For the Adams Papers editors these two volumes begin the presentation of yet another generation of Adamses. Yet even beginnings are dependent upon a past. The contribution of former editors, earlier Adams volumes, and over twenty-five years of research on the family and their activities are evident in these pages.

In addition to these valuable cumulative efforts for the editing of the Diary, we have benefited from the help of various specialists. Mason Hammond, Pope Professor of the Latin Language and Literature Emeritus at Harvard University, translated Adams' occasional Greek passages with their archaic symbols; Birgitta Knuttgen of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature at the same institution helped with Swedish translations. Professors Ralph E. Weber of Marquette University and Brian J. Winkel of Albion College unraveled John Quincy's misciphered message in one of the earliest Diaries. Mona Dearborn, Keeper of the Catalog of American Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, offered important assistance in locating portraits and their current owners for illustrations in these volumes. Scott Schaefer of the Department of Paintings, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, identified a painting from John Quincy Adams' less-than-precise description of it.

The Massachusetts Historical Society, which holds the Adams Family manuscripts and houses the Adams Papers editorial offices, continues to provide incalculable aid to our enterprise. Specific acknowledgment must go to Librarian John D. Cushing and members of his staff, Winifred V. Collins and Aimée Bligh, in particular, who responded without fail to our every request for manuscripts and books from the Society's extraordinary holdings. Malcolm Freiberg, the Society's Editor of Publications, has graciously joined us in reading galley proofs.

One of the indirect effects of John Quincy Adams' early life and travels in Europe, as well as his insatiable interest in books, liihas been our increasing dependence upon the resources of several other institutions in the Boston area. Wilhelmina S. Harris, Superintendent of the Adams National Historic Site in Quincy, and her staff have graciously permitted us long hours in the Stone Library to consult Adams' extensive collection of books. Harley P. Holden, Curator of the Harvard Archives, and his staff have provided important materials that have helped to illuminate Adams' student life at Harvard. The Boston Athenæum is an important repository on which we have called often for books and other materials pertaining to Adams' European stay.

Research efforts in the Boston area were ably assisted by Jane Knowles, now Radcliffe College Archivist, who brought her excellent research skills and broad knowledge to bear upon Adams' unexplored early life. After Mrs. Knowles' departure from our staff, Jill Schindler helped us with some outside research and verification. Editorial Assistants Katherine Oppermann, Maureen Kaplan, and her successor, Eileen Garred, skillfully readied the copy for the press and assisted with the proofreading and indexing. Michael Crawford, NHPRC intern for 1980–1981, also assisted with prepublication chores. Our editor at Harvard University Press, Ann Louise C. McLaughlin, bestowed upon the manuscript, to its great benefit, the same expertise and concern she has given to all the Adams volumes that have preceded these.