John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. At Noon Mr: Harris called on me with Mr: Grootten; a German at the head of the Cotton Manufactury, worked by orphan children— I afterwards went with Mr: Harris and visited Mr: Telisius and Captain Krusenstern— Mr: Fuss was not at home— Mr: Telisius was complaining much of the want of patronage for objects of Science & Art here— He says they employed only Scholars to engrave his drawings, which accompany the voyage—that they spoiled his drawings, and did not engrave them well— He therefore doubts whether any English or French translation of the work will appear. The Emperor, pays entirely for the plates of the Russian Work; which have cost him 100,000 Roubles— But the mere paper upon which they are struck off, has risen so much in price, that they cannot afford to give it good; and use mean paper which is another disgrace to the work— The Russian Edition is of 1000 Copies; of which not a hundred will ever be read; and the German Edition so small, that there are no copies left for new Subscribers— Mr: Telisius gave me; for he would not allow me to pay for it, his own copy of the first volume; and has taken my name down as a subscriber for the remaining volumes— The Dissertation upon the Mammoth, he thinks will not be published at-all.— Captain Krusenstern is here on a visit— He commands the Blagodat, the largest ship in the Russian Navy; and perhaps in the world— He has been many years in England; and two or three in America— After these visits, walking on the Quay, I met General Pardo, who turned and walked with me upwards of an hour— His conversation is always agreeable— This day it was chiefly on political topics— Mr: J. S. Smith & Mr: Maclure spent part of the Evening with us— We had Cards & Chess.