Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1

Tuesday 21st.

Thursday 23d Of December.

Wednesday 22d Of December. JQA

1779-12-22

Wednesday 22d Of December. Adams, John Quincy
Wednesday 22d Of December.

Rain'd all day with intermissions. At about 3 o clock PM we went a Gunning with Flamand. We got but little because Flamand the Consul's servant put a wad into his Gun and did not put any powder and was forc'd to go and draw it out. Stevens,1 Sam Cooper, brother Charles, Flamand and I went together. I fir'd three times but once in the Air. I kill'd once. This morning a Spanish Vessel went out and this afternoon a French Frigate and another French Ship came in, to this Port. At about 6 o clock we came home and found nobody but Mr. Allen there.

1.

Joseph Stephens (sometimes Stevens), a former soldier and sailor, was JA's servant in Europe from 1778 to 1783. In the latter year Stephens presumably lost his life at sea while returning to America (JA, Corr. in the Boston Patriot , p. 533; JA to the Printers of the Boston Patriot [14 Feb. 1812], published in their issue of 29 April 1812).