s at Passy. Went after dinner to the Chateau de la Muette and saw the Dauphin. Ferdinand Grand , the Paris banker of the American ministers, lived at La Chaise, Passy ( MHS, Procs . Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections and Proceedings. , 54 [1920]: 107–108). The Château de la Muette, originally a hunting lodge in the Bois de Boulogne, was rebuilt by Louis XV,...
97[6th.] (Adams Papers)
Monday Mr. Tracy dined with us. Nathaniel Tracy had come to France via Cowes with Jefferson and his daughter Martha aboard his vessel Ceres, which had sailed from Boston in early July. His purpose was to settle claims against his firm; his lack of success eventually contributed to his worsening financial plight ( Jefferson, Papers The Papers of Thomas Jefferson , ed. Julian P. Boyd and others,...
98Tuesday[7th]. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Tracy’s and went in the evening to see la métromanie , and Crispin Rival de son Maitre , at the french Comedy. Alexis Piron, La métromanie, ou, le poète , Paris, 1738 ( Brenner, Bibliographical List Clarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789 , Berkeley, 1947. ). JQA had seen Le Sage’s Crispin while living in St. Petersburg.
99[10th.] (Adams Papers)
Friday went into Paris in the afternoon.
100Saturday[11th]. (Adams Papers)
Had Company to dine with us. Following this last entry in D/JQA/9 are the following notations: Wednesday Octr. 13th. first made a fire in my Chamber. Filled my J. S. Decr. 4th. took 3. p: March 20. 1785. no fire.