21 April 1815
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Recreation
244

21. V:30. I finished with difficulty my Letter to the Secretary of State, and began one to my Mother. Was confined all the morning to the house by the weather— Dr Roberton paid me a second visit; and I had also a visit from Mr Crawford— He thinks of going early in the course of next week for England; and intends to leave Mr Jackson here as Chargé d’Affaires. He had received this morning letters from Mr Gallatin and Mr Clay, of the 15th: instant. Neither of them had decided upon his movements. Dr Roberton 245speaks doubtfully of the case of Mr Bayard; and thinks he has yet an internal abscess for which the breast-bone must be trepanned— Mr Bayard still intends however to go to Havre as soon as the Neptune arrives there; and to return in her to America. Mr Crawford told us that he heard the Emperor was going this Evening to the French Theatre— I went with Mrs Adams— The Emperor was there; but we could get seats only in a box on the same side of the Theatre as he was seated, and we could not see him— The house was so crowded that the Musicians of the Orchestra were driven from their Seats and the music was heard only from behind the scenes— The Airs of La Victoire, Veillons au Salut de l’Empire and la Marseillaise were called for and played repeatedly— A Gentleman in one of the Balconies was called upon to sing some couplets, now in circulation— He said that he did not know them; but if they were furnished him, he would sing them with pleasure— They were immediately passed to him, and he sung them amidst loud and continual shouts of Vive l’Empereur. The Parterre joining in the Chorus— The Couplets were indifferent. The performances were the Tragedy of Hector and Le Legs— Talma and Mademoiselle Duchesnois had just finished the first Scene, when the Emperor came in— He was received with redoubled and long continued shouts of Vive l’Empereur; after which there was a cry from the Parterre—recommencéz—accordingly they began the Play again— In all the intervals between the Acts, the shouts of Vive l’Empereur were renewed, and one or two persons in the Pit having put on their hats, as is usual between the Acts there was an immediate cry of Chapeaux bas! At the end of the Tragedy the Emperor went away— In the after-piece Mademoiselle Mars and Fleury were excellent; as Talma and Mlle. Duchesnois had been in the Tragedy.

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