BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN 
 COURT IN 1798 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 THOMAS BOYLSTON ADAMS 
 
 SECRETARY TO THE UNITED STATES LEGATION AT BERLIN 
 
 EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT 
 
 IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 By VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS 
 
 KEEPER OF MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 NJEW YORK 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 1916 
 

BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN 
 COURT IN 1798 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 THOMAS BOYLSTON ADAMS 
 
 SECRETARY TO THE UNITED STATES LEGATION AT BERLIN 
 
 EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT 
 
 IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 By victor HUGO PALTSITS 
 
 KEEPER OF MANUSCRIPTS 
 
 THE NEW YORK 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 1916 
 
Reprinted January 1916 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 5ULLETIN OF ThE NeW YoRK PuBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 November 1915 
 
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 FACSIMILE PAGE FROM THE ADAMS JOURNAL 
 (Original size) 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 
 
 JOURNAL OF THOMAS BOYLSTON ADAMS 
 SECRETARY TO THE UNITED STATES LEGATION AT BERLIN 
 
 Edited from the Original Manuscript in The New York Public Library 
 By Victor Hugo Paltsits, Keeper of Manuscripts 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 npHE habit of keeping a daily journal or diary was enjoined upon 
 ■*■ his children by John Adams. In 1778, when his son John Quincy 
 was eleven years old and with him at Passy, in the environs of Paris, 
 he provided him with a blank book in which to keep "a. diary of the 
 Events" that happened to him, of the objects that he saw, and of the 
 persons with whom he conversed from day to day.^ These three 
 features characterize the present journal of Thomas Boylston Adams. 
 It is now printed for the first time from the original manuscript in 
 The New York Public Library. The Library bought it in July of this 
 year from Dr. Charles R. Eastman, the palaeontologist, who had pur- 
 chased it from an acquaintance whilst a student at Harvard College. 
 The journal is written in a small, limp, leather-bound book, measuring 
 about 7 by 4^ inches, and fills 74 pages. 
 
 President John Adams and Abigail (Smith) Adams had five 
 children, three sons and two daughters, of whom Thomas Boylston, 
 born at Quincy, Mass., on September 15, 1772, was the youngest. He 
 was unmarried when he accompanied his brother John Quincy Adams, 
 only five years his elder, to the Prussian court at Berlin. On May 16, 
 1805, he married Ann Harod, daughter of Joseph and Ann Harod, of 
 Haverhill, Mass., who survived him many years. They had seven 
 children, four sons and three daughters. One of his sons died while 
 lieutenant of artillery, in the United States Army, and another son 
 died in the navy on Perry's Expedition, in 1853. 
 
 Thomas Boylston Adams was a graduate of Harvard in the 
 class of 1790. About the time of his marriage he held the office of 
 
 Memoirs of John Quincy Adams, I: 8. 
 
 [3: 
 
4 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Representative from Quincy in the legislature of Massachusetts; from 
 1809-1811, he was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massa- 
 chusetts. He died on March 12, 1832, at the age of 59 years and six 
 months.^ 
 
 On June 1, 1797, President John Adams commissioned his son 
 John Quincy Adams as "Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States 
 of America at the Court of His Majesty the King of Prussia." The 
 son was then at The Hague, where he had been nearly four years, 
 and his brother, Thomas Boylston, had just returned from Paris to 
 accompany him to London, in expectation of setting out from there 
 to Lisbon, whither Washington had transferred the elder Adams. ^ On 
 June 30th, the brothers left The Hague. The course via London was 
 chosen because John Quincy Adams was to fulfil a matrimonial engage- 
 ment into which he had entered with Louisa Catherine Johnson, the 
 second daughter of the United States Minister at London, Joshua John- 
 son, and his wife Catherine. This marriage took place in the church of 
 the parish of All Hallows Barking, on July 26, 1797.^ But on his arrival 
 in London, John Quincy Adams learned that another change of destina- 
 tion was in store for him. Washington had closed his second term as 
 president on March 4th, and John Adams had taken his place in the 
 chief magistracy of the Nation. In the beginning there was a certain 
 feeling of delicacy with respect to the continuance of the new president's 
 sons in the diplomatic service and it is evident that President Adams 
 consulted Washington for his advice. Washington gave it as his 
 "decided opinion"'* that John Quincy Adams was "the most valuable 
 public character we have abroad, and that there remains no doubt in 
 my mind that he will prove himself to be the ablest of our diplomatic 
 corps." He told him that the country "would sustain a loss" if, on 
 account of an "over delicacy" on the part of President Adams, the 
 "talents and worth" of the son were to be ignored. 
 
 President Adams sent in the nomination of his son on May 20th. 
 The senate tabled the nomination and, when taken up again three 
 days later, debates arose and it was again tabled. When considered 
 anew a week later, an attempt was made to prevent confirmation on 
 the ground that it was "unnecessary to establish a permanent Minister 
 at the Court of Prussia." That motion was withdrawn and then a 
 motion to postpone the nomination until March 10, 1798, was defeated. 
 Other attempts to block the confirmation failed.^ 
 
 1 Adams, A. N. Genealogical History of Henry Adams, of Braintree, Mass. (1898), p. 407- 
 423-424. 
 
 2 Writings of J. Q. Adams, ed. by Ford, New York, 1913, vol. II; p. 177; Memoirs, I: 193, 195. 
 ^ Memoirs, I: 199. 
 
 * Memoirs, I: 193-194. 
 
 <^ Memoirs, I: 195-197, 199. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 5 
 
 John Adams had become convinced that the Nation should not 
 be deprived of the services of his sons simply because he was for the 
 time at the helm of the government. John Quincy Adams had shown 
 particular aversion to serving under his father and had made his senti- 
 ments known to his father and mother in a "formal declaration," yet 
 had been persuaded to waive his opposition. In a letter to his mother, 
 written from London, on July 29th, he said. "I have broken a resolu- 
 tion that I had deliberately formed, and that I still think was right and 
 proper; but I must say that I never acted more reluctantly, and that 
 the tenure by which I am hereafter to hold an office is of such a nature 
 as will take from me all the satisfaction which I have enjoyed hitherto 
 in considering myself as a public servant. It has indeed totally dis- 
 concerted all my arrangements taken in consequence of my previous 
 appointment to Lisbon, and will be very inconvenient to me personally, 
 but these are not circumstances of the sHghtest objection. On the 
 contrary, they have been among the most powerful motives to induce 
 the sacrifice of my resolution, and the determination to go upon the 
 new mission. I am now waiting here only for the necessary papers, 
 which I expect from day to day."^ He received his commission and 
 instructions on September 22, by General Marshall.^ These instructions 
 were to guide him in arranging a renewal of the treaty of amity and 
 commerce with Prussia "for another term of ten years;"^ to seek 
 an alteration with respect to attack by privateers and "the principle that 
 free ships should make free goods," a principle which "the United States 
 have adopted in all their treaties (except that with Great Britain), 
 and which they sincerely desire might become universal.""* The reason 
 why the government of the United States recommended the abandon- 
 ing of this principle was the attitude of the belligerents in the European 
 war. It was "found that neither its obligation by the pretended modern 
 law of nations, nor the solemn stipulations of treaties, secured its 
 observation." On July 17th, the secretary of state wrote John Quincy 
 Adams with regard to it and stated that it had been "made the sport 
 of events"; that "under such circumstances it appeared to the President 
 desirable to avoid renewing an obligation which would probably be 
 enforced when our interest should require its dissolution, and be con- 
 tinued [sic for discontinued] when we could derive some advantage from 
 its observance."^ 
 
 1 Writings, ed. by Ford, vol. II, p. 192-193. 
 
 2 Ibid, 216. The instructions were dated July 15, 1797. 
 
 ^ The treaty concluded on September 10, 1785, for ten years, had expired. A new treaty of amity 
 and commerce was concluded on July 11, 1799, and ratified by President Adams on February 19, 1800. 
 
 *Ibid, 188-191; Memoirs, I: 197. 
 
 5 Writings of J. Q. Adams, ed. by Ford. vol. II, p. 189. A third duty of Adams was to renew, if 
 possible, the treaty which Franklin had negotiated with Sweden, in 1783, for fifteen years. — Memoirs, I: 199. 
 
5 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 The Adams party embarked from Gravesend, on October 18th, 
 and anchored at Hamburg at noon of the 26th. Two days later, John 
 Ouincy Adams was apprised that Frederick William II, to whose court 
 he was accredited, was not expected to live.-' The party started from 
 Hamburg on November 2d. They had gone only some twenty-seven 
 miles to Lauenburg, when the post chaise in which the younger Adams 
 travelled, broke down. On November 6th, they reached Biizow and 
 found "the only inn had only one vacant apartment," so "the gentlemen 
 . . . took their lodgings for the night in the common bar room." When 
 they arrived at the gates of Berlin, they were "questioned" by "a dapper 
 lieutenant, who did not know, until one of his private soldiers explained 
 to him, who the United States of America were." Presently, they took 
 up quarters at the Hotel de Russie, otherwise called the Soleil d'Or.^ 
 A few days later, on the morning of November 16th, the Prussian 
 monarch expired at Potsdam. His son, Frederick William III, and the 
 beautiful Crown Princess Louise, now ascended the throne. Adams 
 was left without diplomatic standing, yet, through the good offices of 
 the Prussian ministers of state, he was given an audience by the new 
 king, on the morning of December 5th. On July 5, 1798, he had another 
 private audience with the king, when he delivered his new credential 
 letter.^ 
 
 The population of Berlin in the year of the accession of Frederick 
 William III was 183, 000. '^ The new king was simple and conscientious 
 in the fulfilment of his obligations as monarch, as well as exemplary in 
 his family life. But he was lacking in the more important administrative 
 abilities, so that corrupt officials sought to ensnare him as they had 
 his father. He scented the evil thereof and tried to create a better 
 standard of conscience among the servants of the state, yet with little 
 success. The nobility looked with disdain upon the burgher class, as 
 though they had been created merely to be bantered and abused. The 
 arrogance of the military classes had become almost unbearable. Young 
 officers in particular, misbehaved themselves in pubHc, insulting the 
 wives and daughters of the citizens, even those of the higher official 
 class. The citizens were dared to make complaint and when they 
 brought charges, the courts-martial favored the military offenders. 
 
 Among the citizenry, art, science and intelligence took root, whilst 
 the nobility interested themselves more and more in landed estates or 
 participated in the vapidity and vacuity of court life. The nobility 
 
 I Memoirs, I: 200-201; Writings, II: 221, 232. 
 
 ^Ibid, I: 202-203. 
 
 s Writings of J. Q. Adams, ed. by Ford, vol. II, p. 229-231, 237. 
 
 ^A description of Berlin and an account of its customs in 1796-1798, by W. Quanter, is in the 
 Mittheilungen des Vereins fiir die Geschichte Berlins, 1896, nos. 8-10. A monograph on the Prussian 
 court in 1798, by Dr. Paul Bailleu, is in Heft XXXIV of the Schriften of the same society. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 7 
 
 yet held the highest places of honor in the service of the state; but the 
 superior spiritual energy of the citizenry already had begun to make 
 itself felt, for to the burgher class belonged nearly all of the scholars 
 and artists, as well as the wealthiest manufacturers and merchants. 
 Their growing strength in spirit and money opposed the raw might 
 of privilege of the nobility.-' Into this environment came John Ouincy 
 Adams, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, and his brother, 
 Thomas Boylston^Adams, Secretary of Legation. The journal of the 
 latter was to its writer "as little edifying as any book" with which he 
 was acquainted, and his life of "no variety." John Quincy Adams 
 closed the year bemoaning the fact that scarcely one evening in the 
 month was free from "some engagement in company," and he added: 
 "This kind of hfe, so contrary to that which my inclination would dictate, 
 is unavoidable. The year has not in any respect been a profitable one 
 to me."^ 
 
 THE JOURNAL 
 
 January 1798 
 
 M. P* Writing all the morning; at 2 o'Clock went and dined at the Ville 
 de Paris.^ Met nobody that I knew. Came off early and stopped at Casino'* 
 where I met my friend Baron de Rothkirch who introduced me there, and put 
 me in train to be balloted for as a member. Secretary of Saxony there M. 
 Helbig^ Sent cards to some of the foreign Ministers and Secretaries, but 
 made no personal visits. Evening upon my return home found a letter from 
 my friend Ouincy,^ which I little expected. He has made his peace with me 
 by it, and I commenced a reply in form. 
 
 Tu 2. At home all day; weather vexatiously bad. 
 
 W. 3. Walk before dinner in the park.^ Weather as usual. Evening 
 at home. 
 
 Th. 4. Long walk — Evening at home. 
 
 F. 5. At home till evening; then went with my brother^ to a ball at the 
 
 1 Streckfuss, Adolf. 500 Jahre Berliner Geschichfe. Berlin, 1900, p. 461-463. J 
 
 ^Memoirs, I: 225. y^ 
 
 3 The \'ine de Paris was one of the first class hotels of Berlin, located on the Bruderstrass&r^t is 
 
 also written "Stadt Paris" and "City of Paris." ^_' 
 
 ^ The Casino was a suite of rooms appropriated for reading the newspapers, journals, etc., and also 
 
 for dining, card-playing and billiards. It was supported by annual subscriptions upon a liberal footing. 
 
 Strangers were given full privileges upon introduction by a member. Such places were common in all German 
 
 towns and, in fact, all over the Continent. They were essentially like the modern gentleman's club. — 
 
 Reeves, Henry. Journal. .. 1805-6, p. 164-165. 
 
 ^ He was secretary of the Saxon legation at Berlin. 
 
 ^Josiah Quincy who was born in 1772 and was president of Harvard College for many years. 
 
 ' The Tiergarten, the largest park near Berlin, laid out by order of Frederick the Great. 
 
 . ,, *John Quincy Adams. The details given here of the ball are much fuller than the account of J. Q. A. 
 
 in Memoirs, I: 215. 
 
8 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Minister of State Heinitz's/ where a numerous party were collected. Their 
 Majesty's the King^ and Queen ^ — the H. Prince of Orange & the Princess. 
 The king's two brothers'* & Prince Augustus;^ and all the nobility, Ministry 
 & Ambassadors. A great number of military Officers, and several Strangers. 
 
 The Royal family were generally very gracious & affable, tho' somewhat 
 stiff with commoners. The Queen is remarkably beautiful & engaging — 
 She danced much & quite in the present English style. The king likewise 
 danced; the party indeed was made for the Queen & Royal family; it was 
 less formal by much than I should have expected. The Ball finished before 
 10 o'clock. 
 
 Among the foreign Envoys whose names I knew were the Russian, 
 Count Panin,^ the Imperial Prince Reuss,'' the French M. Calliart ^ the English, 
 Lord Elgin ^ and the Saxon Count Sinzindorf f ^° & the Palatine, Baron de 
 Posch.^^ The Russian, Prince Subof f ^^ Prince Radziwill,^^ & Prince Charles 
 of Nassau Weilbourg, were also of the party. The latter, who is said to be 
 but 20 years of age, is a very monster in point of size. Met my friend the 
 Baron Rothkirch. Le Marquis de Llano ^"^ was mecontent as usual. 
 
 Rec*^ a letter from J. Quincy Esq"" of a late date. 
 
 Sa. 6. Walk; writing most of the day.^^ 
 
 S. 7 Walk. J. Q. A[dams] dined with the Minister of State Struenzi.^^ 
 Ev^ [Evening] Cassino. 
 
 M 8 Walk before dinner though not so long as usual. 
 
 Tu. 9. Met his Majesty in the park returning from his customary walk: 
 his brother the prince Henry was close behind him attended by an Officer — 
 passed both without saluting them. Quer. Was this proper? 
 
 Dined at M. Schicklers ^^ — our Banker; met there considerable Company, 
 most of whom were strangers to me. Sat at table next a friendly old Gentle- 
 man who conversed freely & pleasantly enough. Young Swiss officer, asked 
 me which was the strongest party in America, i. e. the most numerous; the 
 American party, said L Yes; but I mean, whether the English or french be 
 the strongest. For example, of what party is your President — What's his 
 name? Adams — Oui. Of the American party, said I — Yes but you dont 
 
 ^ Friedrich Anton, Freiherr von Heynitz, who died in 1802. 
 
 =" Friedrich Wilhelm III, born August 3, 1770, son and successor of Friedrich Wilhelm II, who died on 
 November 16, 1797. 
 
 3 The celebrated, beautiful and unfortunate Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie, Princess of Mecklenburg- 
 Strelitz, who was married to Friedrich Wilhelm in 1793, when he was crown prince of Prussia. She was born 
 on March 10, 1776, and died on July 19, 1810. 
 
 * Prince Heinrich and Prince Wilhelm. 
 
 ' Prince Augustus was the youngest son of Prince Ferdinand. 
 
 * Count Panin, Russian minister at Berlin. The title was created by Catherine II and the line is now 
 extinct. 
 
 ' Perhaps Prince Heinrich XXV. 
 
 * The French minister at Berlin who preceded Sieyes. 
 ' English minister at Berlin. 
 
 ^0 General Friedrich August, Graf von Zinzendorf, Saxon minister at Berlin, 1777-1799. Died in 1806. 
 " Franz Carl, Freiherr von Posch. The title was created in 1793 and is now extinct. 
 " Also Zuboff , a Russian general. 
 
 13 Prince Anton Heinrich Radziwill, who married in 1796 the Princess Luise of Prussia, sister of Prince 
 Louis Ferdinand. He died in 1833. 
 ^* Marques de los Llanos. 
 
 1= On this evening J. Q. Adams attended a ball given by the Baron von Alvensleben. — Memoirs, I: 215. 
 1* Karl August von Struensee, who became Prussian minister of state in 1791 and died in 1804. 
 " One of the house of Schickler or Schiickler, makers of arms at Spandau, and bankers at Berlin. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 9 
 
 understand me. Here his attention was taken of f by some person speaking to 
 him, and I was glad to be relieved from further explanation. He knew not 
 how much he embarrassed me. Speaking of his own Country he said — 
 "I wish Sir, that the Swiss Cantons were as far removed from France as you 
 are — If they subject my nation to their will, I am firmly resolved to go to 
 America." I thought favorably of the young man for this display of 
 independence. 
 
 After return from dinner went to the play, & saw der Spieler a German 
 piece of which I understood but little, thin house. — Weather extremely cold. 
 
 Wed 10*^ Took a long walk in town, in search of skaits — bought a pair, 
 but found no ice. 
 
 Evening at a ball at the Count Arnim's ^ — the Royal family and all the 
 Court there. Made acquaintance with M"" Garlike Sec^ to the English legation. 
 The ladies were uncommonly brilliant. Came off early. 
 
 Th 11. Sallied out this morn^ in search of Ice for skaiting found some 
 very good upon the side of the River.^ 
 
 Skaited an hour or two almost alone. Evening at home. 
 
 Fri. 12"" Received notice in form of my admission to the Casino, and 
 paid the fees for the first Class of members. Skaiting again; Ev^ [Evening] 
 a little while at the Casino. 
 
 Sat 13*^ Went upon the ice — great numbers of people there. Ev^ 
 at home. 
 
 Sun 14*^ Rainy day — at home.^ 
 
 Mon IS**" Short walk — Evening at Prince Ferdinand's"* by invitation 
 to supper — Introduced by the Baron de Geertz ^ to the prince & by Count 
 Sidow^ to the princess; by Mile Haagen'' to the Landgrave, & by the [blank 
 space-\ to Prince Augustus. Met B[aron] Rothkirch, and passed the evening 
 more satisfactorily than I had anticipated. M. de Sidow made a party of whist 
 for me with the Mad. de Bredow himself & another Count. Stayed — supper 
 & conversed with the two Chamberlains. R[Othkirch] introduced me to Mad 
 the Countess Goltz,^ a fine woman. 
 
 Tu 16*^^ Walked a little & home all day after. 
 
 Wed 17*^ Walk of some length — troubled with Rhumatism Ev^ at 
 the Grand Marechal Count Podewils ^ at a splendid ball, like all the rest very 
 tiresome to me. Think it would suit me better to stay at home. Met the 
 usual company. Home at 10^^ quite tired & cross. 
 
 iGraf Friedrich Wilhelm von Arnim, b. 1739; d. 1801. The title was conferred on him by Friedrich 
 Wilhelm II, of Prussia, in 1786. 
 
 2 The Spree. 
 
 *J. Q. Adams spent this Sunday night at a court ball and supper, and played whist with ^Madame de 
 Lutzow, Mile de Hagen and Count von Moltke. — Memoirs, I: 215. 
 
 * Prince Ferdinand (b. 1730; d. 1813) was Grand Master of the Order of Malta within the Prussian 
 dominions and resided at the Palace of the Order of Malta. His princess was a daughter of the Margrave 
 of Brandenburg-Schwedt, a cousin of Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia. 
 
 ^ Johann Eustachius von Schlitz, called Gorz. 
 
 * Also spelled Sydow. 
 
 ' Perhaps Albertine Ernestine Luise vom Hagen, b. 1779; d. 1852; m. von Motz. 
 
 * She was perhaps the wife of Count Leopold Heinrich von der Goltz. In 1806 there were as many 
 as twenty-one counts, barons, etc., of this family in the Prussian service. 
 
 ^ He was grand marshal of the king's court. 
 
10 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Thurs IS^i^ Walk before dinner; Ev^ at the play.^ Rl. f^^ there. 
 
 Fri. 19*'' Walk as yesterday. Ev^ home. 
 
 Sat. 20*'' Walk, put letters into the post office, and went to several shops 
 with my brother.^ 
 
 Sun 2P* Walk in the park — fine day; Ev^ at home. 
 
 Mon 22^^ Long walk to get rid of rhumatism, very lame. 
 
 Tu 23*^ Kept house all day on ace* of my lameness. 
 
 Wed 24 All day at home; even^ at Prince Ferdinand's. Mrs. A[dams] 
 went for the first time. Made acquaintance with M*" the Captain Knoblauch 
 Charge d'aff. of Denmark Played with M. de Sidow M. de Geertz & a 
 channoine or Dom-herr von Posen. Ret^ before supper. Madame Parrella,'* 
 Mad de Goltz were of the party — The princess Louise & her Prince Radziwill 
 were there some part of the Ev^. Mile Neal, dame d'honneur to the princess 
 Louise is a pretty woman. Letters from America via England. 
 
 Thurs 25 Home till night, then at a ball at the Countess de Haack's ^ — 
 Danced with M" A[dams] the first dance — came off early, & somewhat 
 discontented at the loss of time — Garlike introduced me to Mile Neal, & 
 Mile de Wartensleben. 
 
 Frid 26*'' Walked after dinner under the trees, though still a cripple. 
 Stopped little while at Casino. 
 
 Sat. 27*'' Vacant 
 
 Sun 28*'' Dined at V[ille] de P[aris] sat next one of the young women 
 
 — very chatty — an English woman there and her husband from Bergen in 
 Norway. 
 
 Baron Rothkirch; Chev: de la Motte, conversation with them. I talk too 
 much after drinking a bottle of Chatteau margot; must amend. 
 
 Ret^ [Returning] home stopped a moment at Casino. 
 
 Mon. 29*'' Walk; less lame than of late. 
 
 Tues 30*''^ Walk; found the ice would bear; hired Skeats and exercised 
 for half an hour; met a man who rivaled me. Complimented each other, as 
 usual in such cases — "You skeat well Sir." "And so do you Sir." 
 
 Wed 31^* Change of weather, thaw — skeated again notwithstanding, 
 but was driven off by the rain. 
 
 Ev^ little time at Casino. 
 
 Thurs P* February Bad weather, at home. 
 
 Fri — 2^ M*" Jeffrey from England, last from Hamburg called upon us 
 
 — Dined with him at the Ville de Paris; introduced to his travelling companion 
 M. Parain a f rench emigrant — Introduced Jeffrey at Casino. 
 
 Satur 2>^ Walk in the park — M^ J[ef frey] dined with us. 
 
 1 The play was Palmira, Princess of Persia, a German translation of an Italian opera, with magnificent 
 scenery, pretty good music and tolerable performers. — Adams, J. Q. Memoirs, I: 216. 
 - Royal family. 
 
 * John Quincy Adams. 
 
 * Wife of Marquis Parella, Sardinian minister at Berlin. 
 ^ Also von Hacke. 
 
 * J. Q. Adams attended a ball on this evening at General Kunheim's, where "more than five hundred 
 persons" were present. It was held in honor of the general's sixty-sixth birthday and fiftieth anniversary of 
 service in the army. — Memoirs, I: 216. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 H 
 
 Sund 4* Walk — dined at home — afterwards called on J[effrey] at 
 the V[ille] de P[aris] — went to the play, but found no places — came off & 
 played a game of whist at the V[ille] de P[aris] with J[effrey] M. Parain & 
 Baron Rothkirch. 
 
 Mon 5'^ M"" J[effrey] called to take leave of us. Even^ at Prince 
 Ferdinands — party of whist with Mile de Haagen ^ & others. 
 
 Tues 6^^ Walk — Even^ at home. 
 
 Wed 7*'' Walk before dinner — Even^ at Count Zinzindorff's — Tea 
 & Cards — played Cassino for the first time with Mad: de Haugwitz ^ — Mad: 
 de Knoblesdorf f ^ & M. [blank] Conversed with Mile La Comtesse Neal a 
 charming girl. 
 
 Thurs S**" Walk — Evening some time at Casino. 
 
 Frid 9*^^ Walk — Bill'ds [Billiards] at Casino with the chambellon.'* 
 
 Satur 10* At home all day — very busy writing. 
 
 Sun 11* Walk. 
 
 Mond 12* Received a letter from my mother ^ of 3 Jan^ and began an 
 answer to it. Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Tues 13* Short walk. 
 
 Wed 14* Walk — Ev^ Casino 
 
 Thurs 15* As yesterday — finished my letter to my mother and sent 
 it off. 
 
 Friday 16* Walk — purchased a sword — Rec"^ letter from Ross. 
 
 Saturd 17* Walk — Ev^ at Casino — M'- Belsches 
 
 Sund 18* Short walk in the park — fine day — Evening at Prince 
 Ferdinand's — Introduced to the Princess Louise & to Prince Radziwil — 
 The young Countess Neal was very gracious — Played whist with Baron 
 Geertz — a polish Count & M 
 
 Mond 19* Walk of some length — Ev^ short time at Casino 
 
 Tues 20* Dined at M*" Schicklers with a large Company — Ev^ Billds 
 [Billiards] at Casino with the Count. 
 
 Wed 21. Walk — passed the day as usual. 
 
 Thurs 22 Walk — Ev^ at a Ball at the Minister Finckensteins ^ danced 
 with Mile Neal. Came off early. 
 
 Frid 23"^ Skeated this morning, but the thaw has begun. 
 
 Satur 24* Short walk — park very wet. 
 
 Sund 25* A letter to the Sec^ of State '' was found this morn^ in the 
 street by a soldier, and after being carried to several places was at last taken 
 to Lord Elgins, the British Minister, and by him or some of his family, 
 directed to be brought to us. Upon investigating the affair it appears that our 
 German Serv* had entrusted this letter with some others to one of his acquaint- 
 
 ^ Correctly vom Plagen. 
 
 2 Wife of Count Heinrich Christian Curt von Haugwitz. third Prussian minister of state. 
 
 3 Wife of Gen. Alexander Friedrich von Knobelsdorf, who became field marshal in 1798 and died in 1799. 
 
 * Chamberlain. 
 
 ° Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams. 
 
 * Karl Wilhelm, Graf Finck von Finckenstein, who died in 1800. He was the oldest and principal 
 Prussian minister of state. 
 
 ' Timothy Pickering. 
 
12 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 ance to take to the post office, about a fortnight ago — and paid him the 
 postage for one of the packets — The fellow kept the letter & the money, until 
 this morning, when he either lost or threw the letter in the street. Frederic 
 brought the fellow to us and he confessed the whole matter, apparently much 
 terrified with the menace which Fred, undertook to make of sending him to 
 Jail — He was perhaps of the two not the most culpable. 
 
 Walk — Ev^ at Casino, Billds [Billiards] with M. de Knoblauch & le 
 Comte de Luttichau.-^ 
 
 Monday 2G^ As usual — walk — Casino &'^^ 
 
 Tuesday 27*^ As yesterday — no variety — my journal is as little edify- 
 ing as any book I know of. 
 
 Wed 28*'' Long walk in town — Dined at the Ville de Paris. Met there 
 Baron Rotkirch. Ev^ at Casino. 
 
 Thursday P* March. Walk — fine day. 
 
 Frid 2^ Charming weather — long walk — everybody out. Ev^ Casino 
 
 — Billds [Billiards] with Rotkirch & Liittichau. 
 
 Satur 3*^ Ev^ Ball at Prince Ferdinand's — very pleasant. I danced with 
 Mile Dorville Mile Neal & Mile de Molck.^ 
 
 Sund 4 Short walk — Ev^ Casino & home — Began a letter to my father.^ 
 
 Mon 5. As. yesterday. 
 
 Tues 6 Ev^ at the Grand Maitre de Dorville's '^ — Party & Supper & 
 Ball — Danced with La jeune Comtesse Neal. 
 
 Wed 7. Walk, Casino after dinner — Billds [Billiards] with Liittichau. 
 
 Thurs 8. Walk — fine day — Ev^ at D'" Browns, where we drank tea 
 & passed the time very pleasantly — quite in the English stile. Company Mile 
 Neal Mesdes' Bruhl,^ Mile Bishopswerder;^ Lord Gower M"" Belsches, & the 
 D" family who are very sociable & well bred — the youngest daughter is very 
 handsome — the other two by no means plain — hope to be better acquainted 
 there. 
 
 Frid 9 Walk — Ev^ at Casino 
 
 Satur 10 As yesterday. 
 
 Sund 11 Walk on the left side of the park, which is laid out with more 
 taste than the other, but very few people prefer at this season taste to comfort, 
 of course few walk there. Ev^ home tho' a little while at Casino. 
 
 Mond 12 Stormy disagreeable, snowy weather — walked nevertheless 
 in Park — Ev^ at D"" Browns with INI" A[dams] pleasant time — Lord Gower 
 took leave for England — Miss Isabella is a charming girl. M"" A[dams] came 
 
 — read newspapers & then took us off. 
 
 Tuesday \Z^^ Walk — Ev^ Casino — billds [billiards] with Liittichau & 
 Whist with M. Helbig — & Darville^ & Knovikoff.^ 
 
 1 Perhaps Count Christian Friedrich Tonne von Liittichau, b. 1748. 
 
 2 Of the well-known family of von Moltke. 
 
 * President John Adams. 
 
 * Louis de Dorville who was "Oberhofmeister der Konigin Elisabeth Christine." He died in 1801. 
 ' The name is von Briihl. 
 
 ^ Daughter of Johann Rudolph von Bischofswerder. 
 ' Dorville. 
 
 * Novikoff in other places in this journal. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 13 
 
 Wed 14*^ Young Brown ^ called on me & we took a walk together — 
 Ev^ at Casino some time. 
 
 Thurs 15'^ Walk alone — fine day — Ev^ at D*" Brown's — met Lord 
 Foulkstone there; introduced to him — passed the time pleasantly. 
 
 Frid 16*^ Called at 10. this morning upon young Brown who took me 
 to see the riding Schools^ — they are kept in a very handsome style. The 
 schools adjoin the king's Stables which are very spacious & well filled with 
 horses. Saw the cavalry exercise in riding — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Saturd 17 Walk — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Sun 18 As yesterday. 
 
 Mond 19 M*" A[dams] has had a violent rhumatism in his right arm for 
 several days past, which has prevented him from writing & consequently has 
 given me a respit. He went to the princess Henry's this ev^ & M" A[dams] 
 with self went to D'' Brown's. pleasant girls — M"" Garlike — Mile 
 Bishopswerder. 
 
 Tues 20 Walk — afternoon Casino. 
 
 Wed 21 Engaged for some days in reading Martens's Droit de Gens'^ 
 — Walk — Evs Casino. 
 
 Thurs 22 Bad weather — walked in park — Casino. 
 
 Frid 23 Walked great part of the way to Charlottenburg with young 
 Brown — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Satur 24 The Baron Schultz Minister of Sweden died on Thursday — 
 Walking met Brown on horseback — returned with him — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Sun. 25*'^ Walk met B[rown] Ev^ at his house. 
 
 Mon 26. Took a ride to Charlottenburg on horseback with Brown 
 
 Tues 27, Walk. Evening at Casino — Mile Neal drank tea at our's. 
 
 Wed 28^^^ As yesterday — W^ent to the play with B[rown] Hyeronimus 
 Knicker"^ — laughable Comedy rather buffoon — Miss B[ruhl]S & Neal. 
 
 Thurs 29 Walk before dinner — Ev^ play with Belches — Rothkirch 
 called at D"" Browns, ladies out, 
 
 Friday 30. Walk — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Satur 31 Long walk — bad cold — Casino, 
 
 Sund P* April Snowed last night & to day — walk cold worse. Mile 
 Neal drank tea with M" A[dams]. 
 
 Mond: 2. Kept house all day — cold extremely severe quite sick. 
 
 Tues 3. Cold still very bad; went to Casino for an hour. 
 
 Wed. 4 Took a long walk which was of service to the cold. 
 
 Thursd 5 Walk — Casino Met B[rown] on horseback. 
 
 Frid 6'^ Called on Brown to go with him to the riding school, but being 
 good friday the school was not open — took a ride to Charlottenburg with 
 B[rown] & Belsches. 
 
 * William Brown. 
 
 2 The royal riding academy founded in 1718. 
 
 * Martens, Georg Friedrich von. Precis du Droit des Gens moderne de I'Europe. Gottingen, 1789. 
 2 vols. 8°. 
 
 'A German operetta by Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf, first published in 1792, and brought out again 
 
 ' A uerman operetta oy Karl JJitters von JJitt« 
 with alterations by Christian August Vulpius in 1793. 
 
14 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Afternoon at a Concert held at the Opera house — the death of Jesus ^ 
 
 — Music said to be fine — superb ■ — I went to see the hall, but saw it not. 
 Took leave early and went to D"" Brown's. The Countess Briihl's there. 
 
 Saturd. 7. Called at Casino; met Rotkirch — took a walk with him & 
 then went to dine at the City of Paris ^ — after dinner at the Catholic Church,^ 
 built in imitation of the Rotunda at Rome — Walk under the trees — Casino 
 
 — Adventure with Mile Neal. 
 
 Sund. 8. Walk — Ev^ with Brown & Belsches. Made an acquaintance 
 or two. 
 
 Mond 9. Went out to Charlottenburg in a Berlin Waggon with young 
 Brown. Met there the young ladies & Mile Bruhl's — The old folks came 
 afterwards — passed a pleasant forenoon with them. Even^ at their house in 
 town M" A[dams] & Neal. 
 
 Tuesd 10 Walk — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Wed 11 As yesterday — Mile Neal drank tea with M^' A[dams]. 
 
 Thurs 12 Walk — and after dinner another in the Garden of Bellevue 
 
 — the Country seat of Prince Ferdinand with M. the Chamberlain Katte, 
 whom I take to be an idiot — after tea at Casino — Bill'ds [Billiards]. 
 
 Frid 13 Called on Brown — Dentist there — employed him — Walk 
 
 — met Rothkirch & Brown on horse back — Even^ at Casino & home M*"® 
 Brown & Isabella — M"" Richards. 
 
 Satur 14 Went with Brown to the riding master, engaged for the month 
 to begin Monday next — called at several places — Walk after in Park; started 
 several sorts of game. Casino — Billds [Billiards] with Helbig. 
 
 Sun 15 Walk with Brown — Evening Play with the Brown family — 
 Play called new Sunday child, in German neusontagskind^ 
 
 Mond 16 Took my first lesson at the Royal riding Accademy — Ploen, 
 Ritmeister. This School has existed since 1718, and is supported at the King's 
 expence. 
 
 Walk afterwards — passed the evening at D"" Browns Countess Bruhl & 
 Neal — Dust insufferable. 
 
 Tuesday 17 Second lesson at eight precisely — several Scholars or 
 learners — the Abbe Comte de Busy is one. Walk before & after dinner — 
 Helbig — Luttichau &'=^ 
 
 Wed 18 Walk — Casino. 
 
 Thurs 19 Verry long walk with Comte de Luttichau — wafers at the 
 tents — Third lesson this morning — violent pain in my head, which all my 
 exercise did not remove — half an hour at D'' Browns. 
 
 Frid 20 Head ach still — The Miss Browns drank tea with M" Adams 
 
 — young B[rown] came afterwards. 
 
 1 Der Tod Jesu, a "Passions-Cantata," composed by Karl Heinrich Graun to words by Ramler. One 
 of the few great oratorios of the second half of the eighteenth century, first executed on March 26, 1755 in 
 the Cathedral of Berlin, and repeated annually for more than a century thereafter during Passion Week. 
 
 2 The Hotel Ville de Paris. 
 
 2 The Catholic church of St. Hedwig, begfun by Biiring and Le Gay in 1747 and finished by Bouman, 
 the elder, in 1773. It was modelled after the Pantheon at Rome. 
 
 * This German operetta by Wenzel Mueller was first presented in 1793 at Vienna. The libretto was 
 adapted by Joachim Perinet. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 15 
 
 Saturday 21 Pain in my head still continues; kept house & at night took 
 an emetic. 
 
 Sunday 22^^ Not yet well — Rhumatism in my head & other parts — 
 walk after dinner in the garden of Bellevue. 
 
 Monday 23d Head still much affected — confident it is the rheumatism. 
 
 Tues 24'*^ Went to riding school notwithstanding the pain in my head 
 
 — not much the worse for it. M""^ Brown & Bell drank tea with us. 
 
 Wed 25*^ Walk in park — Ev^ Casino & D"- Brown's. 
 
 Thurs 2G^ Riding school — the pain in my head less violent, but not 
 removed — Company to tea. Took a ride with young Brown — He rode an 
 horse, which I think to purchase, like him very well. 
 
 Friday 27'*' School this morning — Ride — called several times upon 
 M. von Quast to finish the bargain for his horse — could not see him. 
 
 Saturday 28*^ Called on Quast — gone out — called on Baron Roth- 
 kirch who went with me to buy a saddle — Ride on my horse to Charlottenburg 
 where drank tea with the Miss Browns & Countess Briihls family. Ret"^ to 
 D"" B[rown]S but did not stay [toj supper. 
 
 Sunday 29*^ Rode out with young Brown to see a lake about 6 miles 
 from town — could not find it — excessively warm — Returning overtook 
 a smart shower. Dined for first time at D'' Browns, D"" at Pottsdam.^ Ev^ 
 Comedy — der baum der diana ^ the piece, fine music — Supp'd at same 
 place — Delivered to M"" Richards the money to pay for my horse. 
 
 Mond: 30*^ Riding School — Ev^ took a delightful tour on horseback 
 with B[rown] Jun*" through several neighboring villages — Return'd by Tem- 
 plehof — Evening at Casino — Put my horse to a new stable. 
 
 Tues P* May Dined at M"" Shickler's with considerable company, most 
 of the old club — Rode after dinner to Charlottenburg & returned to supper at 
 D"" Browns — I grow too intimate there. 
 
 Wed 2'^ Went to the review of troops this morning — about 15,000 
 Infantry who made a formidable & handsome appearance — the General 
 Mollendorf f •^ is commander in chief. Took a long ride by myself afterwards 
 
 — Evening some time at Casino. 
 
 Thurs 3*^ Riding school — Rode by myself after dinner on return found 
 M" Brown & the young ladies at our house — attended them home & supp'd 
 there — Mile Neal. 
 
 Frid 4'^ School again somewhat advanced. Short walk before dinner, 
 & ride to Charlottenburg after drank tea & returned with D"" & W" Brown 
 
 — Casino. 
 
 Saturd 5*^ Ride by myself after dinner. Evening at D"" Browns with 
 M" Adams. 
 
 1 Dr. Brown, of Potsdam, an Englishman, was physician to Queen Louise and the royal family. 
 Cf. Reeves, Henry. Jotirnal, p. 177-178. 
 
 -This operetta was composed by \'incenzo Martini (^lartin y Soler), with Italian libretto by 
 Lorenzo da Ponte. The German version by Christian Gottlob Neefe appeared in 1795, and there was an 
 earlier German translation by Ferdinand Eberl in 1787. 
 
 » Field Marshal Wichard Joachim Heinrich von Mollendorff, b. 1724; d. 1816. 
 
15 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Sun 6'^' Weather vastly pleasant for near a fortnight past, though very 
 warm and intolerably dusty. Afternoon at Casino — Billds [Billiards] with 
 Liittichau & Helbig. 
 
 Mon 7^^ Riding school at 7 this morn^, first there — Ride towards 
 night alone — Miss Brown's Miss Estorf f & M"" Garlike at our house — Went 
 home and stayed supper with them. 
 
 Tuesday 8'^ At School again little past 7. Young Bodoin there. Ride 
 before dinner — afternoon Casino & Count Zinzendorffs at a tea — came 
 off soon & went to D' Browns — young Countess Briihl — M""^ Cohen & her 
 son Johnny. 
 
 Wed 9*^ Not well yesterday or to day — Took a ride to Charlottenburg 
 after dinner with Brown Jun"" — Return overtook M" Brown & the young 
 ones — saw them home & came off. Dined at V[ille] de P[aris] with Rotkirch. 
 
 Thurs 10''' Attended a special review of the Infantry — the king was 
 very early upon the ground — great crowd of people and uncomfortably 
 dusty — much gratified. 
 
 Frid 1 1*'' Review of Cavalry this morn^ — Gens d'armes & Huzzar's 
 — fine troupes — Review began at 5^ and was over at 7. went afterwards 
 to riding school. Rode my own horse, which is grown somewhat too frisky 
 for want of riding. Ev^ Casino & home. 
 
 Satur 12*^ Ride alone of some length — Ev^ Casino & D'" Browns — 
 M-- Garlike M"" Courtois, Miss Briihls 8i^^ 
 
 Sun 13'^ Did not ride to day, but took a walk of some length — Casino. 
 
 Mond 14 Walk again — at School this morning. Ev^ at D*" Browns 
 with Countess Neal & M""^ Adams — I stayed supper. 
 
 Tues 15 Riding School again — Took a long solitary ride between 1 & 
 3 — too hot. 
 
 Wed 16 Out this morning at a review of Infantry — five Regiments 
 out — Manoeuvres well performed — very dusty. Evening the Miss Browns 
 with us, attended them home & stayed supper. 
 
 Thurs 17. Walk before dinner — excessively hot — Rothkirch at D'' 
 Browns — rode with W" [Browm to Charlottenburg; passed an hour at 
 Count Briihl's ^ — Letters from America. 
 
 Frid 18 Out at 5}^ to see the exercise of Cavalry — 3 Regiments 
 besides the Hussa's — somewhat amused & gratified. Met Rothkirch & von 
 Quast — Had a narrow escape from a disagreeable accident, by losing my 
 left stirrup. 
 
 Saturd 19 Dined at M"" Shicklers with a company mostly composed of 
 french emigrants — The Abbe de Balliviere — M^ de Brizac chamberlain of 
 the King of Naples — a Swedish Nobleman Baron d'Armfeld — An Officer 
 of Prince de Conde's Army M de Rouville M"" Taylor an Englishman & one 
 or two others — After coming away from dinner turned to my left & then to 
 my right hand, which took me directly out of town & caused me two hours 
 walking before I could find the way in again — extremely fatigued & worried 
 
 ' Count Karl Adolph von Briihl. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 17 
 
 by the exercise which I was in no condition to bear — find myself quite ill — 
 most unfortunately at this time. Called on Brown & he went with me to buy 
 a sabre — purchased an enamel'd ring and disposed of it. 
 
 Sund 20 Passed a very sleepless & unpleasant night, owing to indisposi- 
 tion anxiety & fatigue — Rose at 8, did little all day — young B[row]n called 
 — ■ Took a gentle sleep from 5 till 10 & then went to bed — Slept soundly all 
 night notwithstanding. 
 
 Mond 21 Up at 4^^ and off at 5 to see the review^ — came on the 
 ground when the Cavalry just began their manoeuvres — stayed till it began to 
 rain and threatened more, then came off the field leaving everybody there — 
 got partly wet, but comparatively escaped very well — others were soaked 
 
 — after dinner called on B[rown] and went with him to see a very useful 
 acquaintance — who told me a secret respecting myself, which I shall not 
 readily forget. Ev^ Miss Br°ns [Browns] at our house. 
 
 Tuesday 22 Again at Review ^ — liked it better than yesterday Troops 
 perform their evolutions to perfection, though as a soldier I pretend to know 
 nothing of the matter. Returned in good season, called on B[rown] Jun"" & after 
 upon G[arlike]. 
 
 Wednes 23 Last day of the Review,^ out with my brother in a carriage 
 
 — weather excessively cold & uncomfortable. Manoeuvres very sensible 
 though rather unintelligible to me — returned by the encampment of the 
 Dragoon's, Regiment of Prince Louis (Ferdinand) Evening at 
 
 Thurs 24 Introduced at Court, Ball & Supper — came off early with 
 Belsches, very glad when the ceremony was over. The king observed to me 
 
 — "vous avez ete ici tout cet hyver?" Oui — The Queen — How long have 
 you been at Berlin? Je suis arrive avec mon frere il y a six mois — "Vous 
 vous plaisez ici?" "Infiniment." Prince Henry — Avez vous ete longtems 
 ici ? Environ six mois, mon Seigneur — 
 
 Prince Charles of Nassau — spoke to me of my uniform enquired how 
 many troops we have upon foot — &''^ Being now one of the initiated I may 
 follow the fashions if agreeable — Court held, first time at the old Pallace. 
 
 Frid 25 Rode alone before dinner to Charlottenburg and afternoon with 
 young Brown — drank tea there. 
 
 Satur 26 At home till Ev^ very busy in writing, then at Casino — Bill'^^ 
 [Billiards] with an Englishman — Helbig & Liittichau. 
 
 Sund 27 Took a ride — Ev^ at D'" Brown's — Baron Rothkirch — 
 MlleEstoff^&'=^ 
 
 Mond 28 Writing all day very hard Ev^ at D"" B[rown]S with M""" A[dams] 
 after taking a ride with young B[rown] to Charlotbu^. 
 
 Tues 29 Busy again writing — Ev^ rode with D"" & Brown Jun*". 
 
 1 J. Q. Adams states that the review on this day lasted until "between ten and eleven" in the forenoon 
 and that there were five regiments of cavalry and ten regiments of infantry, totalling 26,000 men. — 
 Memoirs, I: 216. 
 
 2 According to J. Q. Adams the "reviews and manoeuvres" were finished on this day between nine and 
 ten o'clock in the morning. — Memoirs, I: 217. 
 
 * No record of this day's review is given in the printed Memoirs of J. Q. Adams. 
 
 * Estorff. 
 
18 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Wed 30 Paid one month's keeping for my horse Rode to Charlotten- 
 burg with B[rown] Jun"" visited Count Briihl — Company Mad"" Ritezel ^ — 
 Munchhausen — Mile Kale ^ — Mad"" de Berg ^ & her daughter — Mile Neal 
 & Baron Alvensleben — Ret^ with D"" B[rown]. 
 
 Thurs 31 Engaged all the morning packing up for removal to our new 
 lodgings in the Beren Strass"^ — went & dined there — rode before & after 
 dinner. 
 
 Friday l^^ June Trying to get settled, in my new apartments — find 
 them very hot — being exposed all the afternoon to the Sun. Took a ride 
 in the evening to Charlottenburg — Two of the Miss Browns gone to stay 
 there — The rest go tomorrow. 
 
 Satur 2^ Very hot weather — Rode in the even^ to Charlotten^ — Met 
 the young Countess Briihls there waiting the arrival of the Browns, who came 
 out shortly — Heard from Countess Mary Bruhl ^ that a M^ Pirponchet had 
 arrived and entered the prussian service here, and that he was quartered at 
 Charlottenburg, as a subaltern in the garde du corps. 
 
 Sun 3<^ J. O. A[dams] dined out to day; stayed & dined with M" A[dams] 
 
 and in the evening went on my nag to Charlott met there M' Richards 
 
 for the first time — M. Constantini the Italian master — the Briihl's &^^ 
 
 Mond 4*'' M"" & M""^ A[dams] went to the princess Henry's & self to 
 Chariot^ The Browns & Briihls as usual. 
 
 Tuesd 5*^ Up this morning at 4 o'Clock; took a walk in the park and 
 afterwards a ride — Gained nothing by my early rising, as was obliged to 
 sleep in the middle of the day — Passed the ev^ [evening] at Bellevue, Chateau 
 Ferdinand — Walk in the garden with a Swedish Count de Thune, whom I 
 never saw before, but who was very chatty — Made a party of whist with him, 
 M"" de Grovestein a Dutch gentleman & Madmoiselle [blank space] terriblement 
 laide^ — Came off as the company went to supper. 
 
 Wed 6^^ Made up for lost time by sleeping till 9 — which is two hours 
 too late, at least. Ev^ Casino & afterwards a ride — steered clear of Charlot- 
 tenburg for once. 
 
 Thursday 7*^ Writing very closely till dinner time. Ev^ at a Ball given 
 by M"" Cohen ^ to the beautiful Miss Arnstein a Jewess from Vienna — Com- 
 pany not too large and the Ball Room spacious, but the weather very hot ■ — 
 Danced with M" Hesse Miss Frederica Zeinert & M" Miller — At supper 
 placed next M. Zeinert & made her acquaintance Company chiefly foreigners 
 & strangers — French & Swedish Colony — English & Dutchmen rather 
 numerous — M^ Jaret a boy traveller, quite a brute in behavior — Broke up 
 at 3. 
 
 1 The well-known Baroness Riedesel, wife of Baron Friedrich Adolph von Riedesel. 
 '■* Perhaps the daughter of Friedrich Georg von Kail. 
 
 s Frau von Bergh was a sister of Eleonore, Countess von Neal and was "Hofdame" to the Prin- 
 cess Heinrich. 
 
 * Behrenstrasse. 
 
 5 Maria Sophia von Briihl, daughter of Count Karl Adolph von Briihl and his wife Sophia Gomm. 
 
 * Frightfully homely. 
 
 ' Member of the rich Jewish banking house of Cohn at Berlin. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 19 
 
 Frid 8"* Up very late this morning and did little business all day — 
 Casino. 
 
 Satur 9'^ At home till even^ — then rode to Chariot^ — saw the Brown's. 
 Called on Perponchet & met with him Mess" Fagel, Borrele, Grovestein, and 
 another Dutchman — who all came to town in a waggon — P[erponchet] rode 
 on horseback — talked over old affairs and learnt several incidents more or 
 less scandalous of our Hague acquaintance. 
 
 Sund lO*'^ Rode out with D*" & W[illiam] Brown to dine at Chariot^ with 
 them — Met M"" Cohen & family there, afternoon called on Pirponchet at 
 the Guard, found him on duty — He is Jungcr in the garde du corps — but 
 expects an Officers grade in a few weeks, from a new organization to take 
 place in the Regiment. Ref^ home at 10. 
 
 Mond 11*'' Rode before dinner — Ev^ presented at the Court of the 
 Princess Henry ^ for the first time — she is a very antique piece of furniture 
 as are most of the female Courtiers whom I saw there — they somewhat 
 resemble as many Chinese Mandarine figures; the palsied head & hand — the 
 tottering knee & the trembling voice, bespeak age & infirmity, which all the 
 glare of rouge or the lustre of jewels cannot conceal. 
 
 Came off directly after the Princess was seated at her partie — Went 
 to Casino — passed the even^ & supped there. 
 
 Tuesd 12'*^ Passed the evening at Prince Ferdinands — Played with 
 Count Wartensleben ^ & others whom I knew not, lost a great deal of money 
 at the infernal game of whist. Came home before supper. 
 
 Wed 13*^ Went towards 2 o'Clock & took a solitary ride — Ev^ rode 
 to Charlottenburg with B[rown] Jun"". 
 
 Thurs 14-^'^ Rode with B[rown] Jun"" in a new direction — came at length 
 to Charlottenburg, but only to the gate. 
 
 Friday 15 Began Arschenholtz [sic] history of the 7 years war in Ger- 
 man^ Day as usual — rode to Ch^ [Charlottenburg] met J arret a proper John, 
 rode home with him. 
 
 Satur 16. After dinner at Casino, met Jaret & M de Brisac — rode after- 
 wards to Cha [Charlottenburg] with B[rown] round by the Artillery 
 
 Barracks. Supp'd there. 
 
 Sund 17 Short walk before dinner — Ev^ rode out with D"" B[rown] to 
 Charl^. Met the Baron Alvensleben "* coming away with M. Richards — The 
 Briihl's there — Supp'd. 
 
 Mon 18. After dinner at Casino — Jaret — Billds [Billiards] with 
 Novikof f — at 12 N' wth m' n — gh b — r v — a — v} ■ 
 
 Tues 19 Rose at 6>4 and went to see the Artillery exercise — very 
 accurate in their fire — Ev^ took a solitary ride. 
 
 Wed 20 Rode in the afternoon to Charlottenburg. 
 
 1 She was a princess of Hesse-Cassel and about seventy years old. — Adams, J. Q. Memoirs, I: 209. 
 
 2 He was perhaps Count Friedrich Ludwig von Wartensleben who married Anna Auguste, Countess 
 von Fleming. 
 
 »Archenholz, Tohann Wilhelm von. Geschichte des siehenjdhvigen Krieges in Deutschland von 1756 
 bis 1763. Mannheim, 1793. 2 vols. 8°. 
 
 * Count Philip Karl von Alvensleben. 
 ° With my neighbor vis-a-vis. 
 
20 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Thurs 21. Stopp'd a little time at Casino, rode afterwards. 
 
 Frid 22 Afternoon at Casino — Billds [Billiards] with D'Orville, Novi- 
 koff & Jarrat; supp'd there. 
 
 Satur 23 Letters from America to the 7^^ May — Ev^ rode to Ch^ 
 [Charlottenburg]. 
 
 Simd 24 Busy times with me, writing constantly — Casino afternoon 
 met Littichau, returned from the Country. 
 
 Mon 25. Rode before & after dinner — A company from Charlotte of 
 the Browns, Bruhls & Pirponchet made a ride of some length, on the way to 
 Spandau, very fine view of the Spree. 
 
 Tuesday 26 Writing all day — Rode at night. 
 
 Wednes. 27 Rode afternoon to Pancho,^ a small village about 2^ miles 
 from Berlin. 
 
 Thursd 28 Past the day as usual. 
 
 Frid 29 Took a ride towards night. 
 
 Satur 30 Walk towards night, met B[rown] Jun & Jarrat. 
 
 Sund the P*^ July After dinner at Charlottenburg — grow vastly inti- 
 mate there without knowing it myself — Jarrat smoaked me & tried hard to 
 be quizical, but he did not succeed — took a ride near Spandau. 
 
 Mond 2^ After dinner at Casino — supp'd there; came home after the 
 rain ceased & found myself quite ill. 
 
 Tuesd 3^^ Passed a bad night, feverish & know not why — not well, but 
 took a ride to drive off the bluedevils, to Chariot^ came home a little better.^ 
 
 Wed 4*^ Somewhat better to day — Dined at home and remembered 
 the day; a very sober 4*^ however — afternoon at Casino. 
 
 Thursd 5**^ J Q A[dams] had his audience of reception to day at Char- 
 lottenburg.^ M. Citoyen Sieyes likewise had his. We dined at a Country 
 seat of M'' Schickler at a villiage called Strahlo ^ — Company numerous and all 
 strangers — Mad""^ Kraie of Leipsig was the most interesting lady, though 
 there were several others; one who is a widdowed virgin, very rich. 
 
 Frid 6*'' At 9 this morning went by invitation to the pallace ^ to see the 
 ceremony of the homage or oath of allegiance taken by the people — The 
 burgers from different parts of the Country and deputies from the several 
 States assembled & took the oath &'=^ About 70, or 80,000 people were collected 
 
 ^ Pankow. 
 
 2 J. O. Adams was informed on this day by Count von Finckenstein that the king "had fixed on 
 Thursday [July Sth] at half -past ten in the forenoon" to give him an audience for the delivery of his letters 
 of credence. — -Memoirs, I: 218. 
 
 ^J. Q. Adams says that he "entered the palace as the clock struck half-past ten," and adds: "Three 
 other Ministers were appointed at the same time — the new French Minister Sieyes, the Comte de Schall, 
 from the Elector of Bavaria, and the Commandeur de Maisonneuve, from Malta." After his interview with 
 the king, Adams went to arrange for an audience with the queen, whereupon he returned to Berlin "and soon 
 after went out to dine with Mr. Schickler, at Strahlau, about three English miles from Berlin," on the river 
 Spree. There were about thirty-five persons at table, mostly strangers to the Adamses. — Memoirs, I: 219. 
 
 * The village of Stralau. 
 
 5 The events of this ceremony are described by J. Q. Adams, thus: "Between nine and ten this morning 
 went to the royal palace, into the hall called the White Hall, on the third story. We were early. At about 
 ten the King went in procession with his Generals and Ministers to the Dom Church, and heard a sermon. 
 At about twelve he returned, escorted as before, entered the hall, and ascended a throne prepared in it for 
 him. . . In a box at the right, all the foreign Ministers and their Secretaries. . . The Minister de Reck began 
 by a speech addressed to the deputies, which was answered by the president of the deputation, Arnim von 
 Suckow." — A/^)"0!>.j, I: 219-220; also Writings, ed. by Ford, vol. II: 332-335. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 21 
 
 as Spectators — The Diplomacy & strangers were admitted to see the homage 
 of the deputies — Several addresses were made; one by Minister de Reck ^ — 
 which was answered by the President of the deputation Arnim. They were 
 said to be very loyal. Afternoon at Charlottenburg &''^ 
 
 Citizen Sieyes & Secretary Otto^ were present at the ceremony, and 
 appeared to have all eyes turned upon them. The deputies &'^^ were assembled 
 in the White Hall of the palace — His Majesty came in, preceded by the 
 Ministers of State & followed by the young Princes Si"^ He retired after the 
 business was over in the same order. While the addresses were reading the 
 king stood on his throne and seemed to be perfectly composed — The oath 
 of homage was repeated by the deputies with a small display of fervor, but 
 in general it was a vapid & insipid spectacle, at least to an American. 
 
 Satur 7'^ Ball this evening at Court ;^ went & danced with Countess M. 
 Briihl & Mile de Molck "* — passed a tolerable pleasant time — stayed supper. 
 
 Sund 8'^ Concert & Te Deum at the Opera House; went for the sake 
 of seeing the building; found it handsome — no relish for the music — D"" 
 Brown & family there — went afterwards to Chariot^ with them, & Jarrett, 
 quite cross about my horse, which has undertaken to be wicked & unmanage- 
 able. Took a ride before dinner — adventure of the raspberries &'^^ 
 
 Mond 9*^ Rode alone to Charl^ on the right side of the River — Horse 
 went very quiet. 
 
 Tuesd lO**" Took a long ride on the Pottsdam road, and had a fresh battle 
 with my horse. 
 
 Wed. 11 Ride afternoon Ch^ — Jarrett there. 
 
 Thurs 12 Rode with Billy Brown to Ch^ and went upon the River with 
 him in his boat. 
 
 Frid 13 Afternoon at Ch^ M" Adams there. 
 
 Satur 14 At Casino met Jarrett & M"" Kent,^ his traveling Tutor; went 
 & drank tea with them at their lodgings. 
 
 Sun 15 Went to Charl^ on the right side of the River made a long ride. 
 
 Mon 16 To Ch^ with young Brown; the D"" accompanied us thence to 
 Pi^ickelsdorf ^ an island in the River Havel about 4 m. e7 from Ch^ where we 
 met the young ladies & M Perponcher. The situation very pleasant, commands 
 a view of the River and the town of Spandau. 
 
 The turnpike began to day on the Chariot^ road. 
 
 Tues 17. M" A[dams] extremely ill last night ^ — sent for D'' Brown 
 from Ch^ He thinks she must miscarry — poor little woman; how she suffers ! 
 Matrimony these are thy fruits ! Bitter Bitter, M" Brown came to see her. 
 
 1 Eberhard Friedrich Christopli Ludwig von der Recke. He died in 1816. 
 
 2 He was secretary to the French legation. 
 
 ' Just before the court ball, J. Q. Adams was given an audience by the queen. The ball was held 
 in the ballroom or "White Hall," where the homage had been paid the king on the preceding day. — 
 Memoirs, I: 221. 
 
 * Moltke. 
 
 ^ Kent was a clergyman, who accompanied Jarrett upon his travels. The latter seems to have been 
 the son of a wealthy Jamaica planter. — Adams, J. Q. Memoirs, I: 221. 
 ' Pichelsdorf. 
 ' English miles. 
 
 * Mrs. John Quincy Adams was Louisa Catherine Johnson, second daughter of Joshua and Catherine 
 Johnson. She was married to Adams on July 26, 1797, in the church of the parish of AH Hallows Barking, 
 London. — Memoirs, I: 199. Her father was United States Consul at London. 
 
22 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Ev^ at Bellevue — Princess &*^^ very inquisitive concerning M" A[dams] 
 told them all I knew & more too. Party with Geertz,^ Grovestein & two other 
 Gent" unknown one of them said to be M. de Haagen^ — came off before 
 supper. 
 
 Wed IS*'* M" A[dams] yet very ill; went to Charl^ in the evening. Dined 
 at D"" B[rown]S in town; walk in the park before dinner. 
 
 Thurs 19 Called at Casino; M"" J[arrett] & K[ent] — Ev^ at Chariot^ 
 
 Frid 20 M" A[dams] somewhat better. 
 
 Satur 21 Day as usual. 
 
 Sund 22 Afternoon took a cart & went with Jarrett to Ch^. 
 
 Mon 23 Rode to Ch^ by the way of Tempelhof, where there was a larger 
 collection of people, met to keep harvest home^ Mess" K[ent] & J[arrett] at 
 D^ B[row]ns. Letters from home of 12 June — unpleasant news for my 
 brother.'* 
 
 Tues 24 Called on J[arrett] after dinner and went with him to Casino — 
 Bill'ds [Billiards] — returned & took tea at his lodgings. 
 
 Wed 25 Ride towards night. 
 
 Thurs 26 Heard of M'' Childs an American gentleman being at V[ille] 
 de P[aris] went & dined there; conversation with M de Quast — Introduced 
 myself to C[hilds] and attended him to see my brother — after tea a walk. 
 
 Frid 27 Before dinner at Casino — Jarrett — M"" Childs D^ & W" 
 Brown & M'" Richard dined with us. Rode after with W° to Poeckelsdorf,^ 
 where we met the B[row]n & B[ruh]l families; Perponcher & Jarrett. To me 
 not a pleasant party. 
 
 Satur 28 Rode towards night to Ch^ supped there. 
 
 Sund 29 Made arrangements for M"" Childs to go with Mess" Kent & 
 Jarrett to Ch^ — rode out horseback — pleasant dinner 14 persons — passed 
 the evening there. Rode home with D^ Brown. Agreed to take lesson on 
 tuesday in fencing, of a french soldier, in Pr[ussian] service. 
 
 Mond 30. Casino met Jar* afternoon rode with W" Brown to Pancho, 
 to visit Mile Bishoffswerder — not home — went through Shoenhausen to 
 Ch^^ — Miss B[rown] observes — "So I hear you are going away? Alas yes! 
 No help f or't. To part from her will cost a pang — But — 
 
 Fencing teacher disappointed me. 
 
 Tuesd 31 Towards Ev^ rode out with W° Brown to Charlottenburg; D'" 
 Br: was sent for by the Queen — W" & self rode express, 20 minutes to town. 
 
 Wednes the P* of August. Took first lesson in fencing — Went out and 
 took a bath in the river, above the king's garden — first time I have bathed 
 for two or three years in a cold bath. Rode to town with D"" B[row]n — 
 pleasant conversation. 
 
 1 Gorz. 
 
 ^ Correctly vom Hagen. 
 » Erntefest. 
 
 * Evidently referring to the opposition in Congress to the confirmation of Adams as minister pleni- 
 potentiary at Berlin. 
 5 Pichelsdorf. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 23 
 
 Thurs 2, Bathed again this even^ — appearance of a very heavy storm 
 came up, and it grew so extremely dark that I was persuaded to stay the night 
 at Ch^ — This morn^ 2 lesson in fencing. 
 
 Frid 3 Up at 4^ & off at 5^ with W"" — fine morning — lesson in 
 german, but nodded very soon over it — Out again at night with B[rown] Jun*" 
 Company — M'' Hamilton an English Gentleman just arrived — pleasant 
 evening, 
 
 Saturd 4 Dined at V[ille] de Paris; weather excessively hot — M*" Childs 
 wanted me to make a party to Freyenwald with him & two Italian's, strangers 
 to both of us — hesitated whether I should go or not, and finally concluded 
 I would not. Wrote him a note to that effect. Passed the even^ and supp'd 
 at Bellevue walked in the garden with Baron Geertz & an officer of the Gens 
 d'armes — M"" Sloper an Englishman was there and was very chatty — seems 
 to be a favorite of P. R. & A — rather a rattler, but impudent enough to bear 
 himself through. Walked home with him. 
 
 Sund 5. Fine shower blew up about 11 o'Clock, which cleared the air 
 & lay'd the dust — considerable thunder — the weather has been intensely 
 hot during the past week, this shower is very grateful — 3^ lesson this morn^. 
 
 Mon 6 At home the morning — Sat off for Pottsdam at }i 5. in 
 company with W" Brown ^ — M"" & M" A[dams] Miss I[sabella] Brown & M"" 
 Childs were in one carriage & Mess" Kent, Jarrat & Hamilton in another. 
 Stopped % an hour at Zeilendorf^ and went the other stage, half way in 
 }i hour; arrived at Henschels Inn ^ an hour sooner than the carriages — Made 
 the necessary arrangements for the night, Supp'd & passed a pleasant evening. 
 Slept in a room with B" 
 
 Tues 7. Our whole company sat out in Carriages to visit the different 
 palaces &'^^ at 11 o'Clock - — Stopped V^ at the gallery of Paintings which took 
 us nearly two hours to go through — thence to Sans Souci '^ palace the former 
 residence of Fred: II — saw his library & study with the table on which he 
 used to write — The appartments generally handsome; some of them 
 elegant — paintings scattered about in many of them — Saw the grave stone's 
 of 11 dogs, which belonged to old Fritz — the Monarch himself should have 
 been buryed by their side, if his dying injunction has been obeyed — from 
 hence we proceeded to a prospect or Summer house, which commands a very 
 extensive view of the Town of P[Otsdam] the River Havel & the adjacent 
 Country — Artificial ruins at some distance — in the midst of a thick copse 
 of trees produce a pleasant effect. Next to the New Palace,^ built by Fr II 
 immediately at the close of his 7 years war — very shabby externally, resem- 
 bling more an hospital than a palace — Some handsome rooms — spacious but 
 not elegant — Thence to the Marble Palace ^ situated upon the River — Built 
 
 1 Thomas B. Adams and William Brown went on horseback. It was "about five in the afternoon." 
 Hamilton was "a young man, going to pass some time at Gottingen." — Adams, J. Q. Memoirs, I: 221. 
 
 2 Zehlendorf. 
 
 »This "Gasthaus" was known as the Sign of the Hermit. On October 10, 1799, J. Q. Adams lodged 
 there. — Memoirs, I: 239. 
 
 * Sans Souci, the celebrated palace at Potsdam created by Frederick the Great after the Silesian war, 
 as a place of repose. It was built by the architect Knobelsdorf, 1745-1747. 
 
 = This palace was erected in the style of Palladio by order of Frederick the Great, 1764-1769. 
 
 « The Marmorpalais built for Friedrich Wilhelm II and finished by Friedrich Wilhelm IV. 
 
24 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 on a small scale but wonderfully neat & rich — the grotto ^ & the hermitage 
 belonging to this palace & the grounds about it are worth seeing more than 
 anything else — Here our labors came to an end, and we returned to town 
 about 5 o'clock heartily fatigued & very hungry.^ 
 
 After dinner young B[rown] sat off for Charlottenburg & I attended his 
 sister to visit Count & Countess Luzey an old acquaintance of my father — 
 The remainder of even^ at home. 
 
 Wed 8 Walked with the ladies to see the Soldiers manoeuvre — well 
 performed — they are learning a new exercise; or a trifling variation from the 
 old, which is rather vexatious to them because it is not thought to be an 
 improvement — Weather very warm — Took a game of Bill'ds [Billiards] with 
 M"" Childs — A shower attended with thunder came on while we were out & 
 cooled the air — Dined at 3, and went afterwards to see the manufactory of 
 arms — saw the operation of putting in a britch pin performed & boring a 
 touch-hole — the barrels are made at Spandau — The specimens of guns, 
 which we saw are very heavy weighing upon an average — 12 to 13 pounds 
 weight — well made — they cost about a guinea a piece. 
 
 Company concluded to stay the night — game of whist. 
 
 Thurs 9 Settled our bill — (a stout one) and prepared for being off — 
 Took leave of Mess""^ Jarret & Kent & at 11 got under weigh for town ■ — 
 rode slowly the first stage, but found it extravagantly hot. Stopped >4 an 
 hour at Zeilendorf ^ & made our servant ride my horse — the second stage — 
 Six persons in my brothers Carriage — Reached home at 2 — went and 
 dined with Childs at the V[ille] de P[aris] and after dinner went with him & 
 three other persons to the Royal Accademy of Sciences, presided by the 
 Marquis de Luchesini,"^ and heard the reading of two discourses — One his- 
 torical — the other de I'influence des femme sur les Gouvernemens et les 
 Etats — by M. le vi-comte de Goyon a f rench Emigrant — was highly pleased 
 with it — M'' Erman pronounced the first — Called at D"" Browns & drank tea 
 — M^ Hamilton there — went afterwards with him to the Casino. 
 
 Frid 10 At home till 6>4 — then went to Casino with M^ Childs — 
 Billds [Billiards] — Ev^ tea & cards at Count Zinzindorfs — Whist with his 
 Excellency the ci-devant Avoyer Steiger^ of Berne — La Barron de Reck & 
 M"" de Grovestein — Lost — Come home & found the young Countess Neal at 
 our house. 
 
 Satur 11 Made up my mind to accompany M"" Childs to Dresden. Went 
 out to Charlottenburg, found Miss F Briihl there; walk on the terrass until 
 the family returned — Supped and had a very dark & dangerous ride home 
 on account of the road. 
 
 1 The quaint house on the Spree, built in 1650 by Memhardt. 
 
 2 J. Q. Adams gives some observations concerning the visit that are complementary to this account. — 
 Memoirs, I: 221-222. 
 
 * Zehlendorf. 
 
 * Hieronymus (or Girolamo), Marchese von Lucchesini, b. 1752; d. 1825. He was of an old patrician 
 house of Lucca and came to Prussia in 1780. 
 
 = He had been a Swiss magistrate and belonged to the old patrician house of Steiger, of Bern, 
 Switzerland. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 25 
 
 Sund 12 Mess" Childs & Hamilton dined with us — Went to Charlotten- 
 burg & took leave of the family. Returned early & packed up my trunk. 
 
 Mond 13 Sent off my trunk to the V[ille] de Paris and mounted my horse 
 at 9 o'clock — sat off from the V[ille] de P[aris] at 10^ — passed the Carrier 
 without question. Rode about 4 Eng miles & then took to the carriage with 
 Childs on ace* of the intense heat — Reached first stage 3 G. Miles Mittehvalde ^ 
 between 1 & 2 o'Clock; bought a cloth & halter for my horse & proceeded 
 about 3 for Baruth 3 miles — at neither of these places could any Oats be had 
 for my horse — nothing but chopp't straw & rye, of which he would scarcely 
 eat any — The Post Master at this Stage was a brute — a hog. Made the 
 next stage to Luckau 3 miles, at night & arrived at a pretty good Inn or Wirtz- 
 haiis about 6 o'Clock on 
 
 Tues 14 Found here some oats for my horse; rubb'd him down myself 
 
 — saw him fed &'^^ — sat off with three horses hence, & with a surly, grumbling 
 postilion Schwager^ because we diminished the number of our horses — made 
 the next stage 2 miles to Sonnenwalde in 4 j^ hours — dined at the tavern 
 kept by a civil intelligent man in comparison. Off at 2 ^^ o'Clock for Elster- 
 werder^ 3 miles — long stage; very hot, and my horse very troublesome — 
 got in at 8 ^, and took measures with the post Master, a clever fellow, for 
 leaving my horse with him until Thursday — made a bargain to have him 
 sent on — took a cold cut — & off at 9 ^ for Grossen Hayn 2 miles, which 
 we came to at 1 in the morn^ — just as a violent thunder gust came on — laid 
 myself down upon a sopha & slept soundly until the horses were ready to start 
 
 — off at 2 j^ and made this stage in four hours; good roads and good horses — 
 good natured postilion. 4 miles and yet by much the shortest stage we have had. 
 
 Wed 15 As we approached the town of Dresden, which is situated at 
 the foot of a long hill, we had a fine view of the surrounding banks of the 
 Elbe — the fortress of Konigstein is a very conspicious object — the grounds 
 in the neighborhood well cultivated & interspersed with vineyards — arrived 
 about 6 ^ at the gates, & at the Hotel de Baviere at 7. The rooms & chambers 
 all full, but as a favor to M'' Childs the people offered him a small room for 
 a temporary accommodation, which we accepted. Breakfasted — dressed &'^* 
 — • M"" C[hilds] heard that some of his acquaintance were just gone on a party 
 to Freybourg & he sat off in about 2 hours from our arrival to join them. 
 Dined at Table d'hote with three or four gentlemen — strangers — walked 
 a little afterwards & then came home slept most of the afternoon. Ev^ rec'^ 
 a call from M"" Kent, who arrived about 5 this evening, & could with much 
 difficulty find lodgings — passed an hour very pleasantly — slept in a nut- 
 shell of a room, but very comfortably — weather much cooler. 
 
 Thurs 16 Called after breakfast upon Mess" Kent & Jarrett sauntered 
 about till dinner time; my horse arrived about 11 o'Clock — got a stable for 
 him — dined at T[able] d'h[6te] again with K[ent] & J[arrett] — & the same 
 
 ^ Mittenwalde. 
 
 - These terms are synonymous. "To detail the cheating tricks and impertinence of wagenmeisters, 
 schwagers, Sac, would be a long and thankless task." — Reeve, Henry. Journal of a Residence at Vienna and 
 Berlin in 1805-6, p. 203. 
 
 * Elsterwerda. 
 
26 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 gentlemen as I met before — conversed freely with them — Afternoon billds 
 [billiards] with J[arrett] walk on the Terrass upon the River, formerly the 
 gardens belonging to Count Briihl's summer house which was razed by the 
 soldiers of Fred: II after taking the town. It commands a fine prospect of 
 the river & neighborhood. Walk after on the Ramparts &^^ & then to the 
 Neu Stadt across the long 15 arch stone bridge — & by the Equestrian Statue 
 of The late Elector, Augustus king of Poland — returned & took tea with 
 K[ent] & J[arrett]. 
 
 Frid 17 M*" Childs returned last night & lodged in a chamber contiguous 
 to me — called on him this morning & wrote all the forenoon — Dined at 
 T[able] d'h[6te] — & after dinner went to see the public library & collection of 
 porcelain — both objects of curiosity; rain prevented our seeing anything 
 more — returned & passed the even^ at my chamber with the rest of the 
 gentlemen. 
 
 Satur 18 Called on Mess" K[ent] & J[arrett] and went with them to see 
 the Cabinet of Antiques — a very superb collection, and contains a few»models 
 which for beauty & elegance, expression & grace, carry with them infallible 
 proofs of their origin — I remarked particularly a priestess of Diana — for 
 drapery & expression — Three figures the finding of which first occasioned 
 the discovery of the Herculaneum ^ — One of them a female figure remark- 
 able for the fineness of its drapery — A fragment — the body and arm of a 
 man, most exquisite workmanship — Venus's innumerable, but none very 
 good. These are all the most prominent objects. Several young men were 
 scattered about the gallery, taking sketches as Scholars. 
 
 Returned & dined at T[able] d h[6te]. afterwards took a ride out towards 
 the baths — M*" Elliot called & offered to present me at Court to morrow if 
 I liked — declined — Walk towards night to see the baths — Passed Ev^ 
 at home. 
 
 Sund 19 Called upon Childs & went with him to the parade — saw a part 
 of the regiment of the Electors guards — went thence to the catholic church 
 and heard the famous music — The Elector, Electress & daughter — Princes 
 Anthony & Maximilian — & the Electors Sister, Princess Elizabeth were 
 present — Walk afterwards — dined at Table d'hote and went afterwards 
 to the Lincks-bath where we met a collection of the ugliest women I ever saw — 
 Childs agreed to meet us there but failed, and we discovered the cause of it, 
 which gave us some room for remark — Crossed the river with M"" Kent and 
 returned to his lodgings. 
 
 Mond 20 Sat off with Messieurs Kent & Jarrett to visit the Fortress 
 of Konigstein, 3 G M. from Dresden — passed through Pyrna^ & ordered 
 dinner there — overtook on the road a Company of Poles bound on the same 
 errand as ourselves; reached the Fortress at 10 ^ and went over it; heard 
 the interesting particulars of its history, which was interpreted to us by one of 
 the Polish gentlemen; made acquaintance with them & found them very clever 
 
 ^ These three statues were found at Herculaneum in 1706. 
 2 Pirna. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 27 
 
 — Lillienstein a rock at about an E M — distance from the Fortress is still 
 higher, but more accessable — The Elbe is very interesting at this place, and 
 our party joined an equal number of the poles to descend it in a boat, by which 
 we had a fair view of its lofty banks, which on one side are entirely of huge 
 rocks — passed the ruins of two robber Castles — Dined at Pyrna about 4 Yz 
 and took leave of our fellow passengers, whom we found to be inhabitants of 
 Wilna in Lithuania, one of them D"" of Medicine a very intelligent & agreeable 
 young man. Returned by 9 to Dresden. 
 
 Tuesday 2P* Went with K[ent] & J[arrett] to the picture gallery both 
 before & after dinner — found it exceed my expectations in point of number 
 & arrangement, but not in the quality & merit of the paintings. Walk about 
 town, & towards night took a ride upon my horse of about 5 E. M. to the foot 
 of some very high hills. Returned to tea at K[ent] & J[arrett]S. 
 
 Wed 22 Took breakfast with Mess""^ K[ent] & J[arrett] — and sat off 
 for Tharand a valley upon the banks of the Weiseritz. Stopped at a tea house 
 for M'". Childs to get breakfast — then at a place called Potz-Chappel, where 
 we mounted a hill which commands a fine prospect of the surrounding Country. 
 Passed the valley of Plauen & arrived about 10 o'Clock at Tharand. Ascended 
 a Mountain upon the left bank of the River, the access to which is much 
 facilitated as well as rendered pleasant by a foot path made at the expence of 
 a Company who frequent the place. It is serpentine & extends from top to 
 bottom with seats as resting places at convenient distances. We were joined by 
 M*" C[hild]S party consisting of a Russian Lady and her companion M"" 
 C[hild]S friend — a Russian gentleman & a son of the Rus" lady — After 
 dinner we visited the ruins of a robber Castle and ascended the Right side 
 of the river, where the mountain is still higher than the other, and the walk 
 arranged in a similar style — A buste of Gessner the poet is placed at the 
 center of the hill and a small pavillion at the top. The view from hence is one 
 of the finest I ever saw. Made all our observations from the summit and 
 as soon as we descended prepared to be off for Freyburg. Took leave of the 
 company at 5 and after a rough & tiresome ride of 4 hours arrived at the 
 Golden Star^ in the town of F[reybur]g. 
 
 Thurs 23 Up at 6 and obtained of Mess" Schmidt & Charpentier — 
 Directors or Overseers of the mines, the usual permit for seeing the works and 
 then proceeded to the Ciirfurst or Electors mine where we were received by the 
 head man or superintendant, and after equiping ourselves in Miners cloths we 
 took our departure Jarrett & self with the Conductor to visit the inmost recesses 
 of the subterranean cells — We descended only half the depth of the mine 
 250 Ells or 500 feet — passed through the veins — saw the workmen employed 
 and reascended to light in about two hours from the time of entry. Saw the 
 machines for extracting the water & the ore and the several processes to pre- 
 pare the ore to be received at the Smelting or Amalgamating house and then 
 went to see it there in its several stages of purification & separation, but for 
 want of a proper interpreter we understood very little of the process. Returned 
 
28 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 to Freyburg to dinner and at 5 o'Clock sat off for Dresden where we arrived 
 safely at 10 5^. 
 
 Frid 24 Rec'^ a letter from my brother from Berlin enclosing one from 
 M"" Pitcairn — Engaged till dinner time in answering J. Q. A[dam]S letter, and 
 at dinner met Mess'^^ Taylor & Bassett, who have just returned from a tour 
 through Bohemia — After dinner went to see the Cabinet of natural history, 
 minerology Si""^ at which we passed nearly three hours — Took a walk 
 afterwards with Mess""® Kent & Taylor in the gardens of Prince Anthony and 
 Moshinski ^ — the latter famous as having been chosen by the K of P[russia] 
 Fred II for one of his parrallells — some of the works are still visible, indeed 
 — wherever you turn your eyes in the neighborhood of this town there are 
 traces of this Monarch little favorable to his character — though as a Con- 
 queror he might exercise severities, yet he would have appeared more amiable 
 to posterity had he exercised more forbearance. Returned and took tea at 
 M"" Kents lodgings. 
 
 Satur 25 Went with Mess" K[ent], J[arrett] and Foster, a young English- 
 man lately arrived to see the Electors hunting seat at Moritzburg — 2 G M 
 from town. The weather was unfavorable for walking and we therefore lost 
 in a great degree the object of our tour — Went on board the hrig which is 
 moored in a small lake, which serves as a fishing pond to the Elector. The 
 See Shiff as she is called, is certainly not a model in the art of naval architec- 
 ture, but the Cabin affords a shelter from the Sun & rain and a room for 
 the Elector and his suite to dine in. There is a sort of palace here and a small 
 chateau arranged by the Electors favorite Count Marcolini — a pheasantry 
 and pleasure grounds, which the wind & rain prevented our seeing to 
 advantage — Dined at an Inn near the palace where we met two Englishmen 
 who joined at their own solicitation, our mess — Returned to town about 5 j^ 
 little satisfied with our jaunt. Drank tea & passed the Ev^ with K[ent] & 
 J[arrett]. 
 
 Sund 26 Childs called on me — went together to see the Lutheran 
 church & thence to the Chappel, where I saw a young lady from Hamburg ( Mile 
 Vidal) whom I had seen there last fall. Called on M'" Foster at the Hotel de 
 Pologne — dined at T[able] d'h[6te] & sat next Mons*" de Leg ^ — who charged 
 me with his comp^ for M de Posch at Berlin — A french-wine-merchant 
 came in while we were at dinner — just from Prague where he had experienced 
 some embarassment from the Custom-house officers on ace* of suspicions 
 entertained against him &''^ M"" Basset who had heard a little of the history 
 before, said that the man was a little equivocal, perhaps. His appearance is 
 that of a jolly Bacchus and answers very well to his trade. After dinner 
 accompanied Mess'^ Kent & Jarrett to Poelnitz ^ — crossed the River upon a 
 sort of Pontoon bridge — ascended the Boertzberg"* a very high hill, which 
 took us 50 minutes to reach its top. The prospect from its summit is very 
 
 1 Evidently of the house of Mosczenski, also Moschinski. 
 
 2 Legge. 
 
 3 Pilnitz. 
 
 * Borsberg or Porsberg. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 29 
 
 extensive and in perfectly clear sky more than 100 vilages fall under the eye; 
 the weather was unfortunately rainy and obscure, so that we lost the best part 
 of the view, though we saw enough to convince us of the properties it really 
 possesses. Descended by a route not levelled like the usual foot path & less 
 circuitous — The Elector who principally resides here in Summer takes this 
 walk regularly three times a week. Saw the Chateau where the famous con- 
 ferences ^ were held between the Emperor of Germany & the King of 
 Prussia — Returned to town, drank tea & passed the evening with Mess" 
 K[ent,] J[arrett] Basset & Taylor. The latter set off tomorrow for Freyburg. 
 
 Mond 27 Went to the Diplomatic Society or Casino resembling very 
 much ours at Berlin; sauntered till dinner time, and after dinner, went to see 
 the Green Gewelbe ^ or Electoral Treasure of Gold, Silver & precious stones — 
 marble pearl ^.""^ a part of the plate used at the ceremony of the Coronation of 
 the Emperor of Germany, which is always sent for that purpose to Francfort on 
 the Main — The Elector of Saxony as Treasurer of the Empire has the 
 keeping of it. We were dazzled with the splendor of so much nominal wealth 
 in so small a compass. Ev^ as usual — Took leave of my friends. 
 
 Tues 28 Up at 6 and after paying off called on M'' Childs to take leave. 
 Off at a little before 9. Took the Leipzig road by way of a change & after 
 paying the toll, discovered my error — struck across through a bye road & soon 
 got into the right one. Weather threatening rain & actually dropping a little. 
 Jogg'd on to Grossen hayn & came to the Inn about 12 yi. dined — fed my 
 horse & proceeded at 2 ^4 to Elsterwerda, where I came at 4 ;^ — Post 
 Master tolerably civil & the old hostler very much so — The post arrived with 
 several passengers at 9 — Claimed my seat & had to pay Beer Geld ^ to Postilion 
 for the two first stages, so that I saved not a farthing by using my own equi- 
 page. Started at 10. with a dull prospect for the night; took a seat by the side 
 of an Hamburger, who bothered me very soon with his questions, to which I 
 could make but short answers. Slept some, tho' at the risk of falling out of 
 the Cart Coach — Came at 5 ^^ to Sonnenwalde, where after providing at 
 the Tavern for my horse took some coffee for self. 
 
 Wed 29 Mounted my horse and went on to Luckau — got in an hour 
 before the post. Put up at the tavern where the host would give me no chamber, 
 saying he had none, which was a lie, for when the post came in he found a 
 chamber for the passengers — Dined sparingly for a good reason & as I since 
 learn, paid just double for my dinner, to what was paid by my traveling com- 
 panions & for exactly the same fare — so much for my bad German, or rather 
 for being a stranger. Started a-fresh at 12 ^ — One of the passengers who 
 had possessed himself of my seat, made no offer to resign it to me and rather 
 than make disturbance, took up with a seat with the driver — we had proceeded 
 but a short distance before the said polite gentleman discovered that some of 
 his luggage was missing & he was obliged to return for it — As my seat 
 thereby became vacant, I made no scruple to replacing myself in it, in prefer- 
 
 iln 1791. 
 
 2 Grune Gewolbe or cabinet of jewels. 
 
 * A "tip" or gratuity. 
 
30 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 ence to being jolted unmercifully in front with Schwager} The man soon 
 returned with his package & very acrimoniously as well as sour-lookingly 
 apostrophized. Und mein plats wider hesetztf Ja, said I — the place was first 
 mine — without more words he very quietly took the seat he bef or[e] occupied 
 and was I am very sure sufficiently punished for his intended usurpation by 
 the bone breaking jolts he received. 
 
 Came to Baruth at 7 ^ and got something quite clever to eat at Post 
 Masters. Fed my horse with oats brought from Elsterwerda & at 9 ^^, started 
 for Mittenwalde — Night unpleasantly cold & the stage extraordinarily 
 tedious — came about day break to the town. The under Officer who 
 examined us was more sleeping than awake and satisfied his curiosity with the 
 names of about half the passengers. A timely shower had much damped his 
 curiosity. My horse fared hard here, for the rascally Postilion who had my 
 oats in his sack instead of delivering them over at the last stage to his comrad, 
 appropriated them to his own use — the discovery of which very much irritated 
 my nerves & darkened the complexion of my language — I could have eaten 
 the fellows heart if I could have come at it. The last stage begins with 
 
 Thursd 30 After breakfasting upon coffee at 5 ^ started for Berlin and 
 had a most uncomfortable ride on account of the wind — reached post office at 
 11 3^ and after due examination of baggage, came home at 12 and found M"" 
 & M" A[dams] in good health. Drest myself & layed [sic] down — called 
 soon after to dinner, but preferred sleeping — which I did till 9, when I got 
 up and went to supper. 
 
 Frid 31 Forenoon at home, after called at D*" Browns & saw M'' Richard, 
 Brown's Sen"" & Jun"" drank tea there — M^ Metcalf. 
 
 Satur P* September. After dinner went in carriage with M" A[dams] 
 to Charlottenburg. Met the family in good health — Miss Briihl's there. 
 Came home early on ace* of the roads. 
 
 Sund 2 Rode out about 2 >^ to Charl^ with D"" & W™ [Brownj M-" Gar- 
 like joined us. Dined & passed the Ev^ — had a very dark uncomfortable 
 time on my return to town. 
 
 Mond 3. Went towards even^ with Brown Jun"" to purchase a hat — 
 Gave Rx T^ — for one. Returned & walked with B[rown] near to the tents. 
 
 Tuesd 4 Rode out with B[rown] Jun"" to Ch^ found there Mess" Richards 
 & Courtois — walked a long time on the terrass — Supp'd and then had a little 
 hop in commemoration of M" B[rown]S birth day. I lodged there. 
 
 Wed 5 Afternoon at Casino — At 6 went out with B[rown] in their 
 peasants cart; dull ride. Spoke a Cart driver to call for me at 9, he failed 
 and I was obliged to stay the night. Had a fine game of romps with the girls. 
 
 Thurs 6 Walked in to town between 7 & 8. At home 'till 2 ^ then went 
 into town with B[rown] to buy some articles — Afternoon went with D'' & W. 
 B[rown] to Pancko ^ to see Mile Bishof f swerder — met there Mad la Comtesse 
 
 ^ Postillion. 
 2 Rix Thaler. 
 * Pankow. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 31 
 
 Pannin — Mad Rochammont — the Countess Graf fski — Sister to Mile B ^ 
 Mile E Zeinert and Mad. B — the mother. Mess" Musquits ^ & Annadia — 
 M"" Garlike who introduced me to Countess Pannin — Stayed an hour & then 
 returned & passed the ev^ at D"" Browns — M'' D there English Consul at 
 Memmel — Backgammon with him. 
 
 Frid: 7 Went into town before dinner with W™ Brown called at Petra's 
 book-store & bought a book — Evg^ at Casino & at D"" Brown's; took leave 
 of Billy.3 
 
 Satur 8*^ At home till 6 in the even^ then at Casino — Billds [Billiards] 
 with Count Podewills. 
 
 Sun 9*'' Forenoon at home — afternoon at Ch^ at M"" Cohen's where 
 were the Browns and M"" Richard — home in good season. 
 
 Mond: 10 Walk in the park before dinner & afternoon at Ch^. Called 
 after return on M"" Richards. 
 
 Tues 11 At home till night, then at Casino — walk about town & under 
 the Linden. 
 
 Wed: 12 Dined at Ch^ upon Venison. Mad""^ & Mile Bishoffswerder 
 there. Mad"^ Countess H^ Briihl & Mary. Home in season. 
 
 Thurs 13 At home very busy till evening — then at Casino — Heard 
 of M'' Welsh's arrival."^ 
 
 Frid 14 As yesterday — wrote to my mother. 
 
 Satur. 15 My birth day^ — Nothing remarkable to distinguish it from 
 the other days of the year. M"" Richards dined with us & I took a ride to Ch^ 
 afterwards — gone but 2 hours — Ev^ at home. 
 
 Sund 16*'' Ev^ at Bellevue, but came off early with M""^ Adams. 
 
 Mond 17*^ Out before 6 this morning to see the Manoeuvres which 
 were clever enough, rode home with M de Sievers — afternoon at Charlotten- 
 burg & ev^ at Casino — Billds [Billiards] with Novikof f . 
 
 Tues 18*^ Manoeuvres again to day; far the prettiest of any — battle 
 — Ev^ Casino. 
 
 Wed 19*^ Evening at Charl^ — walk in the Kings garden, belonging to 
 the palace — very pretty — the B[row]ns & Briihls. Called at the Countess, 
 who is recovering from a severe ague & fever. 
 
 Thurs: 20 Fine day — dined early & went out soon after to Ch^ — 
 Countess Briihl at M" Browns. Walk again in the Palace garden with the 
 young ones. 
 
 Frid 2P* Ev^ at the Play — Opera — der hamn der diana — which have 
 seen once or twice before. Music very pretty. Met Novikof f there. 
 
 Satur 22*^ Went again to the play — not much amused — met Ouast 
 there — he has been ill with the ague — afterwards at Casino — Billds [Bil- 
 liards] with Novikoff. 
 
 ^ Perhaps Briihl. 
 
 2 Evidently of the family of JMuschwitz. 
 
 3 William Brown. 
 
 * Thomas Welsh, son of Dr. Thomas Welsh. He succeeded Thomas B. Adams in the post of secretary 
 to the Legation. 
 
 ^He was born on September 15, 1772. 
 
32 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Snnd 23'^ Went out in a peasants Cart to Charl^ with M. Richard — 
 dined there — returned same way & had an uncomfortable ride, on account of 
 the dust raised by the carriages returning from the Pottsdam Reviews, 
 
 Mon 24 M"" Richard's dined with us — sat late after dinner — took 
 a short ride nevertheless — Ev^ M"" Garlike — called on us — passed it myself 
 with M" A[dams] M"" A[dams] at Princess Henry's. 
 
 Tues 25 After dinner rode to Ch^ — found the young ladies the Briihls 
 & Courtois in the palace garden. Stayed late — Rained a little — went to 
 Casino as soon as my horse was disposed of & met M"" Coesmar Russian Lega- 
 tion Sec^ — talked a good deal. 
 
 Wed 26 After dinner at Casino — Ev^ Bellevue — whist with Minister 
 Heinitz, Baron Geertz & M*" Foster — lost — and was angry — the third time 
 within a few months & almost every time I have played, that I lose by the cursed 
 ignorant negligence of my partner — Cards will not suit my temper at this rate. 
 
 Thurs 27 Went out with Mess" Foster & Garlike on horseback to Ch^ 
 and dined there with M"" & M" A[dams] Stayed till 7 >4 & then ret^ with 
 F[Oster]. 
 
 Frid 28. Went into town & did some, errands — after dinner went out 
 to Charlottenburg — walked to hunt out the young ladies in Palace garden — 
 found and ref^ with them to tea at Countess Briihl's — Perponcher took leave 
 of them — & ret<^ to town about 8 >4 — went to Casino; met Foster there 
 and went with him to Burghers — saw what was to be seen, and did what was 
 to be done — home late. 
 
 Satur 29 M"" T[homas] Welsh arrived last evening and breakfasted with 
 us this morning — Spent the day in packing up and preparing to be off — 
 Mess" Welsh & Richards dined with us — Introduced W[elsh] to Casino — 
 Garlike called & said good bye — Went with M" A[dams] to the Accademy 
 exhibition of paintings — saw Foster there Before going to bed wrote a 
 note to M" Brown. 
 
 Sunday 30*'' Called at 4 ^ — went to Post office in carriage & arrived 
 there in good season — 5 ^ before we started — Three fellow travellers at 
 setting out; took up another at Schoneberg — which completed our number for 
 the first seats — behind were three other persons — serv*' to the other passen- 
 gers &''^ At Zeilendorf,^ the half way house, found that one of the passengers, 
 old kanfnian Laurent spoke french — and on the road to P[Otsda]m; another 
 Captain Meyer, this discovery was a considerable relief — Student Matthy's 
 and the other passenger spoke only German — upon arrival at Potsdam went 
 with M. Laurent to a Gasthaus/ and took breakfast — joined by the three 
 Students of Halle, two of whom travel in the bye waggon — met here a finical, 
 petit maitre,^ whom I knew by his monkyish appearance at once, having seen 
 him often in Holland at the dancing assemblies — he is an officer in the regi- 
 ment of Waldeck — spoke to him — he recollected me — but we dont know 
 
 1 Zehlendorf. 
 
 2 Inn. 
 
 3 A fop. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 33 
 
 each others names — he was very civil & seemed quite happy to meet an old 
 acquaintance, though we never before spoke to each other. Started a fresh and 
 had a very tedious ride — dined poorly — supped at Treuenbreitzen ^ upon 
 potatoes, very fine — well served & neat house, about 12 ^ arrived at 
 Portsdorf^ where we changed Waggons with one that arrived soon after us, 
 full of passengers from Halle; most of them Students. 
 
 Monday P' October Off at 2 J^ and slept most of the way to the next 
 Post hause at [Original blank] near Wittemberg — very good breakfast served 
 by a very tidy & pretty waiting maid — arrived at Dessau 12 3^ — dined at the 
 golden Ring with the rest of the passengers, who were off at 1 ^ — Took a 
 walk about town, and in the park — thence to the burying ground, which is 
 quite a curiosity; as all the bodies are placed in cells built with brick & plaistered 
 inside — against a wall with inscriptions upon the top or on a square plate of 
 white composition, in likeness of marble. 
 
 There are here two Rivers — the Elbe & the Molde both considerably 
 large; the latter empties itself into the former at a short distance from the town. 
 
 Tuesd 2^ Up at 8 — Rainy wxather — kept house & dined at 12 ^ at 
 Table d'Hote. Consulted the Kallender and find that the Post waggon for 
 Brunswic goes tomorrow at 12 — This town is the residence of a Saxon 
 prince whose titles are as follows — Leopold Frederic Franz — Fiirst von 
 Anhalt — Herzog zu Sachsen — Engern und Westphalien — Graf zu Asca- 
 nen, Herr zu Zerbst, Bernburg; &''^ &'=^ &*'^ The town of Dessau is situated 
 upon the river Molde which falls into the Elbe a little below it. Tried very 
 hard to amuse myself, but did not succeed. Short walk towards night. 
 
 Wed 3^^ Up 5 >4 & of f 7 ^ for Worlitz — breakfasted there after a very 
 cold ride — Went to the Prince's Pallace & overran it in a little time; making 
 few remarks & seeing little worthy of them — The place altogether; house 
 & garden is professedly in the English Stile — I was pleased with both, but 
 my deliberate opinion is, that they neither pay the time, expence, or trouble, 
 of going out of one's way to see them. In the house noticed a painting, (quite 
 large) of a bathing scene of females, in which they are surprised by a male 
 intruder — rather well than otherwise, for any body to have done — 
 Extremely so for a lady and princess. The library of the Prince contains 
 many of the best Authors, A & M ^ & in several languages — it is but a small 
 cabinet however & contains a vast number of busts in relief of all the great men 
 A & M. Hurried through the house and garden in the idea of getting back 
 [tO] Dessau before 12. The grounds are actually handsomly laid out, and the 
 style may be English. I saw only a few of the temples &" but in other places 
 I have seen as good. The Host at the Inn, asked me of what nation I was. 
 Told him American — He said, he had been there — In North America, said I ? 
 Yes! Three times in Boston Philad^ & N York — He rattled over fifty 
 questions in a minute — spoke one or two words of french & as many of 
 English, and continued by telling me I spoke fine German — From a question 
 
 Treuenbrietzen, a Prussian town. 
 ■ Postorf. 
 Ancient and modern. 
 
34 
 
 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 or two he asked, I thought he could not have been in America, but when I came 
 to tell my v.d.p. of the circumstance, he put it at once beyond a doubt that the 
 man was a traveller upon Alaps but neither by sea or land, for he says to every 
 person that goes there if he can find them out, that he has been in their 
 Country — He is no favorite with my vallet. 
 
 Upon return, applied for a seat in the stage for Magdeburg, but found it 
 only went 2 miles & then waited for the stage of tomorrow — concluded to 
 stay the night at Dessau & annoyed myself extremely. Took a walk in the 
 park & ogled a couple of young girls, who returned it with interest, but though 
 I thought myself invited, I dared not speak to them, for one reason only, namely 
 lest they should not understand me — Ev^ by self. 
 
 Thursday 4*'' Paid a very heavy bill; cursed and quit the Golden Ring 
 at 7 o'clock in the morning with the appearance of bad weather — but as my 
 carriage was close felt little concern on that account, and rather than have 
 stayed another day in the place, I would have braved storms tempests & even 
 ordinary post waggons. The weather cleared up fine about 11 o'Clock, and 
 over a good road we travelled at the rate of a G. M. in five quarters of an hour. 
 Arrived at Gnadaii, a neat little town or village, inhabited by Moravians or 
 Heerenhilttcrs. The tavern is one of the cleanest & most decent I have yet 
 seen — perhaps it claims the first place. Dined comfortably in company with 
 a fellow traveller and spoke a great deal of bad German — proud however of 
 being able to make myself understood. Started again at 2 ^ and came to the 
 Gate of Magdeburg, at 4 ^, detained there & with the examination of baggage 
 ^ of an hour. Came to the K[ing] of Prussia Hotel & took a Vallet de place, 
 who like the one at Dessau spoke only german. The day's ride has been 
 comparatively very pleasant, though lonely — The road at this season is in 
 fine order, and through a Country covered with villages and land which has 
 the credit of being very rich. Saw much appearance of industry & cultivation. 
 At Gnadau there is a steel manufactory. 
 
 Went to the play & saw, a piece translated from the french of Huber, 
 called Offnen Fehde and an after piece of Kotzebue called der man von viert- 
 zig Jahr which I think to be taken from the man of feeling very exactly. The 
 theatre is really very pretty; upon a small scale, but very nicely arranged; 
 especially the Pitt. The Actors were very tolerable; Company very thin, but 
 one beautiful girl in the number. Returned to Supper quite satisfied with 
 first impressions. 
 
 Frid: 5* After breakfast took a walk to the parade first where I saw 
 a poor soldier who was to run the Gauntlet ten times through a file of 200 of 
 his comrads. He heard his sentence read without emotion & took 400 of his 
 2,000 lashes without a groan. I could bear to see no more. Thence, went to the 
 Dome or Dome Church — a very large & ancient Gothic building — venerable 
 for its antiquity as well as for the curiosities it contains. To me the most remark- 
 able, though not the most ancient — are the 16 paintings, representing the 
 sufferings & crucifiction of Christ, by Lucas Kraner. They are nearly or 
 quite 300 years old & the colours are yet perfectly fresh. The Groupe of 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 35 
 
 Christ & the 12, equals for expression of countenance & propriety (according 
 to my idea of design) the best painting I ever saw. This Church is of all the 
 curiosities I have seen in Germany — the most remarkable, as a monument of 
 art & antiquity. Walked round the princesses Walde upon the margin of the 
 Elbe & crossed over a bridge to the Citadel — a state prison, where LaFayette 
 & his suite were confined 3 months^ previous to their being transported to 
 Olmutz.^ Returning saw a number of mills, anchored in the River with the 
 appurtenances. Magd:^ is a considerable manufacturing town & its vicinity 
 to Leipsig gives it the benefit of the fair's at that place; of one of which this 
 is the season. Dined at T[able] d'hote — paid my Bill — (very reasonable) 
 and sat off at 3 for Brunswick in a chaise — arrived at 8 at a miserable house 
 where was obliged to pass the night. 
 
 Saturday 6*^ Up at 4 ^ & off at 5 ^, had rather an uncomfortable 
 ride; roads not very good to Helmstadt. My old man would have his way, 
 which was to avoid going through the town, and as one of his horses was lame, 
 
 I did not insist upon it. Overtook a female traveller, in a chaise like mine, 
 alone & going to Brunswick. Postilions proposed our joining company that 
 one of them might return, but the lady was old & uninviting. I therefore 
 declined. We were compelled to dine together however, but my purpose of 
 riding alone was thereby the more confirmed. The turnpike is very miserable, 
 my carriage almost without springs, which made the afternoon ride intoler- 
 able. Arrived at Brunswick at 4 — The old man took me as usual to a very 
 unpromising Hotel called deiitschen Jiaiis in the Jimgfer Strasse, where after 
 discharging him — dressed and took a walk upon the Ramparts & returned 
 through the Pallace garden. Supp'd at the Hotel d'Angleterre very well for 
 
 II Giiten groschen. 
 
 Sund 7^^ Walked about town — dined at H[Otel] d'Ang^ find nobody 
 going to Hamburg — Ev^ at the play saw a piece translated from the f rench 
 Visitandines called in German, die Urselinerinnen'^ and [an] after piece called 
 the Stammbaum or geneological tree — Supp'd at Hotel d'Ang. 
 
 Mond 8*^ Ordered a Carriage & Post horses and was off precisely at 
 10 o'clock — rode all day & reached Celle or Zelle at 7 }^ — detained two 
 hours and was imposed on by Waggon master & postilion — -.got off about 9 
 and did not reach the next stage of 2 ^ M till 2 — kept about an hour & 
 then off. 
 
 Tuesd 9 — Had made but a few roods from the Post house before the 
 Postilion made a signal and two men appeared at the side of the waggon & 
 the Post" turned to me and begged permission to take them up. I did not like, 
 but could not refuse it — they got in & sat very quietly out side — the first 
 stop we made found they spoke french — & that one of them was an Emigrant, 
 the other a student at some University — Took them along in this manner 
 
 » In 1792. 
 
 - Olmiitz, where Lafayette was confined until 1797. 
 
 ^ Magdeburg. 
 
 * Les \'isitandines, a comic opera, composed by Francois Devienne, with libretto by Louis Benoit, first 
 produced in the original in 1792. The German version, under the title of Die Ursulinerinnen, was made by 
 Heinrich Gottlieb Schmieder and was first performed at Hamburg in May, 1798. 
 
S6 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 two long stages & was much obliged to them for their company — as they 
 turned out to be above the common run and had conversation enough for the 
 occasion — a most tedious road & vexatious beyond bearing — Made the last 
 stage 3 M alone; as the gentlemen chose to go forward while I stopped for 
 fresh horses — Met at Stage house a Gentleman & two ladies just arrived, 
 belonging to Berlin but coming from Munich going on to Harburg ^ — got 
 off about 3 }i and reached the Konig von Schzveden at 8. The Carriage and 
 four had arrived before me, but the walkers had not come in — Supp'd & 
 retired to my room — The Pedestrians came in soon after with an old 
 peasant whom they hired as a guide, having lost their road & strayed wide from 
 the direct way. 
 
 Wed lO^'' Up at 6 & off at 7. in the boat for Hamburg, which was 
 crowded with goods & passengers — nearly 3 hours before we got on shore at 
 Hamburg — A waterman took my trunk on his shoulder & we tried to get in 
 at the K[ing] of Engl"^ but found it full — went & found a chamber at the 
 Oher Geselschaft near the Exchange — Dressed took a vallet de Place & 
 went to call upon Pitcairn, who was out — went on Change & met a number 
 of my old dutch acquaintances Clerks in the house, which M"" Beeldemaker has 
 established here — M*" Havart — M"" Rogers — Childs — introduced to M*" 
 Brush of New York — Dined with Childs at a Table d'hote and afterwards 
 called on Pitcairn, where was a considerable company of the old Senators & 
 Merchants of the town Sir James Crauford the Eng Minister — M"" Pop, 
 Schramm After the company was off — went with Rogers & Pitcairn to 
 the f rench play — Saw some fine acting & dancing — Returned to supper at 
 P[itcairn]S & found Childs there — Home little before 12. 
 
 Thursd 1 V^ Called on M^ Havart at the K[ing] of Engl<^ He sent for M"" 
 Bicker Carton, who came in soon after — very glad to see him — Called on 
 Pitcairn & got some things out of my trunk — Returned home & then to 
 Havarts who took me in company with an old Countryman of his to dine at 
 the Dutch Cof fe [sic] house out of town — Met there a company of 12 clever 
 Dutchmen — had a fine dinner & passed a very pleasant time — Returned in 
 time for the f r [French] Play — went & saw the School for Mothers &''^ pretty 
 well performed — Met Childs & Brush — Supped with them at K[ing] of 
 E[ngland]. 
 
 Frid 12 Dined with Pitcairn & Rogers — Play at night, returned to 
 supper & found Childs there — stayed late. 
 
 Satur: 13 Went with Mess" Rogers & Childs on board a number of 
 vessels bound to America — like Capt" Jenkins' as well as any — Capt" Hef ron 
 in the three friends has a clumsy but convenient vessel, unarmed. Dined at 
 Pitcairns & passed the evening there — Met M*" Robinson an En^m** 
 [Englishman]. 
 
 Sund 14 Went in a carriage with R[Ogers] & C[hilds] — to dine at the 
 seat of M'' Muir, an English merchant about 8 miles from town — Stopped 
 at old M*" Parish's, saw him & met there Sir James Craufurd & his lady — 
 
 Harburg, a Prussian town six miles south of Hamburg. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 37 
 
 Went on to Muirs and waited till 5 o'Clock for dinner, M. M[iiir] being out on 
 a hunting party — Too late to dine if we resolved to go to town, we chose 
 rather to stay the night. Played whist — slept in a Cott. 
 
 Mond 15 Returned to town & breakfasted at P[itcairn]S — Home & 
 wrote letters — Upon Exchange could not find Capt Jenkins — Met several 
 acquaintances — went with the Brushes & dined at Hotel d'Angleterre. Several 
 Dutchmen — Havart Bicker,^ Myn Hccr Persoon. Saw the Irish man Hamil- 
 ton at table, whom I knew in Holland — Went to Brushes room & met an 
 invitation there from a West Indian from S* Croix by the name of Coppy.^ 
 Went to the play — saw Don Juan or la fete de St Pierre^ performed with 
 Am.broise ou voila ma journee '^ — Supp'd with the aforesaid Coppy and never 
 was so completely bored in my life. Home at 1 o'Clock. 
 
 Tues 16 Driving about town & upon Change — Dined with the Brushe's 
 & Childs at T[able] d'hote — afterwards played Billds [Billiards] with 
 B[rush] Senior & beat him. Supp'd at the Hotel d'Angleterre with them. 
 
 Wed 17 Called at the Globe Tavern for Capt*" Jenkins but he was out — 
 met Rogers there & went with him to P[itcairn]S wrote a letter to my Brother 
 — called on M'" Muir, then at Change — At 3 went & dined at Pitcairns with 
 Childs — the Brushes & Rogers — Passed the Even^ there. 
 
 Thurs 18. According to appointment I met Capt" Jenkins at his lodgings 
 & went with him & several other Capt^ viz Capt" Palmer, Gardner, Hefferon 
 on board the Alexander Hamilton — Capt" Clarke — Got some Red Herring 
 & Porter &'^^ the Capt himself came soon after & treated us very handsomely — 
 I engaged a passage on board him & chose my birth. From his went on board 
 the three friends Capt Hefferon — drank wine there & then on board the 
 America — where we were joined by the Brushes — From thence on shore 
 & to Change — Dined at Konig von England with Brush Jun"" found him to be 
 a member of * B K — Billds [Billiards] till 8 — then till 10 at their rooms. 
 
 Frid 19 Dined at Kaisers hof with Brrush] Jun"" Billds [Billiards] after- 
 wards, then with him & Childs at K[6nig] V[On] E[ngland], where we played 
 little Lu & learnt a lesson from it. Stayed late. 
 
 Satur 20 Called & took breakfast with Brush Sen"" and went with him on 
 board the Alex'" Hamilton — Capt" Clarke was not on board — return'd and 
 dressed for an excursion to M"" Parishes at Nine Stadten took up Childs after 
 a tedious waiting & sat off about 2 o'Clock dined at 3 ^ and sat off to return 
 by 4 ^ — just saved our distance, and got in before Gates close. Went to 
 Pitcairns & met there M. Alex"" Lameth, M*" Polard & Childs Rogers & M"" Rob- 
 inson came in after — some pleasant conversation with Lameth — stayed late. 
 • Sund 21 Brush Sen"" called — went & took leave of Childs — Dined at 
 Kaisers Hoff with B[rush] Jun"" and played Billds [Billiards] after — thence to 
 the play — The Deserter — & the choice of Paris. Suppd at Hotel d'Angle- 
 terre with B[rush] Jun''. 
 
 * Havart and Bicker Carton. 
 - Coppee. 
 
 ^ Perhaps Mozart's Don Juan. 
 
 * A musical comedy composed by Nicolas Dalayrac, with libretto by J. M. Boutet, called Monvel. It 
 was first performed at Paris in 1793. 
 
38 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 Mond 22 Called on the B[rushe]S & then at Pitcairns — thence to Change 
 
 — Capt" Clarke introduced me to M"" Fowler my fellow passenger & he took 
 me to a shop where I bought a Matrass & covering. Dined at Pitcairn's and 
 went to the play afterwards — La Gouvernante ^ & le prisonnier^ — Supp'd 
 again at Hotel d'Angleterre with B[rush] S"" 
 
 Tues 23^ Paid for my Bedding &^^ Dined with M' Fowler at the Hotel 
 d'Angleterre — Evening with Brush Jun'' at an house of entertainment. 
 
 Wednes 24 Dined with a considerable company at M"" George Smiths 
 a Scotchman by birth, though long settled in this Country as a merchant. Met 
 there a Capf" Clarke & M"" Marcou. Very handsome dinner — M"" Smith 
 invited young B[rush] & self & M"" Flannigin to hunt with him tomorrow — 
 agreed to meet at his house 7 o'Clock. Supp'd at King of England with 
 Brush's & Pitcairn. 
 
 Thurs 25 Called at the K[6nig] V[on] Eng[landt] at 7 ^ — there met 
 Brush & Flannigin, thence to M"" Smiths where we took breakfast & about 8 ^^ 
 were off for the hunt — nearly 1 1 before we reached the ground — found our 
 dog good for nothing & let him go off with the waggon. Started a hare; in 
 less than an hour had seen three — I got the first shot, & Brush the 2'^, neither 
 stopp'd his game. M*" Smith got several Shots, but missed them all. We had a 
 fine day & a long walk, which gave us good appetites, for a fine dinner which 
 was ready for us upon arrival at M"" John Smiths — Schoenfeld is the name of 
 the vilage where he lives in a very handsome st3de. A M'" Viotti an Italian 
 musician lives there at present. Several of M"" Smith's Captains were there and 
 Mess" Pitcairn & Brush Sen"" came in just as we had done dinner, which 
 occasioned some embarrassment, though they got some dinner & excellent wine. 
 Off early for town & reached it in good season — drank tea at M"" Smiths — 
 played Billds [Billiards] with Brush & supp'd with Flannigin. 
 
 Frid 26*'' Forenoon at Pitcairns answering letters — Dined at K[6nig] 
 V[on] Engl[andt] & after dinner played Billds with the Brush's & a M*" Gorman 
 Eng[lish] Merch* settled at Leghorn, with whom we afterwards supp'd at the 
 Restaurateur Girards — Elegant supper &'''' but after conversation begun to 
 flag — singing was introduced & spoiled all the pleasure of the evening — 
 
 Satur 27*'' Morning rose late & went to Pitcairns wrote to my Father 
 to go by Jenkins — Went to Change — thence returned to dine with Pitcairn 
 upon Salt fish — Met there M'' Proud an American & M*" Rhea an Eng[lish] 
 Gent"" Came away with B[rush] Jun"" and played Bil'ds [Billiards] — supp^ 
 with him. 
 
 Sun 28*'' Hired an horse & went out to Schoenveld to see M"" Smith — 
 Found him at home and was very pleasantly received by him — took some 
 refreshment and returned to M"" Parishes where stayed half an hour & then 
 came to town — waited the return of the hunters & dined with them at Girrards 
 
 — Billds [Billiards] afterwards. 
 
 Mon 29th Dined at K[onig] V[on] Eng[landt] and went after to French 
 play — saw Rico performed by Marshall very laughable, came away after 
 
 ' La Gouvernante, composed by Ferdinando Giuseppe Bertoni. 
 
 2 Le Prisonnier, composed by Pierre Antoine Domenique della Maria, first performed in 1798. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 39 
 
 first piece was over, went to Patriotic Coffee house & met there Mess*"^ Brush 
 Sen & Smith — played Billds [Billiards] with the latter — home early. 
 
 Tues 30*^ Breakfasted with the Brushes and called on Pitcairn after- 
 wards — read the Eng[lish] papers — M"" Proud. 'Change — Dined at K[Onig] 
 V[on] Eng*^ and had a drinking Siege of it — Supp'd at the new Hotel and 
 came off late. 
 
 Wednes 3P* Walk upon the Jungfersteeg with the Brushes & Flannigin 
 — Dined at Pitcairns with Mess" A Lameth — C. Noailles — Robinson & 
 Flannigin. Heard a deal of interesting conversation, but remember little. 
 
 Thursday P' [November] Fast day in Hamburg — This day a year I left 
 this place for Berlin — Weather very delightful & many people taking advan- 
 tage of it. Gates of the town & Coffee houses shut. Walked upon the Jung- 
 fernsteg till dinner time at the K[6nig] V[On] E[nglandt] Company small, but 
 chiefly of one sett — Champagne sat them all agog — Afternoon & even^ 
 with B[rush] Jun"" at several places. 
 
 Frid 2 Dined with Pitcairn — Ev^ French play — Ambroise ^ — after- 
 wards with Gorman[,] Pitcairn & a M"" Dawson at the Patriotic.^ Billds 
 [Billiards] — 
 
 Satur 3 Running about all the morning — Dined at K[6nig] V[on] 
 Eng[landt] — and remainder of day & ev^ with Brush's. 
 
 Sund 4 Called on M"" George Smith — been gone a little time. Took 
 Pitcairn's horse & got out of the gate at 11 — Fine day — reached M"" G 
 Smiths at 12, small Music party of which M'' Viotti ^ was the chief performer. 
 Signior & Signiora Righini ^ the second — the last sung very well — Con- 
 siderable company — returned to town and spent the even^ at Pitcairns — 
 Mess""^ Brush & Fowler. 
 
 Mond 5 Day fixed for departure, but put off till Wednesday — Dined 
 at M"" J. Brush room with Mess" Waters of Cork — Flannigin, Berns & 
 Pitcairn — stayed the ev^. 
 
 Tuesd 6 From Change went with M'' Riemer & dined at Caffe Chinois 
 with a number of Englishmen — Rhodes & Yates — Spent Ev^ at B Coffee- 
 house with the Brushe's. 
 
 Wednes 7 Gave an introductory letter to M*" Waters going to Berlin — 
 Dined at Girrards with M"" Dawson and went to see Le vieiix Celihataire at 
 the fr[ench] play.^ 
 
 Thursd 8 At Pitcairns in the morning on change invited to dine at young 
 J Parish, with Pitcairn & the Brushes M. La Borde — Ev^ [Evening] old P 
 
 ^ The same piece he had heard before. 
 
 ^ Coffee-house. 
 
 ^ Jean Baptiste Viotti, the father of the modern school of violin-playing, b. 1753; d. 1824. After a 
 successful career in London, where he became leader at the King's Theatre, he was forced to leave England 
 in 1798, on account of suspicion that he was encouraging hostile schemes against the French Directory. He 
 went to Schonfeldz, a village near Hamburg. 
 
 ■• Vincenzo Righini, b. at Bologna in 1756; d. there in 1812. He came to Berlin from JNIainz in 1793, 
 as successor to Alessandri, conductor at the Italian opera. His wife was Henriette Kneisel, born at Stettin in 
 1767; d. at Berlin in 1801. They were married in 1793. She was "a charming blonde, and according to 
 Gerber, a singer of great expression." — Grove's Diet, of Music, IV: 101. 
 
 ^ This play was written by Jean Frangois Collin d'Harleville. It was adapted in German by Ludwig 
 Ferdinand Huber as "Der alte Junggeselle" (Leipzig, 1797). 
 
40 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 [Parish?] came in with news — Whist at Pitc: [Pitcairn's] Lameth there — 
 he had dined out & was very talkative — plausible but not solid. 
 
 Frid 9 Writing all the forenoon; dined at Konig v. Eng[landt] with 
 B[rush] Jun"" and passed the ev^ with him. 
 
 Satur 10 Bought a very fine German Flute. Dined at Pitcairns on Salt 
 Fish — Capt" Edwards & M"" Robinson — Ev^ with S Brush. 
 
 Sund 11 At my lodgings all the forenoon — dined at the Chineese 
 Coffee house, with Mess" Rocquette & Matthys — Ev^ with Mess""' Brush. 
 
 Mond 12 Dined again at Chineese in a company of 8 persons — Ev^ M"" 
 Brush Jun"" 
 
 Tues 13 Met Capt" Trevet upon Change — just in from Boston; very 
 favorable accounts. Dined at K[6nig] V[on] Eng[landt] after dinner B. Coffee- 
 house and after a supper at C[hinese] C[offee house] with Faving.^ Flannigin 
 got unruly & quarrelsome — home late. 
 
 Wed 14 M"" Fowler called on me before I was up to say the wind was 
 fair — took breakfast called on F[lannigin] and went to the water for a boat, 
 took leave of the Brushes — Flannigin & Amadon Paid of f at the Obergesell- 
 schaft sent off my baggage & called to take leave of Pitcairn — He accom- 
 panied me to Lilburns where took a cut with Capt Palmer & left in a boat for 
 Gluckstadt at 2 — Got down after rather an uncomfortable passage & on 
 board the Ship Alexander Hamilton at 2 in the morning of 
 
 Thurs 15 Captain got on board at 9 and put the Ship under weigh — 
 went down a few miles & then were obliged to come to Anchor — Ev^ a vessel, 
 the Harriet Capt" Martin from Baltimore came along side and we sent out 
 jolly boat a board to ask for news — the Capt & a passenger came & passed 
 the ev^ with us — Gave us a Baltimore paper of 28 Sepf — 38 days passage. 
 
 Frid 16 Good wind and we got under weigh at 8 from Biish where we 
 lay & went down to Cuxhaven where we came to anchor at 12 on account of 
 the wind being unfavorable to go north ab^ [about] Spoke a vessel 10 weeks 
 from New York, loaded with Cotton &''^ Sent the boat a shore with the mate 
 to get some articles at Cuxhaven. 
 
 Satur 17 Wind quite a head — after dinner the Capt*" & self went on 
 shore at Cuxhaven & purchased several necessary articles — two Turkeys 
 &''^ and returned just at dusk on board. 
 
 Sund 18 Stormy day — wind to the westward — read most of the day 
 — predicted a fair wind, which actually set in about 8 at night — prepared to 
 take benefit of it early in morn^ 
 
 Mond 19 The people were stiring by 5 and got the Ship under weigh by 
 7 in the morn^ with a fine wind from the Eastward — Got up and wrote to 
 my Brother & Sister & to Pitcairn which sent by the Pilot who left us at 11 
 o'clock — Passed several vessels which sailed before us — and about 12 
 were off Heiligoland, whence our voyage begun as of the 20*^ — Passed a 
 vessel, said English which had got upon a shoal and was surrounded by Blank- 
 
 Perhaps written erroneously for Flannigin. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 41 
 
 aneese boats — We left Heil°land on our left and all the vessels that come out 
 very soon were out of sight as we sailed much superior to any of them — Had 
 fine breeze all day & felt ourselves quite happy. 
 
 Tues 20 Wind strong in the night — vessel made 1 1 knots for four hours 
 together. At 12 o'Clock we had 252 miles on the log book in the last 
 24 hours. Weather very fine but sharp air — snowed some part of the 
 day — wind tolerably fair — Ev^ Cards — Appetite rather slim to day — 
 stomach squeamish; took a nap after dinner & recovered. 
 
 Wednes 21 Calm weather & not so cold as yesterday — very slight 
 wind — a fresh breeze came on in the evening. 
 
 Thurs 22*^ Good wind, a sail in sight supposed a lugger — made more 
 sail and lost sight of her in about 2 hours — At night a very fresh breeze — 
 Capt went on deck & cried out directly A light ! Ho ! All hands up on deck — 
 Took in sail and tried hard to weather the light, which proved to be on one 
 of the Orkney Islands — With day light we could have gone directly through 
 these Islands, but as it was nine at night the Capt" made for the passage between 
 the Orkney & Shetland Isles — Stood off all night & on 
 
 Friday 23 Discovered two of the Shetland Islands — Fair & Foul, the 
 latter of which at 12 oClock was by observation 54 miles off — Fair wind 
 and fine weather though somewhat cold & snowy. 
 
 Saturd 24 Got through the passage very fortunately — wind early a 
 head and during the whole day boisterous almost tempestuous weather — No 
 sickness — 
 
 Sunday 25 Contrary wind all day and towards night very fresh. 
 
 Mond 26 Bad wind — one of our 6 shilling sterling Turkey's got over 
 board — the Mate & Will the apprentice let down Jolly boat & went for it ■ — 
 recoverd her. 
 
 Tues 27 Strong wind & nearly a head all day. Some of our crew sick 
 — M*" F[lannigin]S servl 
 
 Wed 28 Head wind again — since we left the Orkney's we have not 
 had an hour of fair wind — Reading good part of the day; Faublas is some- 
 what bewitching. 
 
 Thurs 29 The same old story of bad wind & a head — Capf" complains 
 much of his Crew — scarcely an abled bodied seaman on board — the 
 Mate excepted. 
 
 Frid 30 Constant gales; no possibility of keeping ones feet — obliged 
 to eat on the floor. 
 
 Saturd 1 December Passed a very uncomfortable night — not a wink 
 of sleep till morn^ — up late, wind continues in the same dismal quarter — 
 Capf anxious. At 9 in the evening the wind shifted in our favour, and 
 continued through the night, but came round early in the morn^ of 
 
 Sund 2 and begun to blow a violent gale through the whole day. Hard 
 labour for the sailors — most all the sails handed — Sea mountains high & 
 often some of it a board — Capt very anxious for fear of being blown upon 
 
42 THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 the Irish Coast — Put Ship about two or three times in the course of the day. 
 Everything giving way in the Cabin and no comfort in eating. For myself, 
 I was not terrified though it was the first Gale I had every experienced, M*" 
 F[lannigin] was gloomy & tried hard to make me so, but I thought it would be 
 time when we were on the rocks to look dismal. The Gale abated with the 
 setting Sun & we had a much better night than was expected. 
 
 Mon 3 Fine wind & weather — Spent all day on Deck & took care of 
 the surviving fowls. 13 of our stock perished in the gale of yesterday — we 
 must be soon reduced to salt provisions took exercise & dined well. 
 
 Tues 4 Tolerable pleasant day wind not over hard — but contrary. 
 
 Wed 5 By log book wind E B S, E N E. N E. & North. 
 
 Thurs 6'^ Heavy gales from N B W W N W. West & S W. 
 
 Frid 7'^ Wind S W B W. S W. W S W. West — N W B W.^ 
 
 Sat S^^ Head wind all day — towards night very heavy — Salt Fish 
 dinner always bring on a gale of wind says the Capt. 
 
 Sund 9'^ The Slings of the main yard gave way last night, an Accident, 
 which might have been fatal to some of the Crew had it happened by day — 
 Wind to day S.W. & W.S.W. 
 
 Mon 10*^ Passed some hours very much in pain with the tooth ach — 
 last night, relieved myself towards morning — Wind E.N.E. 
 
 Tuesd 1 V^ Fine wind — the Ship goes from 9 to 11 knots an hour. 
 
 Wed 12 — Thurs 13. Frid 14. Wind continued favorable & we made 
 about 600 miles in the course of it. 
 
 Satur 15 Head wind — Capt" thought we were on the outward bank of 
 Newfoundland — tried for soundings, but did not find them — Salt fish. 
 
 Sun 16 Made little progress today wind W b S. W N W &'=^ but by our 
 sea journal we had a run of 60 or 70 knots from 1 to 10 oClock at night. 
 
 Mon 17 Head wind — Tues 18 Same. 
 
 Wed 19 Same — Thurs 20 Same. 
 
 Frid 21 We are upon the Southernmost extremity of the Banks of New- 
 foundland — Wind variable from N.W. to N. lay our course part of the 
 time. About 4 }^ oClock a sail hove in sight bearing down towards us. 
 Capt determined to speak her — Loaded one of the labord guns — I charged 
 5 Pistols being all the effective small arms we have on board — Got out my 
 Tin case of papers &''^ in }i of an hour from the time of discovery, the vessel 
 was within hailing distance & we found her to be the Ship Heyram Capt 
 Whitwell, 14 days from Boston bound to Liverpool — His observation was in 
 50-odd E[nglish] L[eagues]. ours in 50. 30. 
 
 Satur 22 Wind N & N b W. pretty strong. 
 
 1 While Thomas B. Adams was at sea and found this brief entry of winds as his only record of interest, 
 his brother John Quincy Adams recorded in his diary that he had called upon the Prussian minister of state, 
 Count von Haugwitz, by appointment, and adds: "He told me he had a double regret in having been obliged to 
 delay so long an answer to my application for permission to export arms; and at last the answer is not 
 such as he could wish. The permission cannot be granted, because the King's own troops will want all that 
 the manufacture can produce for a year to come." — Memoirs, I: 223. 
 
BERLIN AND THE PRUSSIAN COURT IN 1798 43 
 
 Sund 23 Forenoon very calm, after dinner a clever breeze sprung up 
 from the Southw^ard & continued till 10 o'Clock at night. Lay our course 
 till 2 on 
 
 Monday 24 Wind a head & very strong from the Southward & West*^ 
 made however some progress. 
 
 Tuesd 25 Christmas day — One of the heaviest gales of wind from the 
 N E b N that we have had since we are out. A tremendous Sea running & the 
 Ship steering right before the wind for fear of loosing her masts if we lay our 
 course. The Sailors stole some apples from the Caboose last night & the Capt" 
 to punish them refused their allowance of meat & bread for Christmas, but the 
 Sailors had the laugh upon him when it turned out that none of us could have 
 any dinner cooked on ace* of the Sea that was runing — About 2 o'Clock 
 the watch on deck discovered the wreck of a large vessel at a considerable dis- 
 tance from us — could distinguish nothing in particular. Towards night the 
 gale abated & the Sea fell, so that we got somewhat to eat. 
 
 Finished the 25*^ Decem: 
 
 1798 
 

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