265125th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Short. The Marquis de la Fayette is not arrived. Mrs. Barclay. William Short , private secretary to Jefferson in Paris from 1785 to 1789 (George Green Shackelford, “William Short, Diplomat in Revolutionary France,” Amer. Philos. Soc., Procs. American Philosophical Society, Proceedings. , 102:596–612 [Dec. 1958]).
265226th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. A: Paris. A Gentleman brought a Letter from Mr. Jay, which came by the Marquis de la Fayette: who will arrive this evening at Versailles. John Jay to JA , 13 Dec. 1784 ( Adams Papers ).
265327th. (Adams Papers)
Company to dine Mr. d’Asp, and another Swedish gentleman. Mr. Setaro a Portuguese gentleman in the Evening. Mr. Williams spent the evening with us. Coll. Humphreys presented to Mr. A: a copy of his Poem address’d to the Armies of the United States. It appears very well written. The versification is in general noble, and easy. It is a recapitulation of some of the principal events that happened...
265428th. (Adams Papers)
Paris in the Evening. French Theatre. Iphigenie en Aulide , of Racine, and l’Aveugle Clairvoyant . Though the tragedy is perhaps the best that is acted upon the Theatre, and though they had last night several of the best players, to act it, the House was not half full. Such is the present taste in this Kingdom. Brizards in Agamemnon is not I think so good as in some other parts: though it is a...
265529th. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon, alone. Mr. Jeffersons. He looks much afflicted. The last letters, brought him news of the death of one of his daughters: he has a great deal of Sensibility. Bought books. Jefferson received the news of the death of Lucy Elizabeth (b. 1782), his second daughter by that name, in a letter from James Currie, 20 Nov. 1784, which was received on 26 Jan., carried by Lafayette (...
265630th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. met Mr. Jefferson, at Paris, in the forenoon. 31 The Marquis de la Fayette was here in the evening. He appears very well satisfied with his last voyage to America.
265731st. (Adams Papers)
Paris in the afternoon. French Theatre. Abdir, and le Roi de Cocagne. Abdir is a new piece. This was only the 2d. Representation: ’tis the history of young Asgill, brought upon the Stage, under feigned names. G. Britain is Nangés. Vazercan is General Washington. Abdir is Asgill. The King of Persia is the King of France, who at the end of the Piece sends an Ambassador to the new Republic,...
2658[February 1785] (Adams Papers)
Paris. In the afternoon with Mr. A. went for the books arrived from London. Not to be found. Bought other books. Weather somewhat cold. The whole month of January very mild. JQA began this month with the date “Tuesday February 1st. 1785.,” but his first entry is on the third. Neither set of books has been identified. Snowy, stormy weather all the morning, but clear in the afternoon. Mrs. and...
26593d. (Adams Papers)
Paris. In the afternoon with Mr. A. went for the books arrived from London. Not to be found. Bought other books. Weather somewhat cold. The whole month of January very mild. JQA began this month with the date “Tuesday February 1st. 1785.,” but his first entry is on the third. Neither set of books has been identified.
26604th. (Adams Papers)
Snowy, stormy weather all the morning, but clear in the afternoon. Mrs. and Miss A. went to Paris, and at length got, the long expected Books.
26615th. (Adams Papers)
Stormy Weather. Mr. A. went to Passy in the morning, and to the Marquis’s afternoon. A Letter from Mr. Dana: a vessel arrived at L’Orient from Boston. Dana to JA , 12 Dec. 1784 ( Adams Papers ).
26626th. (Adams Papers)
Enter Miss A. in the evening, and cries out, “Callahan is arrived, and a bushel of Letters. One for you Sir from C. Storer:” and away she flew. Miss had a dozen at least: there were very few for any body else. Presumably Capt. John Callahan, Boston shipmaster; it was probably his vessel that JQA referred to in his previous entry ( JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John...
26637th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Jefferson’s. Masks in the rue de Fauxbourg St. Antoine and in the ruë St. Honoré. With reason, are the Parisians called by all the rest of the Nation badauds de Paris, for nothing can be conceived more stupid, than this Carnaval amusement. An hundred people perhaps run about the streets in masks, and there are ten thousand people without masks looking upon them: it is said however...
26648th. (Adams Papers)
Coll. Humphreys. In the afternoon, went through Passy, to Paris. Mr. Jefferson’s. Saw the Masks again, a vast number more to day than yesterday. Shrove Tuesday last day of the Carnaval. French Comedy. But could get no places. A rare thing.
266511th. (Adams Papers)
Paris Afternoon. Coll. Humphreys and Mr. Short, went with us to see Astley’s equestrian exercises which, may be seen once or twice with pleasure, but which are tiresome, to one who has seen them as often as I have. Astley exhibits from October till february in Paris, and the rest of the year in London. His Amphitheatre here, is generally very full: he might make a very large fortune, but...
266612th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. Dined in Paris at the Duke of Dorset’s. Very cold weather: as much so, I think, as any, we have had this Season. John Frederick Sackville , third Duke of Dorset, the English ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Paris, 1783–1789 ( DNB Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The Dictionary of National Biography , New York and London, 1885-1900; 63 vols, plus supplements. ).
266714th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Dr. Franklin’s with a great deal of Company, among the rest Dr. Jeffries who lately cross’d with Mr. Blanchard, from Dover to Calais. He is a small man: has not an agreeable address, but seems to be very sensible: he related his voyage: in which his intrepidity had well nigh been fatal to him: the balloon descended he says, ¾ of a mile in 2. minutes: he and Mr. Blanchard were both of...
266815th. (Adams Papers)
Paris, afternoon. Carried Mr. A’s Letter to the Abbé de Mably, requesting him to write a moral, and political Catechism. The Abbés de Chalût and Arnoux read it. Went to Messieurs le Couteulx, for money, and was bad to come tomorrow. Bought the abridgement of Wolff’s course of Mathématics in french. Letter not found, but see Mably’s reply, 25 Feb. ( Adams Papers ). Le Couteulx & Cie., Paris...
266916th. (Adams Papers)
Paris, afternoon. Returned to Messrs: le Couteulx, for Mr. Gs business and finished it. Mr. Jefferson’s. A man of universal learning and very pleasing manners. Memorandum: borrowed 2 vols. of the Tableau de Paris. Either Ferdinand or Georges Grand, Paris bankers. [Louis Sebastien Mercier], Tableau de Paris. Nouvelle édition corrigée & augmentée. Jefferson had only the first six of twelve...
267019th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at the Swedish Ambassadors: the Company was not very numerous: a number of Sweeds, one, who lately came from America: the Ambassador said to me: mon dieu que Mlle. vôtre soeur est jolie! j’ai vu peu d’aussi jolies femmes qu’elle: he thought doubtless, that I should tell her what he said: he is a very agreeable man. The Gentleman lately from America, professes to be charmed with the...
267121st. (Adams Papers)
All dined at the Marquis de la Fayette. There was a considerable company, mostly composed of Americans. We saw two of the Marquis’s children; he has three; but the other is out at nurse at Versailles. His son is called George Washington: about 4 years old, a very pretty child: the Legislature of the State of Connecticut have lately made his father and him, citizens of that State. The Marquis’s...
267222d. (Adams Papers)
My father went to Versailles. Mr. Short went with him to be presented at Court. Variable Weather: much Snow in the morning, fair weather at noon, and Stormy again, in the Evening. The Duke of Dorset said to my father, while they were passing from one chamber to another “what nonsensical business all this noisy parade is!” My father said it was curious that a person like him, who had from his...
267324th. (Adams Papers)
Paris in the morning. Mr. Williams and Mr. Franklin went with us. They breakfasted at M: de St. Olympe’s. I went to Gogué et Née de la Rochelle, booksellers Quai des Augustins. Bought Rollin’s histoire Romaine, and Mr. Necker’s book. Mr. Jefferson was not at home: nor any body at his House. Mr. Franklin has taken lessons of animal magnetism, he laugh’d at it much; yet said it was a very useful...
267425th. (Adams Papers)
Paris. At the Opera. Panurge dans l’lsle des Lanternes ; a new Opera. 12th time. Words, which are very indifferent M: Morel: music, which is exquisite M: Gretri. I dont know how it happens, but the more this gentleman composes, the better his music is, I think. The dancing was also admirable, Gardel, and Vestris, perhaps the two best dancers in the world, performed together; and strove to...
267526th. (Adams Papers)
M: de St: Olympe: Mr. Franklin and Mr. Williams dined with us. The first is a west Indian; who is going in a short time to America: Mr. Franklin has been so long in France, that he is more a Frenchman than an American: I doubt whether he will enjoy himself perfectly if he returns to America.
267627th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Pickman brought a Letter from Mr. Tracey. Cold weather. Benjamin Pickman , son of the Salem merchant of the same name. The father disapproved of the course of pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts politics and left America for England in 1775. The son was making a tour of France and returned to Boston via London with his father in the spring. Later he studied law, spending some time in...
267728th. (Adams Papers)
Paris. Bought of Froullé bookseller quai des Augustins Crevier’s Histoire des Empereurs Romains. Spent half an hour with Mr. Blakely: he goes for London next monday. Mr. Pickman was not at home, nor Mr. Waring, nor any body at Mr. Jefferson’s; I waited there an hour for them to return; but in vain. I passed an hour with the abbés de Chalût and Arnoux: Abbé de Mably was with them. This...
2678[March 1785] (Adams Papers)
Coldest weather we have had this year. Reaumur’s thermometer at 8 degrees below the freezing point. Abbé de Chalût told me last evening, that neither he nor his brother, (and they are both turned of seventy,) remember ever to have experienced so cold weather in the beginning of March. Paris afternoon. La Servante Maitresse , and, the 20th. Representation of Richard Coeur de Lion , an Opera, at...
2679Tuesday March 1st. 1785. (Adams Papers)
Coldest weather we have had this year. Reaumur’s thermometer at 8 degrees below the freezing point. Abbé de Chalût told me last evening, that neither he nor his brother, (and they are both turned of seventy,) remember ever to have experienced so cold weather in the beginning of March.
26802d. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon. La Servante Maitresse , and, the 20th. Representation of Richard Coeur de Lion , an Opera, at the Italian Comedy. The words are of Sèdaine and the Music of Gretri . It is a delightful Piece, and the music like all the rest of Mr. Gretri’s compositions is admirable. We were early, but could get only very bad places; I never saw any Théatre more crowded, and a vast number of...
26814th. (Adams Papers)
Letters from America as late as January 1st. by the way of England: One from Mr. Jay at New York, of Jany 14th to the Ministers, informing them of his having accepted the place of Minister for foreign affairs. These included: Cotton Tufts to JA , 1 Jan., not found; Tristram Dalton to JA , 21 Dec. 1784 ( Adams Papers ); and probably Francis Dana to JA , 12 Dec. 1784 (same). “Jany. 14th” was...
26825th. (Adams Papers)
Company to dine. Mr. Bleakly took charge of some Letters for London, one for Mr. Elworthy. He goes on Monday. Mr. Pickman sets out for London too, in the Course of the next week. I dined with him last June at London, on board Captn. Callahan’s ship. He belongs to Salem, and is a very agreeable young Gentleman. Mr. Waring thinks of going to America in May, about the time I shall: Indeed it is...
26837th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at the Marquis de la Fayettes. The Chevalier de la Luzerne dined there has been in the Country for some Months past. M: de Camaran a young french gentleman who went to America with the Marquis the last time was asked by Mrs. B. what part of America he liked best. He did not know from what part she was, and answered Boston. “I never was there” said Mrs. B. The Gentleman was embarass’d...
26849th. (Adams Papers)
Paris. Mr. Williamos went with us to see the Gallery of Pictures belonging to the Duke de Chartres in the Palais Royal. It is one of the finest Collections in Europe. There are a great number of Pictures by the first Masters of the Art. More of Raphael, than in any Collection I ever saw. The cieling is painted in Fresco by Antony Coypel. The paintings are very fine, and it is a pity they will...
268511th. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon. Got of Froullé Brindley’s Virgil. Went to see Mr. Pickman, at the Hotel de york. He intends setting away for London, next Monday. Spent the evening with Mr. Jefferson whom I love to be with, because he is a man of very extensive learning, and pleasing manners. Memorandum took the 4 last volumes of The tableau de Paris. Mr. Williamos, with Mr. and Mrs. Rooker, were at Auteuil...
268612th. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon with Mrs. A. upon some business for Mrs. Hay, who is at Beaugency. Mr. Graff au magazin de dentelles Rue des deux portes St. Sauveur. Beaumarchais the author of the too famous Comedy la folle journée ou le mariage de Figaro was taken up the other day, immediately after supper, and carried to St. Lazare where he is imprisoned. I ask’d of somebody what reasons were given for the...
268714th. (Adams Papers)
Walk’d into Paris in the morning. Hôtel de York Rue Jacob. Mr. Pickman set away for England by the Diligence, at noon. Found Mr. Boling at the Hotel de York. He arrived in Paris only three or four days ago. Mr. West of Philadelphia, arrived from London, at the Hôtel; before Mr. Pickman went away: he said he had a letter from Mr. Jackson, for my father. I went with Mr. Boling, to the hotel de...
268815th. (Adams Papers)
Paris in the afternoon, with Mr. A. Got of Froullé, the Horace and Ovid of Brindleys edition. While I was in the Shop, we heard a little bell in the Street; immediately every body in the shop, but myself, fell on their knees, and began to mutter prayers and cross themselves. It was a priest, carrying le bon dieu , to a dying man. This is one of the most revered ceremony of the Romish Religion....
268916th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. West, came out, and brought to Mr. Adams, two letters from Mr. Jackson. Jonathan Jackson to JA , 25 Feb. ( Adams Papers ); the other letter has not been found and is not mentioned in JA ’s reply of 18 March ( LbC , Adams Papers ).
269017th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Dr. Franklin’s with a considerable large Company. Mr. Brillon, an old french gentleman very gay and talkative. Young Mr. Chaumont who goes to America by the April packet from l’Orient. Mr. Boling, a descendent of an Indian Queen, of somewhat a dark complexion, and his manners, are not perfectly pleasing to the Ladies. Mr. Norris, an American Quaker, turned Catholic. His turns of mind...
269118th. (Adams Papers)
Paris afternoon. Went to see Mr. and Mrs. Rooker and Mr. West, but neither were at home. Walk’d an hour in the Palais Royal: met Mr. Waring there: he tells me that Beaumarchais has written to the king, to complain for his having been sent to St. Lazare. I got of Froullé, the Juvenal with Monsr. Dusaulx’s translation. Satires de Juvénal, traduites par M. Dusaulx , Paris, 1770 ( MQA ).
269220th. (Adams Papers)
My father went to Versailles in the morning to see the Count de Vergennes, upon the subject of a Treaty between the U. States, and the Powers of Barbary. The Emperor of Morocco has taken an American vessel belonging to Mr. Fitz Simmons of Philadelphia. He has made the Master and the crew prisoners; but has not suffered them to be made slaves. He has ordered his People not to take any more...
269323d. (Adams Papers)
Paris. Hotel de york, rue Jacob: for Mr. West. I went with him and presented him to the Marquis de la Fayette, and afterwards to Mr. Jefferson. Walk’d after that, in the Palais Royal. This place furnishes a vast fund of entertainment to an observer. It is the most frequented walk in Paris. At every hour of the day, and of the night too, you will never fail of finding company there, and it is...
269424th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams and the Ladies went to the church of St. Sulpice, and afterwards to Longchamps. This day the king washes the feet of 12 poor children in imitation of our Saviour’s washing those of the apostles. The kings brothers serve those children at dinner, and they have some peculiar privileges; such as being pardoned twice for crimes for which any other persons would be hang’d &c. Some of the...
269525th. (Adams Papers)
Good Friday. Went in the afternoon to Longchamps. This is the last Day. Every year; the wednesday, thursday, and friday, of the week preceding Esther, which is called Semaine Sainte , there is a kind of procession in the Bois de Boulogne, and it is called Longchamps. There are perhaps each of those Days a thousand carriages, that come out of Paris to go round one of the Roads in the wood one...
269626th. (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,...
269727th. (Adams Papers)
Sunday. Mr. Adams dined with Mr. de St. Olympe’s and spent the evening at Mr. Jefferson’s. At about seven o’clock in the evening the Queen, was delivered of a Son, who is Monseigneur le Due de Normandie: this is one of the most important events that can happen in this kingdom; and every Frenchman has been expecting it, as if the fate of his life depended upon it. One would think that after...
269828th. (Adams Papers)
Snow in the morning sufficient to cover the ground. Dined at the Marquis de la Fayette’s. When I arrived there the Marquis was not returned from Versailles, where he went last evening immediately upon hearing of the Queen’s delivery, but could not get there soon enough to be present at the Christening. He told me a curious Circumstance. The Queen was so large, that it was suspected she might...
269929th. (Adams Papers)
Dr. Franklin’s early in the morning. Coll. Humphreys breakfasted with us, and went with Mr. Adams to Versailles, where they were presented for the first time, to the new born Prince, who received them in bed: there were half a dozen ladies in the chamber. There were three beds joining each other, and in the middle one laid M: le Duc. Probably that in the night one of the Ladies sleep in each...
270030th. (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!