Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

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.

Friday 14. JQA Friday 14. Adams, John Quincy
Friday 14.

This morning we set away at about sun rise. We came two leagues and then went a league up hill and then another League down hill. This was a road made through a mountain I suppose 300 foot in Height and all the way almost perpendicular. We came 4 Leagues before dinner and dined at Orduña a little city with gates to it at the foot of the mountain. After we had passed the mountain we saw some ways off a Convent which a man whom we stopped said was of women and were of the Franciscan order. After dinner we went a plain road about 2 leagues to a small village called Luyando where we shall lodge to night. We have come 6 Leagues to day.

Saturday 15th. JQA Saturday 15th. Adams, John Quincy
Saturday 15th.

This morning we rose at about day break and at about a half an hour before Sun rise we set off from Luyando. At about 8 o clock it began to rain, rain'd till about 12 and then left of f raining but it did not clear up. At about 1 oclock we arrived at Bilbao.

When we arrived we found two American Vessels one a brig Capt Bapson belonging to the Tracy's of New-bury port and the other a Ship of 18 6 pounders Capt Lovett belonging to one of the Cobet's of Beverly.1 After dinner Mr. Gardoqui came to where we lodge and my Pappa and the Gentlemen being gone out he gave me his address and about an hour after he came again with Captn. Bapson and drank tea and spent the Evening with us.

1.

The vessels were the brigantine Phoenix, James Babson, captain, and the ship Rambler, commanded by Benjamin Lovett and owned by Andrew Cabot. The Traceys and the Cabots had close connections with the Bilbao firm of Joseph Gardoqui & Sons. During the Adamses' stay in Bilbao, the Gardoquis extended numerous courtesies to them, treating JA “with the Magnificence of a Prince” (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:433; 4:236–237; Adams Family Correspondence, 3:xiv–xv).

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