John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

13. VI: Mr Lieven Bauwens, a manufacturer, and inventor of machinery for manufactures had invited me to go with him, and Mr Cornelissen to Tronchiennes a Village about three miles distant from the City, where he resides, to see some of his inventions. They came at Noon— I enquired at what time we should return; Mr Cornelissen told me about four O’Clock. I sent word to Mr and Mrs Smith that I would come and dine with them at that hour— We rode about a mile out of the City, and walked the remainder of the way, crossing two Canals in boats. At Tronchiennes, Mr Bauwens introduced us to his wife, a handsome and agreeable woman— She had with her a daughter, about five years old— We were served with a Collation, which brought us to three O’Clock—then an hour to see the machinery—wheels for spinning flax, very ingenious but which have not been profitable to their inventor. Almost all the manufactures of the Country have been ruined since they have been laid open to the competition of the English— Mr Bauwens shewed us three medals of honour which he has received from the City, and from the French Government, for his improvements— He is now desirous of going with his family to America; for the sake he says, of having a Country. He has had several conversations with Mr Clay, concerning his project, and enquired of me this day whether I thought he should find encouragement for his establishments in America— I told him I had no doubt he would; particularly with the aid of his labour-saving machines. He says he has another machine in the City which he will shew me; the secret of which he has not yet disclosed— A very few of his spinning wheels are at work at Tronchiennes— His Manufacture in the City is at the Chartreux; part of the buildings where the British Plenipotentiaries resided— It was near five O’Clock when we left Tronchiennes. We saw the grave of the young man who was murdered last week by the Hanoverian Soldiers— His brother lies at the point of Death, and cannot recover.— The people in the neighborhood are excessively exasperated against these troops— A boat with six of them, armed came and landed on the grounds of Mr Bauwens before his door, while we were there— He sallied out immediately and ordered them away— They went off quietly; but the child was frightened and began to cry— We returned as we had gone out, and it was six O’Clock when we came into the City— I stopped at Mr Smith’s, and found them at dinner— They had waited for me nearly two hours— After dining with them I returned to my chamber at the Hotel; closed and sent off my letters and was employed all the remainder of the Evening in writing.