John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

12. VI. We were engaged all the morning again, in packing trunks to send away by the diligence to Havre— It was almost four in the afternoon, before I could go out of the house— We dispatched nine Trunks and boxes, by the Diligence which went this afternoon— I called and took leave of the Duke de Vicence, whom I found dressed, ready to go with his Porte-feuille, à l’Elysée— My visit was accordingly very short, in which however we had some further interesting conversation.— He said that he had asked Mr Petry to call upon me with my Passport, and the Despatch for Mr Serrurier— That Petry had been long in America, and wished to return there again— He was a very good man, and he, the Duke should do for him what he could— I asked him if there was any foundation in the rumour that the king of Naples (Murat) had beaten the Austrians— He said there was no authentic account of it— But many private letters mentioned it with confidence— The Minister of the Police had received one yesterday, and he himself had one this Morning— I observed that the public funds had risen here considerably within these few days— That there must be some foundation for it in circumstances not generally known— He said there had been some symptoms of hesitation in Austria to join in the latest projected measures of the allies— That there had been since the Treaty of 25 March a further declaration, proposed and actually signed by three persons— He had the declaration itself— Austria had, it seemed, declined signing it— There was also understood to be some discordance in the English Cabinet— Lord Liverpool was understood to be inclined to continue at peace— Lord Castlereagh was ardent for War— I asked if he was certain of this— He said he had reason to believe it. He knew at least that Lord Liverpool had been so earnest for the Peace with America that he had tendered his resignation to the Prince Regent, if it was not made— Lord Castlereagh was for continuing the War— I said that we knew perfectly well what were Lord Castlereagh’s dispositions when he passed through Ghent on his way to Vienna— But we had heard, that from Vienna, he had written home, advising that they should conclude with us.— He said that was true— It was in consequence of the discussions with Russia, and with Prussia, respecting Poland, and Saxony. Lord Castlereagh was then much at variance with the Emperor of Russia, and did write to advise the Peace with America— All this was fully disclosed in the Correspondence from the French Ambassadors at Vienna, with his department, and was now among the archives.— After leaving the Duke, I paid visits to Messrs: Barnet, D. Parker. Appleton, and Warden— The last of them has changed his lodgings— The others were out, or at dinner— Evening at the Opera Comique, Rue Feydeau—Le Billet de Lotterie, Les deux Jaloux and Les Visitandines. The house was tolerably filled— Madame Duret and Madame Gavandan were the best of the performers— I had this morning also a long-visit from Mr Erving.— I asked him if he did not think Austria was practising an imposition upon Napoleon? I am much inclined to think so myself— A Mr Lannuier brother of our Landlord and Maitre d’Hotel at Ghent, came and asked me to recommend him to Mr Jackson for a Passport as an American to go to Ghent— He is not an American, but has been settled ten or twelve years at New-York, and has a wife and two children there— He came from New-York last winter, and brought with him one of his Sons, whom he sent to his brother at Ghent— But the boy not being satisfied with his situation there he intends taking him back to America, with him and wants to go to Ghent for that purpose— I hinted to him the difficulties which would naturally be made here to giving Passports for any person to go to Ghent, the present abode of Louis 18. and the solid objection against giving him, who professed not to be an American, a Passport styling him such. I promised to state his case to Mr Jackson, but said that I should in his situation not give a Passport.