FFQF: John Adams Goes to Spain

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Hands down, I think the venerable John Adams was the most humorous of the founding fathers. Adams had a deliciously dry and wry wit which seemed to ooze from his masterful brain out of his pen onto the parchment. He was perceptive, extremely thoughtful, terribly critical, and ferociously funny. Reading his writings is so much fun!

Adams visited Spain during the Revolution, when he crossed through the country on his way to serve as the American commissioner in France. A little background: He and his young son, John Quincy, has survived a harrowing journey across the Atlantic, during winter. Their ship had been attacked by the British (scary for a person whose head was wanted) and a terrible storm had damaged the ship. The ship, unable to continue to France directly, had landed on the Spanish coast. John and his son and the rest of the passengers and crew had to travel through Spain on wagon and on donkey to France. Adams told his tale in the form of a journal, which is rich in stories and history. Adams, a staunch Protestant Congregationalist, was quite detailed of what he found in Catholic Spain.

So this is what he wrote that I find so humorous!

1780 January 6. Thursday.
We went to see the Cathedral Church at Leon which though magnificent, is not equal to that at Astorga, if it is to that at Lugo. It was the day of the Feast of the King and We happened to be at the celebration of High Mass.

We saw the Procession of the Bishop and of all the Canons, in rich habits of Silk, Velvet, Silver and gold. The Bishop as he turned the Corners of the Church spred out his hand to the People, in token of his Apostolical Benediction; and those, in token of their profound gratitude for the heavenly Blessing prostrated themselves on their Knees as he passed.

Our Guide told Us We must do the same. But I contented myself with a Bow. The Eagle Eye of the Bishop did not fail to observe an Upright figure amidst the Crowd of prostrate Adorers: but no doubt perceiving in my Countenance and Air, but especially in my dress something that was not Spanish, he concluded I was some travelling Heretick and did not think it worth while to exert his Authority to bend my stiff Knees. His Eyes followed me so long that I thought I saw in his Countenance a reproof like this “You are not only a Heretick but you are not a Gentleman, for a Gentleman would have respected the Religion of the Country and its Usages so far as to have conformed externally to a Ceremony that cost so little.”

Now if that isn’t knee-slapping funny, I don’t know what is! Read it aloud in an aristocratic British accent and laugh even more!