Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 1
1783-11-25
Went to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Castle of
Andalusia, with the Devil upon two Sticks.1
Castle of Andalusia, by John O'Keeffe, with music by Samuel
Arnold, first performed in 1782; and Samuel Foote's highly successful comedy first produced
in 1768 (
Biographia
Dramatica
; Hogan, ed., London Stage, 1660–1800
).
1783-11-26
Went again to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Magic Picture with the Quaker.1
The Magic Picture, London, 1783, by Henry Bate Dudley; The Quaker, London, 1777, by Charles Dibdin (
Biographia
Dramatica
;
DNB
).
1783-11-29
In the morning at about 9 o'clock, set out for Richmond which is 10. miles from London,
and said to be the most Beautiful Spot in England, and perhaps in Europe. It is upon a hill,
which Commands a vast plain in which Plain the River Thames runs winding about for a great
ways in the midst of the Meadows, which even at this Time are covered with
verdure.1 Returned to Town to Dine.
The purpose of the excursion, JA later recalled, was to visit former
Massachusetts governor Thomas Pownall and Pennsylvania proprietor Richard Penn (
Diary and
Autobiography
, 3:151).
1783-11-30
Dined at Mr. Bingham's.