Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Wednesday the 13th of September 1780. JQA Wednesday the 13th of September 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Wednesday the 13th of September 1780.

Half Holiday. To day at about twelve o clock we went to Pappa's lodgings and went from thence with him to Mr. Le Roi's where we dined. After dinner Mr. Le Roi Pappa, Several other Gentlemen, and brother Charles and myself went to the (Rasp huis) or house of correction. There is there a man who is so strong that fifteen men could not take him and he broke some Iron which was put round his arms. We saw several others some who got there for one thing some for another; They are Judged once and a while and when there is a criminal the Judge will sentence him for so many years according to his crime and they are examined after this once every year, and wherever they are found to have behaved well the past year the Judges shorten 70their time sometimes for a year sometimes 2, 3 or four but that is the most. It is a miserable hole to be sure. They are obliged to saw so much wood every day and when they go in they are branded on the back. There are but 56 here which I think must be but few for such a city as this. After this we went back to Mr. Le Roi's and drank tea. After tea Pappa left us and brother Charles and myself stay'd and supp'd at Mr. Le Roi's after which we came back to school.

Thursday the 14th of September 1780. JQA Thursday the 14th of September 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Thursday the 14th of September 1780.

Rain'd in the afternoon but clear'd up at night.

Reading a Volume of the Spectator I found a dream of his which I will copy.1

1.

Here follows, on eight pages of the Diary, “Spectator Vol 2d. No. 83,” published on 5 June 1711, but omitted are the first two paragraphs of the piece (ed. Bond, 1:354–356).

Friday the 15th of September 1780. JQA Friday the 15th of September 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Friday the 15th of September 1780.

Nothing Remarkable to day.

Reading a Volume of the Tatler I found something which I will copy.1

1.

On the following six and one-half pages in his Diary JQA set down an allegory, with several omissions, about Hercules' being courted by virtue and pleasure, from The Tatler No. 97, originally published on 22 Nov. 1709, which he later cites as “Tatler. Vol. 2d. Page, 82, 83, 84, and 85.” If, as it seems reasonable to assume, JQA was using the four-volume 1728 edition of The Tatler, which his father gave to him and CA presumably on the following day ( Catalogue of JQA's Books ), the citation was miscopied, as it appears there at 2:282–285.

Saturday the 15th [16th] of September 1780. JQA Saturday the 15th [16th] of September 1780. Adams, John Quincy
Saturday the 15th 16th of September 1780.

Half Holiday. Today about 1 o clock brother Charles and I came to Pappa's lodgings where we dined. After dinner Mr. Guild and Mr. Ingraham came here and went with us to see the Hortus Medicus1 of which I have spoken already. We walked about a little while and then we came home again, as we were coming we went into a Church and looked about it a little. When we got to Pappa's door Mr. Guild and Mr. Ingraham left us. At about 8 o clock Commodore Gillon came to Pappa's lodgings and stay'd some time. At about half after nine o clock Pappa received a Letter from Mr. Dana2 who has just arrived in Town. Pappa went to see Mr. Dana who Lodges at the first Bible.

71 1.

JQA's marginal note here, “Vide Volume 2d. Page 11, and 36, 37, 38, 39,” refers to JQA's Diary entries of 25 Aug. and 5 Sept. (both above).

2.

That of 16 Sept. 1780, Adams Papers.