Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Wednesday 24th. JQA

1779-11-24

Wednesday 24th. Adams, John Quincy

Wednesday 24th.

This morning the Courier lost herself in the fog but at about ten o clock we found her again. I will now give a list of the names of the officers and principal passengers on board the Sensible.

Captain Bidé de Chavagnes. A chevalier of the order of Saint Louis and captain of his most Christian Majesty's frigate La Sensible.

Le Chevalier de Gois briand Goësbriand 1 2'd in command

Mr. Riordan Le Chevalier D'Arriardant

Mr. Painker Le Chevalier de Pincaire

Mr. Denian

Mr. Du Breuil Breville auxiliary officers.

Mr. De La Guérivieres Le Chevalier de Guerivierre

Mr. De La Roche la Roche de St. André.2 Midshipmen.

Mr. le major3

Passengers

Coll. Fleury, a French Gentleman Coll. in the American army4

Mr. De Moléon

Mr. De Lancuville

Mr. Delacolombe5 other French Gentlemen in the american army

There are a Great Number of other french Gentlemen whose names I don't know.

American Gentlemen

Mr. Allen6

Mr. Dana7

Mr. Thaxter

My Pappa

Boys

Sammy Cooper Johonnot

My Brother Charles and myself.

Sammy Cooper whom I have before spoke of is a very agreable young Gentleman and makes the passage much less tedious to me than it would be if he had not came with us.

At about 12 o clock we sounded and found bottom at thirty fathom deep. We fish'd a half an hour but caught nothing. Very foggy all day till about 6 o clock PM it clear'd up. 9 o clock. A fresh breeze from the west. Sailors say that when there is a bad wind drink a bowl of punch upon the Captson and the wind will come right. Mr. Dana Mr. Allen and Mr. Thaxter try'd the experiment and the wind changed and came fair; there's super stition for you.

As he himself wrote his name ( Adams Family Correspondence , 3:223–224).

The editorial insertions for this and the names listed above are taken from JA's less phonetically written and probably more correctly spelled listing of officers of La Sensible ( Diary and Autobiography , 2:395).

The ship's medical officer, or surgeon major, M. Bergèrac (same, 2:395; entry for 15 June 1785, below).

François Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, a French volunteer in the American Revolution, who had distinguished himself in numerous early battles, for which he received a congressional medal (Lasseray, Les français sous les treize étoiles , 2:425–433).

Louis Saint Ange, Chevalier Morel de La Colombe, a French officer participating in the American Revolution (same, 1:324; La Colombe to JA, 21 June 1780, Adams Papers). His name appears to have been added to JQA's listing at some later time.

7 6.

Jeremiah Allen, a Boston merchant, whom JA described as “travelling with a View of establishing a private commerce in Spain as well as in France” (JA to the Governor of La Coruña, 18 Dec., LbC, Adams Papers).

Francis Dana, lawyer, member of the Massachusetts Council and of the Continental Congress, 1777–1778, accompanied JA as secretary to the peace commission. Two years later JQA served as Dana's personal secretary and French interpreter for a year when Dana was appointed minister to Russia; Dana left there in 1783, frustrated and unrecognized by the government of Catherine the Great. Dana's Journals, kept on this trip to Paris and his subsequent journey in 1781 to St. Petersburg and now at MHi, are an important supplement to JQA's Diary (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:191; Sibley-Shipton, Harvard Graduates, 15:204–217).

Thursday 25th. JQA

1779-11-25

Thursday 25th. Adams, John Quincy

Thursday 25th.

This morning about nine o clock the courier lost her foretopmast. About twelve o clock she got it up. 6 o clock. We lay to for her she being a stern of us. She came up with us and we again set sail.

Friday 26th. JQA

1779-11-26

Friday 26th. Adams, John Quincy

Friday 26th.

This Morning a very fresh breeze from the N.W. 7 o clock. We now go 12 knots an hour; every face is fill'd with contentment.

Saturday 27th. JQA

1779-11-27

Saturday 27th. Adams, John Quincy

Saturday 27th.

I could not write any more yesterday because a Gale of wind came on which hinder'd me but to day it has abated a great deal. Nothing very remarkable to day. O! I had like to have forgot that last night the Courier lost her foremast and we were obliged to leave her.

Sunday 28th. JQA

1779-11-28

Sunday 28th. Adams, John Quincy

Sunday 28th.

6 o clock. Calm and cloudy. 9 o clock. It begins to freshen. 6 o clock P.M. A very fresh breeze. I beleive that we shall have no other sail but our fore sail sot set to night.

Mon 29th. JQA

1779-11-29

Mon 29th. Adams, John Quincy

Mon 29th.

The ship is very leaky. The passengers are all called to the Pump four times per day. 8 o clock AM, 12 o clock, 4 o clock PM, and 8 o clock PM.