1051Feb. 5. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
The Duke de Rochefoucault, Mr. Turgot, Abbe Rochon and De la Roche, dined here.
10521779. Feb. 8. (Adams Papers)
In Conversation with Dr. Franklin, in the Morning I gave him my Opinion, of Mr. Deanes Address to the People of America, with great Freedom and perhaps with too much Warmth. I told him that it was one of the most wicked and abominable Productions that ever sprung from an human Heart. That there was no safety in Integrity against such a Man. That I should wait upon The Comte de Vergennes, and...
10531779 Feb. 9. (Adams Papers)
Abbe C . Any Thing to divert Melancholly, and to sooth an aking Heart. The Uncandor, the Prejudices, the Rage, among several Persons here, make me Sick as Death. Virtue is not always amiable. Integrity is sometimes ruined by Prejudices and by Passions. There are two Men in the World who are Men of Honour and Integrity I believe, but whose Prejudices and violent Tempers would raise Quarrells in...
1054[Draft of a Letter to Vergennes, 10–11 February 1779.]Confidential (Adams Papers)
As your Excellency reads English perfectly well, my first Request is that you would not communicate this Letter, even to a Translator. I have hitherto avoided, in my single Capacity, giving your Excellency, any Trouble at all either by Letter or by Conversation. But the present Crisis Emergency demands that I should ask the Favour of your Excellency to explain my Sentiments to you, either by...
10551779. Feb. 11. (Adams Papers)
When I arrived in France, the French Nation had a great many Questions to settle. The first was—Whether I was the famous Adams, Le fameux Adams? —Ah, le fameux Adams?—In order to speculate a little upon this Subject, the Pamphlet entituled Common sense, had been printed in the Affaires de L’Angleterre et De L’Amérique, and expressly ascribed to M. Adams the celebrated Member of Congress, le...
1056Feb. 11. 1779. (Adams Papers)
It is my indispensable Duty, to tell the Comte de Vergennes that I think one great Cause of this horrid Address of Mr. Deane is Mr. Franklins Certificate in his favour that he is an able and faithfull Negotiator, and that Mr. Franklin was deceived in this—that Mr. F.’s Knowledge actually in America, for a great Many Years has not been long —that he was Upright in this but deceived. That there...
1057Feb. 12. (Adams Papers)
My Mind has been in such a State, since the Appearance of Mr. Deanes Address to the People, as it never was before. I confess it appeared to me like a Dissolution of the Constitution. It should be remembered that it first appeared from London in the English Papers—then in the Courier De L’Europe—and We had not received the Proceedings of Congress upon it. A few days after, Dr. Franklin...
1058Feby. 13. (Adams Papers)
There is no such Thing as human Wisdom. All is the Providence of God. Perhaps few Men have guessed more exactly than I have been allowed to do, upon several Occasions, but at this Time which is the first I declare of my whole Life I am wholly at a Loss to foresee Consequences.
1059[March 1779] (Adams Papers)
Went to Versailles, in order to take Leave of the Ministry. Had a long Conversation, with the Comte De Vergennes, in french, which I found I could talk as fast as I pleased. I asked him what Effect the Peace of Germany would have upon our War. He said he believed none, because neither the Emperor nor King of Prussia were maritime Powers. I asked him, whether he thought that England would be...
10601779 March 3. (Adams Papers)
Went to Versailles, in order to take Leave of the Ministry. Had a long Conversation, with the Comte De Vergennes, in french, which I found I could talk as fast as I pleased. I asked him what Effect the Peace of Germany would have upon our War. He said he believed none, because neither the Emperor nor King of Prussia were maritime Powers. I asked him, whether he thought that England would be...
10611779. March 4. (Adams Papers)
Walked with Mr. Jennings to Calvare, with my son. Edmund Jenings (1731–1819) is an obscure but ubiquitous figure in the European scene during the American Revolution, and an important one in the history of JA ’s diplomatic missions. Born in Annapolis, he was named for his father, King’s attorney and secretary of Maryland, and his grandfather, acting governor of Virginia early in the century....
10621779 March 12. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
About one O Clock arrived at Nantes at L’hotelle de la Comedie, Rue, after a Journey of near five days, having sett off from Passy Monday the 8th. This Journey, which was by Versailles, is thro the most barren and least cultivated Part of France. After Dinner, I had the Honour to be visited by the following American Gentlemen. Mr. Williams, Mr. Williams my Pupil, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Ridley, Mr....
1063[April 1779] (Adams Papers)
At Nantes, Hotel de la Comedie, Rue Bignonestar.... Walked, this Morning with my Son over all the Bridges. There are several Islands in the River and they have built Bridges from one to another, and Houses upon the Islands. There are fine Meadows on each Side, and the mixed Appearance of Houses, Meadows, Water and Bridges is very uncommon and amuzing. The first Island is built on with very...
10641779. April 14. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
At Nantes, Hotel de la Comedie, Rue Bignonestar.... Walked, this Morning with my Son over all the Bridges. There are several Islands in the River and they have built Bridges from one to another, and Houses upon the Islands. There are fine Meadows on each Side, and the mixed Appearance of Houses, Meadows, Water and Bridges is very uncommon and amuzing. The first Island is built on with very...
10651779. April 15. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at home.
106616. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Williams. Mr. Johnson there. Walked after dinner along the River, and about the Town.
106717. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday and to day in the forenoon, assisted my Son in translating Cicero’s first Phillippick against Cataline. Nantes is pleasantly situated on the River, and there are several agreable Prospects. The Views from the front Windows in the Row of Houses along the River is very beautiful. Mr. Schweighausser crauled up three Pair of Stairs to visit me this Morning.
1068Ap. 18. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Schweighaussers. About six O Clock in the Evening, Captain Landais came into my Chamber. The Alliance is safe arrived at St. Lazar, with her Prisoners. JA first wrote “Isle de Lazare” and then altered it to the present reading. But he certainly meant Saint Nazaire, at the mouth of the Loire.
10691779. April 22nd. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Morning, embarked at Nantes, with Mr. Hill, the first Lieutenant, and Mr. Parks, who is Captain of Marines, and my Son. We stopped and dined at Portlaunay, after Dinner crossed over to Pelerine Le Pellerin , where We went to the House of a Mr. Char-michael, a Scotch Man who lives by salting Beef and making Bacon for the Navigation of this River. This Man I suppose was a Jacobite who...
1070Ap. 23. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
A violent Wind, and Rain.
107124. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
The same.
1072Ap. 25. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Fair Weather again. My Time has been employed since I have been on board, in writing Answers to my Letters from Paris, Bourdeaux, Passy &c. and in assisting my Son to translate into English which he does in writing Ciceros first Phillippic against Cataline—which we have gone more than half thro. He is also translating into English the french Preface of the Abbey D’olivet, to his Translation of...
1073Ap. 26. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Morning in translating with my Son the Carmen Seculare, and the Notes. There is a Feebleness and a Languor in my Nature. My Mind and Body both partake of this Weakness. By my Physical Constitution, I am but an ordinary Man. The Times alone have destined me to Fame —and even these have not been able to give me, much. When I look in the Glass, my Eye, my Forehead, my Brow, my Cheeks,...
10741779 Ap. 28. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Went up to Nantes from Minden or St. Nazare, before Wind and Tide in 4 Hours. This Morning by C aptain Landais who came on board I received a Letter from Dr. F. inclosing one from M. de Sartine, both expressing a Desire, that the Alliance might not sail for some Time, and that I would take my Passage home, with M. Le Chevalier de la Luzerne, the new Ambassador, in one of the Kings Frigates....
1075[May 1779] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Odea of Paimbœuf, Coll. Wibirt and Mr. Ford, dined in the Cabin. O. speaks English perfectly, appears to have read much, is an Admirer of Rousseau and Buffon. W. is silent; has something little in his Face and Air: and makes no great Discovery of Skill or Science. F. talks as much as ever. Says, that the Americans at Paris, wished I had remained at Passy, instead of F ranklin —that Passy...
10761779. May 7th or 8th. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Odea of Paimbœuf, Coll. Wibirt and Mr. Ford, dined in the Cabin. O. speaks English perfectly, appears to have read much, is an Admirer of Rousseau and Buffon. W. is silent; has something little in his Face and Air: and makes no great Discovery of Skill or Science. F. talks as much as ever. Says, that the Americans at Paris, wished I had remained at Passy, instead of F ranklin —that Passy...
10771779. May 9. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
The Pilot came on Board this Morning from St. Nazare, and pronounced it unsafe to go out, with this Wind. F. this Morning, fell to talking.— “Above half the Gentlemen of Paris are Atheists, and the other half Deists. No Body goes to Church but the common People. I wish I could find one honest Man among their Merchants and Tradesmen” &c. &c. Mr. F., says I, let me be so free as to request of...
1078Monday May. 10. (Adams Papers)
This Morning the Wind at S.E. The Pilot came on board, the Alliance unmoored and set Sail, for L’orient. A gentle Breeze, fair Weather, and moderately warm. The I Lt. I have made by this War £120 of Prize Money, for which I got six Months Imprisonment, and spent the little that I had. This is all I have got by the War. The Sand Droguers and Chimney Sweepers in Boston have all turned Merchants...
10791779. Tuesday. May 11. (Adams Papers)
Sailing by Belisle, which the English took last War after a Defence of Six Weeks with about 900 Men. F. still on the Subject. He says that the Contract made by F ranklin and D eane with the farmers general, was for £40 Pr. Ct. whereas Tobacco was then at 90 and T. Morris made a Contract with them before for £70. F. and D. to be sure were duped by the Farmers General but F or d has nothing...
1080Wednesday May 12th. (Adams Papers)
L andais is jealous of every Thing. Jealous of every Body, of all his Officers, all his Passengers. He knows not how to treat his Officers, nor his Passengers nor any Body else.—Silence, Reserve, and a forbidding Air, will never gain the Hearts, neither by Affection nor by Veneration, of our Americans. There is in this Man an Inactivity and an Indecision that will ruin him. He is bewildered—an...
1081Thursday. May 13th. (Adams Papers)
Went on Shore and dined with Captain Jones at the Epèe Royal. Mr. Amiel, Mr. Dick, Dr. Brooke, officers of the Poor Richard, Captain Cazneau, Captain Young, Mr. Ingraham, Mr. Blodget, Mr. Glover, Mr. Conant, Messrs. Moylans, Mr. Maese, Mr. Nesbit, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Tayler, made the Company, with Captain Landais, myself and my Son. An elegant Dinner we had—and all very agreable. No very...
1082May 14. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
On Board all day, ill of a Cold. Many Gentlemen came on board to visit me. A Dr. Brooks, Surgeon to the Poor Richard, drank Tea with me. He seems to be well acquainted with Philosophical Experiments. I led him to talk upon this subject. He had much to say about Phlogiston, fixed Air, Gas &c. About absolute and sensible Heat, Experiments with the Thermometer, to shew the absolute and sensible...
108315 May. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Went on Shore, and dined with Captain Jones at the Mess, at L’Epee Royale. Mr. Hill, Capt. Cazneau, Captn. Young, Mr. Dick, Dr. Brooks &c. Mr. Gourlade, another Aid du Camp of the Marquis &c. Gourlade married a Scotch Lady.—Captain Jones this Morning shewed me a Letter from Lt. Browne, desiring or rather apologizing for leaving the Ship, because of the Word (first) in M. Amiels Com mission. I...
1084May 16. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Went on Shore, and dined with Mr. Moylan. Jones, Landais, Chaumont Pere et Fils, Moylan Frere, Maese, made the Company. Maese made a sensible Observation, vizt., that he ever found five out of six of the People of England supporting the Measures of Government. That the People of America had been deceived by their Friends in England, by writing that the People were against these Measures....
1085May 17. Monday. (Adams Papers)
L. gave Us an Account of St. George at Paris, a Molatto Man, Son of a former Governor of Guadaloupe, by a Negro Woman. He has a sister married to a Farmer General. He is the most accomplished Man in Europe in Riding, Running, Shooting, Fencing, Dancing, Musick. He will hit the Button, any Button on the Coat or Waistcoat of the greatest Masters. He will hit a Crown Piece in the Air with a...
1086May 18 Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
On Board all day, reading Don Quixot. Surviving among JA ’s books in the Boston Public Library are a single volume of a six-volume set of Don Quixote in French, Paris, 1768, and a four-volume set in Spanish, Madrid, 1777 ( Catalogue of JA’s Library Catalogue of the John Adams Library in the Public Library of the City of Boston, Boston, 1917. ).
1087May 19. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Pleasant. My State is tedious enough, waiting for the Chevalier, and loosing Time and Wind. Expectation is a painful Posture of the Mind, and Suspence, which is a little different, is worse. This of L’orient is a fine Port and Harbour. Men of War can come up to the Wharf, and they commonly lie not far from it. But there is no such pleasant Prospects of the Country as in Boston Harbour.
10881779 May 20. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
Went ashore, met a Servant of Mr. Chaumont on the Wharf, who presented me his Masters Compliments and an Invitation to dine which I accepted. He lodges at Monsieur who with his Lady and Daughter of Six Years, an Officer of the Navy, Mr. C, my Self and Son made the Company. A rich Dinner for so small a Company. The little Daughter of Six Years, shewed the Effects of early Culture. She sung at...
108921. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Ingraham and Mr. Merrick dined with me, in the Cabbin.
109022 Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Went ashore. Dr. W indship revealed to me, a Secret concerning the Parson.—Good God! ... He is confident. He knows.—The Rheumatism never touches the Glands. It is a confirmed ——. He says, that B lodget knows so too.—It must come to an Head. It will break. It will be two months at least. He has purged himself off his Legs. Has exhausted himself by Purges. (It gets into the Circulations—breaks...
109123d. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Waited in the Morning on Mr. Chaumont, agreed to go tomorrow Morning, on board the Sensible to make my Visit to the Commander. Went to the Lodging of Mr. Ingraham and Blodget. where about 8 or 10 Americans Breakfast every Morning and drink Punch every Evening. Took a Walk with Mr. Ingraham about the Town and then went and dined with Mr. Puchelberg. This is a modest and a decent German. He says...
109224. Monday. (Adams Papers)
Went with Mr. Chaumont to make my Visit to the Captain of the Sensible, the Frigate in which I am to embark, and was civilly received. Went next on Board the Pallas, where we breakfasted with the Officers, and then viewed the Ship. Went next on board the Poor Richard and took another look at her. Went ashore and dined with C. Jones. The Captain of the Pallas dined there and an Officer of his...
1093[June 1779] (Adams Papers)
Dined on Shore at the Coffee House with Jones, Landais, the two Aids de Camp of the Marquis de la Fayette, Capt. Cotineau. Dined on Board the Sensible, at the Invitation of the Captn. Mr. Chavan Chavagnes , with Mr. Thevenard, Mr. Grandville, Mr. Chaumont, &c. &c. On fait, et defait—mande et contremand. “A Strong Fleet is necessary to defend the Port of Brest.” This Observation, which I had...
10941779 June 1st. (Adams Papers)
Dined on Shore at the Coffee House with Jones, Landais, the two Aids de Camp of the Marquis de la Fayette, Capt. Cotineau.
1095June 2d. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Dined on Board the Sensible, at the Invitation of the Captn. Mr. Chavan Chavagnes , with Mr. Thevenard, Mr. Grandville, Mr. Chaumont, &c. &c. On fait, et defait—mande et contremand. “A Strong Fleet is necessary to defend the Port of Brest.” This Observation, which I had never heard before, struck me. The Dry Docks might be destroyed, the Stores burnt or demolished, the Magazines destroyed, &c....
10961779. June 8. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I sent one Boat with some of my Things, and this Morning another with the Remainder, on Board the Sensible. Landais has torn open the old Sore, and in my Opinion, has now ruined the Peace of this Ship. He has an unhappy Mind. He must ever have something to complain of—something to peave and fret about. He is jealous.
10971779 Saturday [12 June]. (Adams Papers)
Last night, the Chevalier de La Luzerne arrived, and took Lodgings at the Epee Royal, in a Chamber opposite to mine up two Pair of Stairs. He did me the Honour, together with Monsieur Marbois, his Secretary, or rather the Secretary of the Commission, to visit me in my Chamber this Morning, and invited me to dine, with him in his Chamber with my Son. The Ambassador, the Secretary, Mr. Chaumont,...
10981779. June 17. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
At 6 O Clock this Morning, Monsieur Chavan, Capitain of the Sensible, sent his Canot, on Shore for me, and mine, and here I am, in full Possession of my Apartment. Sailed about 3 o Clock, in Company with the Bon Homme Richard Captain Jones, the Alliance Captain Landais, the Captain Young, the Captain Cazneau, the Courier de L’Europe Capt. The Three Friends Capt. Colman, belonging to Mr....
10991779. June 18. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning, the Monsieur a french Privateer, which sailed out from L’orient as We went into it in the Alliance, came in with four English Prizes, having made Six this Cruise. She and her Prizes saluted the Sensible, and their Salutes were returned. Received a Card from Mr. Williams 3d., apologising for the 3 friends that the Pilot refused to take charge of her untill the Morning. I asked a...
11001779. June 18. Fryday. (Adams Papers)
The orders are to breakfast at 10., dine at 5. and sup at 10.