Dft (Adams Papers); notation by TBA: “Address on taking leave / of the King of / G.B.”

JA’s final audience with George III held none of the ceremonial fanfare that had attended their first meeting nearly three years earlier, for which see vol. 17:134–135, 138–139, 142–145. After the weekly diplomatic levee ended at three o’clock in the afternoon on 20 Feb., JA met briefly with the king at St. James’ Palace, and he reported to John Jay the following day, below. The Marquís of Carmarthen introduced JA, who made this short address, and he was ushered out by Sir Clement Cottrell Dormer. Contrary to the more extensive coverage of JA’s arrival at the Court of St. James, the British press made only the barest mention of his leave-taking. Although newspapers continued to advertise the sale of JA’s Defence of the Const. over the next few weeks, they ceased taking regular note of JA’s ongoing diplomatic activities in England and Holland. At month’s end, one London newspaper published the following update: “Mr. ADAMS, the American Embassador, on his return home, quits all official situation, and reverts to the practice of the Law” (London World, 21, 29 Feb.).