John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

12. V:30. I paid several visits this morning, previous to my departure— First to Mr Schubert, the Imperial Astronomer, to whom I returned the Celestial Charts by Bode, which he had lent me; and he returned me the volume on Comets, and that of Smith’s philosophical Essays, which I had lent him. He said he had read them both with great pleasure— That in Mr Oliver’s Essay upon Comets there was nothing new, as its principal idea that the Comets were retained in their orbits by the repulsion of the Solar atmosphere had been first advanced by Kepler, and was set forth in great detail by Pingré in a large work in two Volumes entitled Cometographie— I observed to him that Mr Oliver’s Essay must have been published before Pingre’s work— I asked him if the Planet Mercury could ever be seen by the naked eye— He said, not by him; nor by any ordinary eyes— That there was a young man, connected with the Academy of Sciences, who he did not doubt could at times see Mercury without a glass, for he could in a clear day see Venus at Noon— But for himself he could see nothing less than a 88star of the 5th: magnitude with the naked eye— In Southern Climates, where the sky is clearer, more perhaps might be seen, but not here. He said that the light of Mercury was so brilliant, that it was necessary to use a coloured glass to view him distinctly.— From Mr Schubert’s I went to Mr Meyer’s, where I made some necessary arrangements, with respect to my family during my absence. I next called upon Mr Hynam, and returned him the Manuscript he lent me last Summer concerning the Russian weights and measures. He has two new pair of Scales, one of which he thinks still more perfect for small weights than his large one— But upon trial we found it less correct. He had also two antient Russian weights; but he knew not where made nor when— They were a pound and a quarter of a pound— They had the appearance of being made with care, and were marked in the 96th: parts of the Zolotnik—that is 9216 to the pound. It weighed 6326 grains Troy weight English—that is 6 3/4 grains more than the standard weight now used at the fortress for weighing silver and gold—which yields another proof how excessively careless they are here upon this Article— The quarter of a pound corresponded very exactly with the pound, and proved that they were taken from a standard heavier than that now used— Mr Hynam shewed me again all his apparatus for making Arsheens— Of which he told me he had been engaged to make 500000. that the number wanted, was about four millions, but the war had put a stop to the work— His machinery is all extremely ingenious, and of his own invention— After returning home I went with Charles to the Gachellies, two of which we saw—the Rope-dancers, Tumblers and feats of horsemanship; and the Punch puppet-show, with the leger-de-main tricks. About 4 we came home, and I went to look at some travelling Carriages for sale. Found one to suit me— Mr Norman sent me word that he had been seeking all over the City, yesterday and this day; with no better success— I concluded to take Countess Colombi’s Dormeuse— She was here this morning to visit Mrs Adams, who in return, spent the Evening there. I met after dinner and walked with Mr de Tracy, who is not quite so sangwine as he was, but still credits too lightly the flattering tale of Hope. We met and spoke to Mr Montreal, who is yet unwell with his cough. After I returned home I had an Evening visit from Count Maistre.— George’s Birth-day— Charles measures 3 f 8 l/4 i.