17 February 1817
adams-john10 Neal Millikan
143

17. VI:30. By full daylight. Sent Antoine to London for the Pipe of Madeira wine which he finally brought out; together with the box, for Mrs Adams that G. Boyd brought from France, and which has since then been lying at the Custom House. I received by the Evening’s Post a Letter from G. Boyd at Paris, returning me the blank Order upon the Secretary at War, signed— He had forgotten to sign it when he sent it to me before. Also an order from a Mr Morrison, deputy Master at the Mint, for me, with five friends to see the works at the Mint, next Thursday; which being the day of the Drawing Room, I cannot then go— I left home at nine this Evening, and went to Count Fernan Nuñez, Duke of Montellano, the Spanish Ambassador’s Ball— I made up a Packet of Newspapers, for the Secretary of State, and a Packet to my Father, containing a Letter to my brother from me, two from George, one to my Mother, and one to Claudius Bradford, and also some Newspapers: I took them with me in the Carriage, and on alighting at the Ambassador’s, told my footman William Hegg to carry them to Mr Smith at Craven-Street. I also left in the Carriage my round hat and my surtout. When I came out to return home, on entering the Carriage, and driving off, my hat was missing. On enquiring for it, William told me that it had been stolen from the Carriage together with the packets of Papers, while he was riding with the Coachman on the box, from the Ambassador’s house, to Cavendish Square. The Surtout luckily escaped. At the Ball, there were between three and four hundred persons, among whom the Dukes of York and Gloucester, the Grand Duke Nicholas; several of the Cabinet Ministers; all the foreign Ambassadors and Ministers, Earl Gray, Lords Erskine & Holland, Sir Robert Liston, Sir Gore Ousely &c— More Gentlemen than Ladies. The Prince Regent was to have been there, but sent an excuse this morning. It was said he had the Gout. I had scraps of conversation with most of the foreign Ambassadors & Ministers and particularly with Mr Poletica, who is now a Counsellor of the Russian Embassy here. He told me he did not think Mr Daschkoff had been recalled from the United States, though he supposed he ultimately would be— I spoke also to Lords Westmorland, Gray, Erskine and Holland—to Lady Castlereagh and Mr. Planta, and to Mr Chester— The only dansing was of Quadrilles. I came away at half past twelve; and got home a quarter after two— It seems that the glass windows were stolen from several Carriage— There was a crowd of People before the house, and no strange Servants admitted into it.

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