8 February 1811
adams-john10 Neal Millikan
207

8. I wrote an answer to the letter from the President of the United States which I received last Evening. My Cold still continues troublesome; though better than the two preceding days— In the Evening we all went to a children’s Ball at the French Ambassador’s— A great part of the Company assembled late, and retired very early— The children danced Polish dances, Country dances and French Dances— But there appeared a coldness and reserve about the party which I had never observed on like occasions before— The Chinese Shadows were duller than usual— I saw Count Romanzoff there and delivered Mr: Harris’s Message to him— I also mentioned to him that I should probably not deliver the letter for the Emperor, at least before the Summer, and perhaps not then— He expressed himself satisfied with both my articles of communication to him.— The children had their supper between 11. and 12. O’Clock— We came home ourselves soon after one in the morning, leaving the remnant of the company still dancing, but the Ball moving on heavily— It seemed as if the Adventure of General Hitroff was fresh upon every body’s memory. The person who appeared to enjoy it the most, and who was in the highest Spirits was Count St: Julien the Austrian Envoy, an old Rake, whose desire has long outlived his performance— He told me that he wanted a chair upon rollers, to be moved round the room from lady to lady, and to coquette with them all— He said he delighted above all things in Company, and was very fond of amusing himself with making People ridiculous.— I said that was an amusement more agreeable to 208to the giver than to the receiver— He said that it was generally returned, and the laughers were sufficiently laughed at themselves— That he liked as well to be the subject of ridicule himself as to make others so, especially when it was done with wit; but that this disposition had once cost him a thrust through his arm— In his youth he used to draw, and was fond of making caricatures; he had made one of a friend, which was very striking, and he must do himself the justice to say very ingenious— He had given it to another friend in great secrecy, to shew to nobody; but he had shewn it to others, untill it came to the person himself who was caricatured— He thought proper to take it amiss et il avoit raison— He challenged me to fight et il avoit raison—he ran his sword through my arm et il avoit raison— We embraced each other et nous avions tous deux raison— But I told him that as soon as my arm was well I would set about making another Caricature of him— Such, said the Count by a grave conclusion—are the follies of the Youth. The Count very honestly and sincerely exaggerates a little to himself more than to others the keenness of his own wit— He brags of every thing that a Courtier and a soldier is vain of; and has not yet discovered that the levities which in youth may be graceful, are at his years the best of subjects for Caricature— I told him that with his tastes he would not want materials to work with here— He said no—that every where— At St: Petersburg, at Vienna, and no doubt at Washington there were objects enough for this amusement— But here it was true there were des ridicules trés saillans; and then pointed me to one of an officer, notre chevalier là, qui danse les Allemandes sans les savoir. The Counts Spirits were probably the gayer, for the coldness which appeared between the Ambassador and his Russian guests.

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