Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1
This afternoon Mr. D. went to Mr. Wolff's. Wrote a letter to my Father.1 Mr. D. walk'd out before dinner. Stay'd at home all day. Fine weather.
Adams Family Correspondence
, 4:378. This letter contains the first indication that JQA was making plans to return to western Europe in response to JA's firmly stated desire, expressed in his letter of 13 May, received two days before.
This forenoon I went with Mr. D to Mr. Rimberts but found no body at home. After dinner I went with Mr. Artaud to the Academy to give my name to be advertised, but could not, because on Saturdays in the afternoon they do not take names. Every body that goes away from hence must have his name advertised in the News-papers at three different times.1
This procedure was necessary, as JQA later explained, “because no body can pass the frontiers without having a passport from St. Petersbourg. And no body can get a Passport from St. Petersbourg, without having his name advertised three times in the Newspapers: nor without Producing the Passport with which he came into Russia” (JQA's essay on Russia [ca. Sept. 1783], M/JQA/43, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 238). Public notice was also useful “so that if any occasion should present of a fellow traveller,” JQA might take advantage of it (Dana to JA, 16 Sept., Adams Papers).
This forenoon Mr. D went to Mr. Wolff's. Mr. Artaud dined out. Fine weather.
This forenoon I went with Mr. Artaud to the Academy and gave my name to be advertised. Young Mr. Montreal came here. I went and took a walk with him and Mr. Artaud in the summer garden. In the evening Mr. Artaud went to the concert. Mr. D. went and took a ride after dinner. Very fine weather all day.
St. Alexander Newsky's Day, a very great holiday for the Russians. There was a procession in the forenoon, of priests that went from the church of Casan to the Convent of St. Alexander. Formerly her Majesty went with it on foot; but has left it of