Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Saturday 12th 1780. JQA Saturday 12th 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Saturday 12th 1780.

This morning a Gentleman whose name is du Bois came here to see Pappa. He stay'd some time and then went away. Pappa went out to dinner but Brother Charles and myself dined at our lodgings. At about 5 o clock Pappa came back with Commodore Gillon and two other Gentlemen and Captn. Joyner. Mr. Holdenpyl who is brother in law to Commodore Gillon went with my brother Charles and I to his lodgings where we drank tea, after tea Mr. Holdenpyl another Gentleman my brother Charles and I went to see a sort of a menagery. We saw a Lioness and a white monkey and several other beasts. After that we went to see the Jews Synagogue, there are 30,000 Family's of Jews in this city. Almost a Quarter of the town are Jews. After this we walked along by the Water Side. We saw a great number of Vessels. After this we came to Commodore Gillon's lodgings where I 54supp'd. After supper I came to our new lodgings1 which is near those of Commodore Gillon in a Private house.

1.

JA's temporary lodgings at Mme. Henry Schorn's in the “Agterburgwal by de Hoogstraat,” in which JA remained until Feb. 1781 (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:450–451).

Sunday 13th 1780. JQA Sunday 13th 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Sunday 13th 1780.

This morning Mr. Deneufville came and My Pappa, Commodore Gillon, Mr. Holdenpyl, Captn. Joyner Mr. Appleton Brother Charles and myself went to Haerlem to a Country Seat belonging to Mr. Deneufville. We went to see some curiosities. We saw a great number of stuff'd birds. We saw also a stuff'd Lion. After this we dined at Mr. Deneufville's seat. After dinner we took a walk to the wood. We walked there till six o clock and then went back to Mr. Deneufville's seat. We stay'd there till about 8 o clock and then took leave of Mr. Holdenpyl who is going back to Rotterdam where he lives. He is to set away for Rotterdam at ten o clock. At eight o clock we set out Mr. Deneufville, Pappa Commodore Gillon, and My Brother Charles in one Carriage, and Captn. Joyner Mr. Appleton and myself in the other. At about 10 o clock at night we arrived at our lodgings. We wish'd good night to the whole company and then came in.

Monday 14th of August 1780. JQA Monday 14th of August 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Monday 14th of August 1780.

This morning Pappa went out and at about 10 o clock came back. At about 1 o clock Commodore Gillon came and we went with him to dine at a Gentleman's house whose name is Staphouse.1 Captn. Joyner, Pappa, Commodore Gillon Brother Charles, and myself dined there. After dinner we all went on board Commodore Gillon's ship. Pappa, Mr. Staphouse and Captn. Joyner went on foot but Commodore Gillon Brother Charles and myself went in a Carriage. We went on board the ship which is to be call'd the South Carolina. She is a ship of forty guns thirty-two 36 pounders on the main deck and 8 12 pounders on the Quarter deck. I saw Mr. Amiel on board who is first Lieutenant, I saw also Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Mastin, who are midshipmen on board. We stay'd there some time and after that we came back. Captn. Joyner did not return. She is a new ship and this will be her first cruize. She is a very fine Ship indeed. When we had got about as far as the statehouse we took leave of Mr. 55StapHouse and when we got home Commodore Gillon took leave of us. After we got home Commodore Gillon sent Pappa a Letter which came from some Gentlemen on board the Alliance.2 She was in Latt 46. D 13.M. Long 36. D 16 M.

1.

Either Jacob or Nicolaas van Staphorst, brothers and partners in a banking firm. After Dutch recognition of American independence, the firm as part of a syndicate of Amsterdam bankers floated a succession of loans negotiated by JA (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:445).

2.

Letter not found, but presumably from Arthur Lee, who, with his two nephews and other Americans, sailed for Boston from Lorient on the Alliance ([Boston] Continental Journal, 17 Aug.; Warren-Adams Letters , 2:143–144).