John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

23. Mr Harris brought the Credential letter of the extraordinary mission, of which a copy and translation are to be delivered to Count Romanzoff, and he asked me to make the Translation, which I promised.— I went to Countess Colombi’s to make some inquiries concerning the Major de Tracy, whose liberation I was requested to endeavour to obtain— I wished to see Mr Zea, but he was not at home— I saw Mr Lys, and Don Francisco— They had furnished money to Mr de Tracy, and I enquired whether they knew any thing further concerning him; which how ever they did not.— At one I called as by appointment upon Count Romanzoff, and told him that I had received instructions from the American Government to remain here under the Commission which I have hitherto held, and that I had been mistaken in supposing that my Colleagues had other destinations, independent of the mission here— My conjecture had been founded on the doubt whether the President would have appointed this Mission solely, upon the expectation that the mediation would be accepted by the British Government.— But I was now instructed that the President, considering the acceptance by the British as probable, though aware that if they should reject it, this measure might wear the appearance of precipitation, thought it more advisable to incur that risque, than the danger of prolonging unnecessarily the War, for six or nine Months, as might happen, if the British should immediately have accepted the Mediation, and he should have delayed this step untill he was informed of it. And a great object with him was to manifest not only a cheerful acceptance on the part of the United States, but in a signal manner the sentiments of consideration and respect for the Emperor, and to do honour to the motives on which he offered his Mediation— Another Gentleman, Mr Crawford was appointed Minister to France. The Count said he regretted much that there was such reason to believe the British would decline the Mediation; but on transmitting the copy of our Credential letter to the Emperor, he would determine whether to renew the proposal, as the Opposition in England might make it an embarrassing charge, against the Ministry if they should under such Circumstances reject it— He spoke of the taking of York-town in Upper Canada, by General Dearborn; and desiring me not to mention him as an Authority, added that he was informed the British Government had determined in consequence of that event to send more troops to America.— I told the Count there were two other objects not connected with either of my public Capacities here, but upon which I found it necessary to speak to him— The first was concerning a payment made to the owners of a Vessel to which a black man belonged, who had entered into the Emperor’s service— This payment was made, by way of indemnity for the detention of the vessel— I had been directed by a verbal message from the Minister of the Police Balascheff to offer this indemnity; and I related to the Count the circumstances of the man’s having got into the Emperor’s service— The Count asked what the amount of the payment was— I said it was about 700 dollars, amounting to more than 3000 Rubles— He said he would write upon the subject to Mr Balacheff— The other subject I observed was still more remote from my official functions, for it related to a French Prisoner— My only motives and my excuse for speaking of it to him were humanity and gratitude. General La Fayette had written to me, requesting me to endeavour to obtain a favour for a relation of his a Mr de Tracy, now at Tamboff, and taken last Winter with Augereau— On the score of gratitude for General La Fayette’s services to my Country, and of a very old personal friendship for him, I was ardently desirous of rendering him any service in my power— What he, and the Senator Count de Tracy the Prisoner’s father wanted was either an exchange, or a release on parole— The Count said he did not think it would be possible— The french had refused to listen to any proposition for exchange— An English Officer named Willoughby had come here last Summer and offered his services— He had been sent to Count Wittgenstein’s army, and by lending his horse to a wounded Russian, whom he had even carried some way upon his shoulders, he had fallen into the Enemy’s hands— The Emperor had asked to have him exchanged, and had been positively refused—in consequence of which he had resolved he would listen to no applications of a similar Nature— However if I would give him the Officer’s name, he would write to the Emperor about it; and although there was no prospect of obtaining an exchange, there might possibly be a permission for his removal—perhaps for him to come to St: Petersburg; that I might then enter into correspondence with him, and his situation might be alleviated— I replied that I would give him the name, and as it was altogether a favour I was asking, I should be grateful for any thing that might be granted— The Count agreed with me to receive my Colleagues with me at 11. to-morrow Morning; and said that at 12 he should set out for Czarsko Zelo, to spend two or three days there— I spoke of the presentation of my Colleagues and myself to the Empresses— He said that the 504Empresses in the Country had received two or three private Strangers; but that they could not receive persons in such a public character as that of Envoys Extraordinary, unless they had been previously received by the Emperor; or untill the Emperor should give his orders on receiving the copy of the Credential letter— He might perhaps direct that the Gentlemen should be considered as having delivered the letter to him in person— Or if he should return here as it was sometimes said he soon intended, we might then really deliver it— This is a change of opinion since the Count spoke with me on this subject before— In General there appears a coolness in his manner which leads me to suspect that the Emperor himself is not well pleased at the eclat which this mission will give to the British refusal of his mediation— The Count’s politeness is as marked and warm as ever, but there is a reserve and sollicitude in the manner, which I regret to perceive— I went from his house to the lodgings of my Colleagues and informed them of the time fixed for presenting them to the Count— Mr Gallatin then put into my hands the three Full-powers which contain our Commissions— One to negotiate the Peace with Britain, under the Mediation of the Emperor of Russia— One to negotiate a Treaty of Commerce with Britain given for the contingency that the pacific Negotiation should be successful— In these two Mr Gallatin is the first Commissioner, and I am the second—the third power is to negotiate a Treaty of Commerce with Russia, in which as well as in the Credential Letter, my name is the first and Mr Gallatin’s the second. This arrangement Mr Gallatin told me was made intentionally, and I consider it as a mark of delicate attention in the President towards me, though I should have been perfectly satisfied had Mr Gallatin’s name been first in all the papers— I took the Powers for treating of Peace with Britain, and of Commerce with Russia, home with me, and made translations of them and of the Credential letter which I carried to Mr Harris’s, when I went to dinner— We all dined there; together with Messrs: Lewis, Willing, Redwood, and Calhoun— Mr Gallatin corrected my translations of the papers, and after dinner we took a long walk over the Isaac Square Bridge, and round by the new Exchange— I came home between 9 and 10 in the Evening.