John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

18. Morning visit from Mr: Montréal, and afterwards from Mr: Harris, who came to tell me that he should call with the Duke de Richelieu, which he did about an hour after— The Duke is Governor of Odessa, and now here upon a visit, as he has been about six weeks— He is of the antient and high nobility of the french monarchy, and was an emigrant; but has been many years in the Russian service.— He told me that he had an army list of France for the year 1790—in which the Emperor Napoleon, Count Lauriston, and Savary were all down, as second lieutenants in the regiment of La Fere— He spoke to me also of the American trade to the Black Sea, and wished that the admission of American vessels to it might be stipulated in the Treaty of Peace between Russia and the Porte; to which he supposed the Turks would readily agree, and which he was only afraid would be forgotten— After a short morning walk I went and dined at Baron Blome’s with a Company of fifty persons— It was a great diplomatic dinner in full state; given to the New Ambassador; and attended by the usual company of Generals and Ministers— There was a band of music which performed during the whole dinner time— Genl: Pardo told me that he did not like music at dinner— It was too heating— The Duke de Vicence, and Mr: Rayneval were not there. The Duke was too much engaged in his preparations for departure— I spoke to Count Romanzoff at Mr: Harris’s request; desiring him to urge the publication by the Senate of the Ukaze, recognizing Mr: Dana, as American Vice-Consul at Archangel— The Count said he would bear it in mind and do what he could; but there was a routine in these publications of the Senate, which moved very slow, and was not easy to quicken. He had known it in several instances, and particularly in the case of a French Consul.— The dinner was short and I came home about seven in the Evening. I was from that time employed untill near midnight, in preparing a packet to send by the Duke de Vicence to Mr: Russell the American Chargé d’Affairs at Paris— The Duke sent me word about nine that he should go very early in the morning, and would take what I wished to send— Mr: Smith was out, and as I could not close my packet untill he returned I walked from nine to ten— He soon after came in, and I closed and sent my packet to the Duke shortly before Midnight.