Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1
This forenoon I went with Mr. Artaud to the Shops. Dined at Mr. Rimberts. Mr. Colombi dined there also. Borrowed of Mr. Peyron the first volume of Dryden's Virgil.1 In the afternoon we went to see the Katchells.2 Mr. Artaud supped out.
The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Aeneis. Translated into English Verse; by Mr. Dryden, London, 1697. Later editions contained 3 volumes.
JQA may be referring to the Kamchadals, natives of the Kamchatka Peninsula on the Russian Pacific coast, who were the source of comment by other foreign observers (John Ledyard's Journey Through Russia and Siberia, 1787–1788, ed. Stephen D. Watrous, Madison, 1966, p. 54–56).
Stay'd at home all day. Mr. D. went in the forenoon to take a ride. Cloudy weather. Begun Cicero's Oration for Archias.1
JQA's French translation is in M/JQA/45, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 240. Some evidence in the translation suggests that he probably used as his Latin source Oraisons choisies de Cicéron, traduction revue par M. de Wailly, 3 vols., Paris, 1772–1778, 2:178–207, which he had purchased in St. Petersburg on 26 Feb. (
Catalogue of JQA's Books
), although several MS markings in another edition of the oration, Selectae . . . Orationes, Paris, 1747 (same), indicate that he may have consulted it as well.
Mr. Artaud dined out. Mr. D. went to take a ride in the afternoon. Finished the 2d. Volume of Robertson's history of Charles 5th. 479. pages, and begun the third. Cloudy weather, and Rain.
This day the Marquis de Verac the french minister here gave a mascarade ball and supper for the birth of the Dauphin.1 Mr. D. went there. Mr. Artaud dined and supped out. Stay'd at home all day.
This afternoon Mr. D. went to take a ride. Mr. Artaud supp'd out. Stay'd at home all day. Cloudy, rainy, weather.
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