John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

15. At noon I called upon Count Romanzoff, according to his appointment. He told me he had received dispatches from Mr Daschkoff, in answer, to the Emperor’s proposal of mediation, which he said appeared to have been completely successful. He then shewed me the copy of Mr Monroe’s Answer to the proposal, as made by Mr Daschkoff— It is dated 11. March, and in very handsome terms accepts the Mediation— It says that further arrangements will shortly be made to carry the acceptance into effect, of which he shall be duly informed— The Count added that Mr Daschkoff informed him he should write him more at large as soon as possible. The Count said he was gratified that this measure had been so received by the United States, though from the manner in which it appeared to be considered in England, he could not flatter himself that it would have any further immediate effect— I said that my own expectations were the same; that by the manner in which it is considered by the Newspapers of all the great parties in England I saw no prospect of its acceptance there. The Courier, a ministerial Paper, had declared itself sure that it would be refused— The Times, a Wellesley and Canning Paper had expressed its regret, at the interest taken by the Emperor, in this Mediation, and its reluctance at the Negotiation’s taking this turn— I had a private letter also mentioning that such was the general Sentiment of all parties in England— I regretted very much that this should be the result, but I was extremely gratified that the measure had been proposed, and at the frankness and readiness with which it had been accepted by my own Government—inasmuch as it had given them an opportunity to manifest to the Emperor and to the world their readiness and even eagerness for Peace; as well as the falsehood of what our enemies were taking such pains to propagate throughout the world; that we acted under the influence of France. The Count replied that he did not expect the Mediation would be directly refused by the British Government— It would cause some embarrassment to the Ministry. By a refusal they would incur a responsibility which they might hereafter find troublesome— But he believed they would give an evasive Answer, and renew the pretence that we were in subserviency to France— He nevertheless hoped that the measure would at a future day not be without its good effects.— He asked me if I had any later Accounts from America, and what was the state of the War— I had no accounts but such as came by the English Gazettes— I mentioned the Bombardment of Lewistown; and the Report of the destruction of Norfolk— The Application by Mr Daschkoff’s Secretary to the British Admiral for a Cartel for a vessel to come here, dispatched by the Government of the United States, and the Report of Messrs: Gallatin and Bayard being destined to come out as Commissioners, of the accuracy of which I had my doubts— I presumed a Commission would be appointed; but I questioned whether they would be the men— Mr Gallatin could not easily be spared, and he and Mr Bayard were so opposite to each other in our politics that I thought it doubtful whether they would be joined in one Commission— The Count said that in a Government like ours that might be the very reason for joining them; so that the great opposing interests might be all represented. I admitted this, but thought it more likely to give rise to the report than to the reality.— He said he should this Evening write to the Emperor, and make him his Report of the Dispatch from Mr Daschkoff—he asked me therefore to send him the English Paper in which I had seen the Article concerning Messrs. Gallatin and Bayard: I accordingly sent him the slip of the Times of 18 May which I received from Mr Beasley.— I had some further conversation with the Count upon other subjects— I told him I had seen in the National Intelligencers that he had lent me, Mr Barlow’s Correspondence with the Duke of Bassano, concerning the invitation to Wilna; and Mr Barlow’s Account of it to the American Secretary of State— I had been happy to observe Mr Barlow’s remark, that if there were any other motives than those of treating concerning our Commerce, and our indemnities, he should know what answer to give— As it so fully confirmed the assurances that I had given to the Count on that occasion— He said he had noticed it in the Correspondence, and had always been fully convinced it was so— He asked me whether I had received an answer, concerning the papers of the Russian Embassy at Paris, of which he had spoken to me. I said I lamented that hitherto all my efforts to obtain an answer from Paris had been unsuccessful— That the person 490whom I had dispatched as a Courier had been very long in reaching Vienna— That he had even met with some obstructions and detentions on the road in Russia, owing I presumed to the peculiar situation of that part of the Country, at this time— That on his arrival at Vienna, he had found himself unexpectedly detained there; and had forwarded by mail, one of the two letters I had given him for Paris— This letter was in cypher, and I had authorized him in case he should himself be detained to forward it by Post— It has been received, and yesterday came to me an answer saying that they have no key to the cypher, and cannot read it— I had foreseen that Mr Barlow might not have the key to my cypher, which had been with his predecessor, and had therefore given Mr Delprat a duplicate, without cypher, to be delivered only by himself; and in consequence of his detention this letter had not been received. I had afterwards written again and sent my letter to be forwarded from Copenhagen— I had an answer to that also saying that the Communication between Copenhagen and France was interrupted, and my letter could not be transmitted— Then I had written a third time and dispatched my letter to be forwarded from Hamburg— But the bearer of it, who was going to England, on reaching Berlin found it dangerous to proceed to Hamburg; and had taken the way through Stralsund and Gothenburg— The Count observed that the Communication between Copenhagen and France he supposed was now restored and my letter sent through that channel might now reach its destination— I said I could not yet discover what the position of Denmark was, and of which side she was to be considered— He hesitated a little, and then said he believed Denmark would finally be fixed, as the friend of France in this War— That it seemed so since the positive refusal to hear Count Bernstorff in England, and his return home— It could not be otherwise after that— Though now, added he, the Gazettes say, that the English Government have sent General Hope to Copenhagen.— There is said the Count, a want of combination in some of the proceedings— I had made dispositions which I hoped and yet believe might have secured Denmark to our Cause— But I have been disappointed— I said that the failure of Denmark might be of less importance since the Declaration of Austria, and the subsequent retreat of the French army— He said that he knew nothing of the Austrian Declaration, and did not believe there was sufficient Evidence that the French army had retreated— It had been said he had received an Estafette with the Austrian Declaration; which was not true— The letters from the Army, and even from the Emperor, speak of it as being confidently expected, and that very shortly. Days had even been fixed upon which the Austrians were to have commenced their hostilities—first the 15th: and afterwards the 18th: of May— Both those days however had passed and they had not commenced— The Emperor had not written to him these fifteen days; the co-operation of Austria was promised as a certainty; but there is yet no Account of its having taken effect.— As to the Accounts of the retreat of the French army, they were from Berlin; where they had been excessively and needlessly alarmed, and where they had published every thing true or false that could tend to quiet the alarms of the People— He did not mean to say that there had been no danger to Berlin— Its danger was immense; but not exactly for that week— What motive could the Emperor Napoleon have for going to Berlin, while he had the combined army in presence before him?— But if he can oblige us to cross the Oder, what can hinder him afterwards from going to Berlin just when he pleases? I said that the possession of great Cities, always had on the popular sentiment a more powerful impression than it deserved. There was hardly a Capital in Europe, but had been taken and retaken time after time. People seemed to think it was putting an end to the War; but it scarcely ever had been so.— The Count said that Governments were apt to comply too much with this popular panic on the occupation of great Cities.— Napoleon however paid very little attention to it.— He followed his own course, and let people clamour to their hearts Content— He knew that all such piaulement, signified nothing at all in the course of Events— And it reminded him of a saying of his father’s—Marshal Romanzoff— In the midst of a great Battle some Soldier in a moment of particular danger had loudly exclaimed to him “I will die with you”— Upon which the Marshal instantly answered as loudly—“Away! go and die with whom you will! I want none but such as will live with me!” a sentiment said the Count, which I think as judicious as it was well-timed.— The Count appeared at once inclined to be communicative, and restrained by motives of Prudence from speaking out freely, and I forbore to press him upon topics, with which I had no immediate concern— He asked whether I had any news as to the state of our War with England— I mentioned the destruction of Lewistown; the reported Bombardment of Norfolk, and the capture of the Peacock, by the Hornet— He said that by the late English Newspapers that he had seen there appeared to be a most extraordinary and wonderful stagnation of every thing of general interest.— The Princess of Wales’s Virtue and the Cossack, seemed to have absorbed all 491the contemplations of the English Nation— He is evidently not satisfied with the course which things are taking, though he speaks with great caution and reserve— After dinner I walked round the Fontanka, and through the Summer-gardens. Mr Harris spent the Evening with us. Charles was unwell, and had this day no lesson.