249126th. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon. Froullé, books upon astronomy. Went to see Mr. West and Mr. Waring but neither was at home. Messieurs Van den Yver bankers Ruë Royale , Butte St. Roch . Spent part of the evening with the abbés. While I was there a Gentleman came in, who was a great partisan, for animal magnetism, that he very strenuously defended. Speaking of Dr. Franklin, he said j’aime beaucoup M: Franklin,...
249215th. (Adams Papers)
All day at home. My Uncle, was applied to last Saturday by a man, to do a little jobb for him, as he term’d it, which was to marry him. So he went in the afternoon: My Aunt and Eliza went in the Chaise. I made in the Evening a few reflections, which I had not time to write down, now, but, must remember to do it some other day. The weather begins to grow cold, and it is probable, we shall have...
24938th. (Adams Papers)
Read through the remainder of the Dialogues, which Reid says, “prove by unanswerable arguments, what no man in his Senses can believe.” There are however, great objections to the System which are not mentioned. This work appears to me, to confound the cause with its effect for ever. Thus if I burn my fingers, they say, the fire by which I burnt them is in my mind, because, the Sensation which...
249422d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Shaw went over to Weymouth. Mr. Cranch returned from Boston, and Mr. Standfast Smith came with him. My brothers and myself pass’d the night at the bottom of the hill.
249511th. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Adams at the Marquis de la Fayette’s. There was not much American Company: M: le Marquis de St. Simon, who has served in America. Mr. Grandchamp, Capitaine de Vaisseau, and M: le Marquis de Rosanbot premier president au Parlement de Paris. Mr. Ruston was there. This is the first comfortable day we have had this Season: the roads are exceedingly dusty for want of Rain. Madam...
24965th. (Adams Papers)
After passing all the day, at pretty Close Study, I went and spent the Evening at Mr. White’s. Mr. Osgood, and Major Bart lett, with their Ladies, were there: I had at length, an Invitation from the former, to go to his House. The terms that subsist between his family and Mr. Shaw’s, are such, that, I did not expect any notice from him: nor had I any right to expect it: but as a man possess’d...
249730th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams dined at the Spanish Ambassador’s, Count d’Aranda, an old man 70 years of age, who married, last year a young woman of 20. Peace be with him!
249812th. (Adams Papers)
Charles and myself went over to Weymouth, and dined at Doctor Tufts’s. We were overtaken by a violent thunder shower. The lightening fell at a very small distance from an house where we took shelter while the Cloud pass’d over. When we return’d to Braintree we found Mr. Dingley at my uncle’s.
249916th. (Adams Papers)
Went with Mrs. A into Paris in the afternoon. Got a book of Pissot, and Brindley’s Terence, la folle journée , and Vossius de hist. grae: of Froullé. Left the Ladies, on the quai des Augustins, and went to see Mr. West, whose hand is still very much swelled. The Ladies came, in the evening, and took me at the Hôtel de Bretagne. Pissot, a publishing firm in Paris. The book has not been...
25002d. (Adams Papers)
I have been too busily employ’d, to have much to say. Study, does not afford, a rich source for description. We had a moot Court in the afternoon at Fiske’s Chamber. Packard was condemned. Mr. and Mrs. Cranch were here.
25012d. (Adams Papers)
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 my father from Dr. Franklin, informing him that Mr. Randall arrived from New York in the last Packet, and that he has Letters from Mr. Jay for my father. We went immediately to the Hôtel d’Orléans Rue St. Anne, and found...
2502John 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...
2503[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 (...
25043d. (Adams Papers)
Pass’d the evening at Little’s in Newbury. A Mr. Coffin, who graduated two years ago, at Harvard, was there. We spent our time in sociable chat, and in singing; not such unmeaning, insignificant songs, as those with which we killed our time last evening; but good, jovial, expressive songs such as we sung at College, “when mirth and jollity prevail’d.” One evening of this kind gives me more...
250525th. (Adams Papers)
This afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Shaw came in from Haverhill; they found us still in great disorder: we began this day to unpack the books; though we have at present no room to stow them in, properly. They were moist and some what mouldy, but not injured at all.
25069. (Adams Papers)
Diné à Passi. C. Ital: Jeannot et Colin, l’heureuse Erreur et les Vendangeurs. Florian, Jeannot et Colin , Paris, 1780; Joseph Patrat, L’heureuse erreur, Paris, 1783; Pierre Antoine Augustin de Piis and Pierre Yves Barré, Les vendangeurs, ou, les deux baillis, Paris, 1780 ( Brenner, Bibliographical List Clarence Dietz Brenner, A Bibliographical List of plays in the French Language, 1700-1789 ,...
250715th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. West went away this morning; My Father and my brother Charles, went to Boston; whence they will proceed tomorrow to Cambridge. Beale came here this forenoon, and took a dinner with us. He is studying law, with Mr. Barnes at Taunton, but spends much of his time at home. Mr. Wibird pass’d the afternoon and evening here. Dr. Tufts called here on his way to Boston, and my brother Tom went to...
250818th. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon I attended at Mr. Smith’s meeting: he preaches without notes, and like all the preachers, who make a practice of this, that I ever heard, often repeats the same sentiments. In the afternoon I went to hear Mr. Shaw. After meeting I went up there and pass’d part of the evening. Mr. Redington and Captain Marsh and Deacon Eames were there.
25095th. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon A Doctor Young came to our office, for a writ against a number of insurgents. It seems he was a volunteer in the service of government, the winter before last; and being upon a party against several of them received a ball in his knee, which has made him a cripple for Life. He brought an action against them some time since at Worcester, but his jury were one half of them...
25108th. (Adams Papers)
Amory went to Ipswich this afternoon. He cannot yet get entirely over his old habits. He intends however to come back this evening. I went with Townsend to see Mr. Atkins, but did not find him at home. His Mother and Sister have both been ill of the putrid throat distemper, and are not yet wholly recovered. Townsend came home, and sat an hour with me. We conversed upon several topics, but...
251125th. (Adams Papers)
The other young gentlemen, went off at about 8 o’clock: I waited about an hour longer, in order to accompany Mrs. Williams. Stopp’d about a quarter of an hour at Genl. Warren’s, and arrived at College before 12: found very few of the students arrived; pass’d the evening at Mr. Dana’s: he is still upon the recovery, but not very fast. Walter Hunnewell , will be 18 the 10th. of next August. His...
251222d. (Adams Papers)
Weather remarkably mild for the Season: I have been rather unwell for a week or 10 days back, which prevents me from applying myself with so much assiduity as I should wish to. I passed this evening with Thompson and Putnam at Little’s. We were very sociable, and cheerful. At 9 we return’d to our respective homes. The weather before this, had cleared up, though in the afternoon it had...
251315th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Williams gave us a lecture upon pneumatics: The parts for Commencement were not given out this morning as was expected: but the Class met by adjournment and tore up the agreement, as they found there was not sufficient unanimity, to carry the measure into execution. William Mason , of Salem, Essex C. will be 19 the 12th. of next September. His natural abilities are very good, and he has a...
251412th. (Adams Papers)
This day I finished reading the fourth and last volume of Blackstone’s Commentaries. This is one of the most important books in the profession, and I have comparatively speaking taken more time in reading it, than I probably shall, for any other book: yet I am very far, from being master of it. And I intend before the end of my three years, if I should live and have my health, to go through...
251518th. (Adams Papers)
Unwell, so that I could not do much all day. Finished my elements for an eclipse, and finally found it would be here before Sunrise, and consequently not visible.
25165th. (Adams Papers)
This morning after Commons we had a meeting of the ΦBK, at Cranch’s chamber: We began by admitting the junior’s Grosvenor, Gardner and Barron, after which the performances for the day came on; I read the following Essay. This proposition, though it be strictly true, will not obtain the assent of mankind in general. Very few persons, can so far overcome the prejudices of Education, as to think...
25178th. (Adams Papers)
It Snow’d in the morning till 10 o’clock, and it was feared the exhibition, must be again postponed. But it cleared before noon, and at about 3 o’clock, the president made his appearance in the chapel. Lloyd delivered an Oration, upon Commerce in Latin. He spoke so low that I could not hear him. Abbot 2d. and Chandler , then read a forensic, on the question, whether the natural reason of man...
251825th. (Adams Papers)
Weather still the same. Mr. Wibird spent the afternoon at Mr. Cranch’s. I went with my brother down, and drank tea at my Uncle Adams’s. Had some difficulty to get horses to go to Cambridge with to-morrow. Mr. H. Hayden, died last night of a wound he received by a gun going off, while he was fowling, about 3 weeks agone.
251922d. (Adams Papers)
We had a lecture in the forenoon from Mr. Wigglesworth. Wrote off something upon conic Sections; for Mr. Williams’s next Lecture. For the future it is left at the option of every individual in the class to attend him or not. The sodality met this evening, but I could not attend. Williams was part of the evening at my chamber.
25208th. (Adams Papers)
I went out with Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Swift, and Miss Riché, to Content to see Lady Wheate, who is one of the most reputed beauties in the Town. I own I do not admire her so much as I expected to, before I saw her. She is like too many, of the handsome Ladies here, very affected. The most pleasing Characters here, are of those who are pretty without enjoying any share of beauty. When shall I see...