Docno: ADMS-04-03-02-0260
Author: Adams, John
Recipient: Adams, Abigail
Date: 1780-05-15
[dateline] May 15. 1780
[salute] My dear Portia
I inclose for your Amusement, a Publication, made here within a few days.
1
Somebody has inserted in the Amsterdam Gazette, that this Gentleman lodges with me.
This is done with a political design, but whether
{ 347 } it was intended to do honour to me, or him or both, I dont know.—It is not true.—However
there is a good Understanding between him and me, and therefore I did not trouble
myself to enquire whether it was done to serve or hurt him or me, or both.
2
I went Yesterday, Pentecost, to Versailles, and saw the Nights of the order of St.
Esprit. There was magnificence enough.
3 The Queen shone, like a Star—and the K
[ing] had a new Throne. This striking Character discover
[ed] by his Countenance, that he had not a very profound Admiration of the Pomposities
about him. He manifestly smiled Contempt, upon some of the Ceremonies. But He made
a most profound, and reverential Bow to the Altar, when he came up and when he went
away. This was done with an Air of real serioussness and Gravity.