Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Wednesday 29th of December. JQA Wednesday 29th of December. Adams, John Quincy
Wednesday 29th of December.

This morning at about 8 o clock we set away from Baamonde and travell'd on. At twelve o clock we arrived at a Place call'd Ravadan Rabade. We stopped there and eat a bit of Bread and 21 image Cheese. This Village of Ravadan is by the Side of the River Minho MiƱo which empties itself in the Sea in some port in Portugal. At about half after twelve o clock we got into our Carriages and Proceeded as far as Lugo where we arrived at half after Three. We have several Times fell in with a Spanish Marquis who has treated my Pappa with a Great deal of Politeness. We are now at the same lodgings with him. We have came 12 Miles a day ever since we left Corunna. There are a great number of English Prisoners here. This afternoon two Irish Gentlemen came, and left their names and about a half an hour after they came here themselves, and very politely invited us all to lodge at their house, but we could not. They stay'd about half an hour and went away. At about 9 o clock P M they sent two very fine pies and 2 bottles of Wine Which was very polite of in them.

Thursday 30th. JQA Thursday 30th. Adams, John Quincy
Thursday 30th.

This morning we all got up at 3 o clock but did not set out till 7. We went over several mountains. At about two o clock we stopt and dined at a little cottage by the Side of a River which is call'd Carasedo and from thence we proceeded on as far as a little village call'd Galiego Gallegos where we shall lodge this night. This is the best house we have Lodged at since we Left Corunna. We have come 6 Leagues to day.

Friday 31st. JQA Friday 31st. Adams, John Quincy
Friday 31st.

We had nothing worth remarking to day except we kept ascending all day and we are now at the very top of the mountains. The guide says that this is the worst day that we shall have the whole journey. We came 7 Leagues to day. In my next Volume of my Journal I will give the description of several things which I have not done in this Volume.

End Of the first volume of my Journal. 1779.