July 15 1812: John Quincy Adams

On July 15, 1812, John Quincy Adams, the American Ambassador to Russia in St. Petersburg, describes his meetings with various ambassadors allied with France and how they now must leave Russia. Part of Adams' entry for July 15 1812 is reproduced below.

15th: Called on Count Lauriston at the Hotel du Nord, where I met Count Bussche and Mr. Jouffroy. The Ambassador and his family, Mr. Lesseps, the French Consul, and his family. Count Frohberg, the Chevalier de Bray, Count Bussche,with their secretaries and families, and the Chevalier Brancia, are to be embarked at Cronstadt and to go by water to Memel; but Count St. Julien, the Austrian Minister, Jouflroy and Colonel Scholer, the Prussians, General Pardo, and Count Bose, the Saxon Charge des Affaires, are permitted to go by land. Rayneval, who was stopped at Mittau, must return here to go by water to Memel. These distinctions are no doubt intended to excite irritations among the allies, but their effect cannot be very extensive. Count Lauriston said he had yesterday written to Count Soltykoff, and received in return from him a note, saying that the functions and character of French Ambassador having ceased by the passports furnished him for his departure. Count Soltykoff could hold no further correspondence with him. There is to be a frigate, a corvette, and two transports, which are to be ready on Saturday or Sunday next. The Ambassador, as well as Brancia, had written to demand a guarantee that they should not be attacked on their passage by the English, to which Count Soltykoff answered that it was to be presumed the Russian Government had taken all necessary precautions, but that they must be sensible he, Count Soltykoff, could answer them nothing but by the express command of the Emperor. The Ambassador and Count Bussche were very much exasperated. Jouffroy was tickled with the distinction in his favor, and not very diplomatic to conceal his gratification.