John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

2. I called upon Mr Glukoff, to make some enquiry respecting the funds of Mr Gray which he may have in his hands. And also at Mr Montreal’s request, to ask whether he had paid any part of the balance to Mr Woodward— He had not. He told me the balance in his hands was quite small; and that he would in a few days inform me of its amount. He also mentioned to me that his brother died last week, so that he now remains alone of the house— I then stop’d at Mr Raimbert’s, who was in much anxiety at the circumstances of the time, in consequence of the War with France. Mr Montreal was with him. Visited also the Chevalier Bezerra and his Lady— He knew a few particulars from the army and the Emperor which I had not heard, and was uninformed of others which I told him. It appears by all the accounts from the army that after four days of very severe battle, in all of which the Russians were victorious, they evacuated and set fire to Smolensk, and have since been constantly retreating— But the whole blame is laid upon the then Commander in Chief Barclai de Tolli— The loss of the French in killed, wounded, prisoners, and artillery taken, was much greater than that of the Russians; and General Kutuzoff arrived at the head-quarters last Saturday— He met on his way, and took back with him General Bennigsen, who is to command the first army, in the room of Barclai de Tolli.—Kutuzoff is Commander in Chief of all the active armies.— The Emperor Alexander has had his interview with the Prince Royal of Sweden, (Bernadotte) at Abo, and is quite charmed with him— I sat with Mr and Mrs Bezerra, untill their Servant came and announced their dinner.— In the Evening I went out with Mr Smith and Martha to Ochta— The Child has been very ill again last Night and this morning.— The teeth are not yet through.— Mrs Krehmer came in for half an hour while we were there— We returned about ten at Night— I read there Scott’s Vision of Don Roderick; and saw Childe Harolde’s pilgrimage, by Lord Byron, a new Poet.