Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Tuesday 11th. JQA Tuesday 11th. Adams, John Quincy
Tuesday 11th.

This morning at 7 ½ we set away from Sellada el Cameno. At about 10 o clock it began to snow and snow'd about a Quarter of an Hour. At about 12 o clock we arrived at Burgos which is a City about as big as Corunna. We shall lodge here to night. We have come 4 Leagues to day. I said that at Astorga we should determine the routs, we did determine not to go to Madrid but we shall determine at this place whether to go to Bilboa or directly to Bayonne.

This afternoon we all went to the Cathedral which is larger Than Those at Astorga and Leon (tho' not so Magnificent). It was supported by, four of the largest pillars That I ever saw in my life. There are no less than 33 religious Houses in the place. Their orders are these.

Conbentos de Fraires
Franciscos 1
La Trinidad 1
Benitos 1
Augustinos 2
Dominicos 1
Mercenarios 1
29
Carmelitos 1
8
Parroquias 15
Cathedral y St. Yago de la Capilla 2
St. Nicholas 1
Sn. Roman 1
La Blanca 1
Bejaria 1
St. Martin 1
St. Pedro 1
St. Cosmos 1
St. Lesmes 1
St. Esteban 1
St. Gil 1
Combentos de Monjas
Sta. Dorotea Agustinos 1
Sta. Franciscas 2
Carmelitas 1
Agustinas 1
Trinitarias 1
Bernardos Bernardas 2
Benitas 1
Catatrabas 1
St. il de fouso Fonso 1
Total
De Monjas 10
Frailes 8
Paroquias 15
331
1.

This enumeration includes several discrepancies. JQA lists eleven instead of the fifteen parishes mentioned by the Adamses' informant, their guide, and the number of nunneries recorded was actually eleven rather than ten (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:427–428).

Wednesday 12th. JQA Wednesday 12th. Adams, John Quincy
Wednesday 12th.

Good weather. Set away from Burgos and pursued our journey. Dined at a little village and at about 6 o clock arrived at a village called Bibrieski Briviesca. We have come 8 Leagues to day. Very Muddy. The roads something hilly.

Thursday 13th. JQA Thursday 13th. Adams, John Quincy
Thursday 13th.

Rose at about day break and set away ½ an hour before sun rise. Passed through several villages and dined at Pan Courbo. Before dinner we went along in a Plain between two ridges of mountains the soil of which is excellent and after dinner we 30went along another plain betwixt two ridges of rocks some of which were 150 200 and 300 foot in height some right strait up, some hanging over our heads, and some slanting from us but I never saw so beautiful a sight in all my life. After dinner we pass'd two villages. I went forward with the Guide and Stevens to find the lodging. Tolerable good roads to day, we have come 8 Leagues, to day. We determined to go to Bilboa Bilbao. The name of this place is Espexo Espejo.