91From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 21 September 1822 to 23 September 1822 (Adams Papers)
21 Sept Still at Borden Town methinks I hear you say? “I hope my dear your head is not quite turned by all the fine things you meet?” I answer I hope not, but almost fear to ask myself the question—My last I believe informed you of the party at Mont Point Breeze. This Eveng the Count and his family spent here with Mrs. Hopkinson; and we laboured hard to amuse them, and I fear did not atchieve...
I have at length so far recovered my health as to be able to write you my Dear Thomas but I expect at the same time that you will answer my Letter as I am not in the habit of meeting with neglect or indifference— We are very anxious to hear of your health and likewise of your improvement and if you still like your situation? and also to tell you that your friends at Quincy will be very glad to...
I yesterday received your melancholy Letter my Dear George informing me of the low state of Mrs. Welshs health and the painful anticipation of the family of her speedy demise—I always had a high opinion of Mrs. Welsh since I had the pleasure of first making her acquaintance and have always been very sensible of her kindness to myself and my children—The external polish of life acquired by...
Mrs. Adams requests the Honor of Mr Southard’s Company at Tea on Tuesday the 9th. of December and every alternate Tuesday, during the Session of Congress, when agreeable. NjP : Samuel L. Southard Papers.
95To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 13 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Feby 13—A very bad cold—The day very stormy which prevented my going out—Mr. Bailey passed the evening with us—The question on Genl. Jackson’s affairs appears to be given up in the Senate—The popular opinion is too favourable—and though the Gentleman from Georgia who is to take the lead, might have found it useful in procuring the attention of the Ministry in the Country which he is about to...
96To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 6 February 1820 (Adams Papers)
6 Feb My Boys went off in the six oclock Stage, and Mr: A– myself, and Mary went to the Representative chamber and heard Mr: Rice, one of the Indian Missionaries, who had great reputation in the Western States—I thought very little of him—there was a great attempt at eloquence, which however to my idea proved entirely abortive, his language was mean, and ill chosen, and when he rose at all...
We have arrived safely at this place without much trouble and the Horses stood it pretty well, but Mary is quite sick with one of her fevers, and I cannot tell how long we may be delayed—She is as usual quite unruly, and will do little or nothing that is recommended, so that I have ample scope for repentance at the charge I have undertaken, which is burthensome beyond all calculation, the...
Your kind letter arrived just in time to cheer us. Charles and I were both quite sick, but are now thank God much better, though Dr. Galloway has order’d me to keep him at home for some days, the weather being uncommonly cold, and the Bridge not likely to be put up for some days. We have nothing new. there is some talk of the Emperor’s return, some say immediately, others not untill August....
I scarcly know how to apologize for my remissness in not writing to you sooner but did you know how I am teazed you would excuse most readily any apparent negligence and always assign some sufficient excuse for it Congress is come back and with it all the stormy passions jealousies and petty enmities which are so widely spread against those who either by talents or circumstances have risen to...
As I presume you will have accomplished your journey ere this epistle arrives, and that you will have enjoyed the amicable greetings of your friends, and have in some measure fallen into your old habits, I may venture without the apprehension of recalling too tender ideas , to relate some of the circumstances which have occurred since you left us. Poor Colvert has lost one of his Children...
You tell me in your last Letter that “you believe you did not write to me, because you had not received a Letter from me” I think you have in some of your former Letters mentioned that you kept a book in which you copied them; by refering to this book you would be able to know positively how the matter stood. but at any rate you must not be so punctilious as to wait for a Letter from me but...
102From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
27 I sent to know if Mrs. Morgan would see me but it was so late when I received an answer that I could not go—We took a long walk. Mr Morgan is again worse and it is now thought the melancholy news scene will soon be closed— 28 Govr & Mrs. Findlay called with Capt Porter of Easton Pensylvania they sat an hour during which time the Govr was quite chatty and witty—Mr Porter asked if it was not...
103From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
I received your three last numbers they arrived nearly at the same time No. 14 on Friday and 15 & 16 on Saturday. I am much concern’d at the prospect of affairs with you, and am fearful that the English will put it out of your power to return home, as soon as you think as I understand there is positive information here , that you will be kept on in the same manner, and that no Ministers will...
Your Letter of the 15 which I received yesterday has caused me the greatest alarm, and anxiety—Mr. Appleton when he returned from Cambridge told me he thought you looked pale, and thin but he believed it was only the effect of hard study—and some time since they wrote me from Quincy that in consequence of having been to Serenade Dr Kirkland on his return home you had taken a very bad cold...
Your Letter has remained unanswered some time in consequence of the illness of Mary which has been pretty severe tho’ short she is now convalscent and I hope will soon be well— I propose to leave Town for Frederick on Thursday next where I shall probably remain ten days after which I shall go to Baltimore to the Wedding of Susan Buchanan who is to be married on the 21st. we shall only stay one...
106From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 20 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
I write to announce our safe arrival at this place from whence we propose to start on a visit of two days to Mrs. De Wint this afternoon to return on Friday night to meet your father and proceed in the Steam Boat on Saturday afternoon to Providence where I presume we shall remain until Monday Morning—As the Horses are very tired it is probable we shall take a Stage to Quincy and see you all on...
107From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
August 24 As there has not been one incident which could induce me to write I have omitted my journal altogether. We had a visit yesterday from Mr. Saul and I determined to send Coachman home with the Carriage and Horses as we had made no use of it for three weeks; and it is no longer safe to ride in the environs of Philadelphia—When he arrives I beg you will desire him to see after Ben, who...
I received yesterday my dear Charles your Letter of the 4th. and hasten to answer it as I really feel anxious lest the heated atmosphere in which you appear to have lived for the last week or two should produce have a bad effect and produce the fever which is so common at Cambridge towards the end of a term and generally so frightfully infectious— We are much obliged to you for the information...
Mrs. Adams requests the pleasure of Mr. Southard’s company on Thursday Eveng at 1/2 past seven o clock to meet Genl La Fayette— NjP : Samuel L. Southard Papers.
No 39 arrived in due time and I have for some time been perpetually satisfied with the Post Office I hope however that we shall not long stand in need of their civilities as I am rather impatient to have you home the rappid approach of winter encreases my impatience and as the event of this negociation appears to be still unfavorable I cannot help feeling fretful and half angry at the delay...
Your Letter of the 10th. my Dear Charles afflicted me very much as it still betrayed the same spirit which has already cost your brother so much and which if not timely quelled may end in crimes at which my soul shudders with horror—Let me ask you once more, are you or any of the young person’s who are at College while your passions are excited to fury I say are you capable of judging...
112To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 31 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The extreeme distress of mind under which Mr Adams labours in consequence of our dear Mother’s distressing illness, totally incapacitates him from writing to you on the subject which excites in us both the most painful anxiety—. Most readily will I set out to Boston if in any shape I can afford assistance, and I should delight in giving every testimony of dutiful affection and respect to our...
Since my return home my Dear George Charles I have been so much engaged it has been almost impossible for me to write more especially as I have been even more sick than ever and even my intellect seems to suffer from these constant attacks— Genl La Fayette has passed through our City and like all Meteoric lights has illumed our horizon for a few days and I fear darkened many of the pockets of...
I am afraid that you read my letters in as great a hurry as you appear to do every thing else otherwise I cannot conceive how it is possible you should pretend to understand that I ever counselled you to become acquainted with dissipated Characters after I knew them to be such—When I wrote to you concerning it—I knew but little of him and only partially recommended him to your notice as he...
Mrs. ADAMS requests the honor of Mr Southard’s company at Tea, on Tuesday Evening, the 10 of December and every Tuesday during the Session of Congress, when agreeable, at half past seven o’clock. NjP : Samuel L. Southard Papers.
116From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 14 July 1819 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter announcing the death of Judge Tudor but the melancholy news which I had received from St Petersburg only half an hour before broke the shock as that comparatively was a calamity so dreadful that the death of the Judge appeared nothing more than an event which must naturally be expected—It is no doubt a distressing event to the family and sudden deaths are...
117From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 August 1826 (Adams Papers)
We have arrived safely here after a tolerably pleasant journey and a very pleasant visit at Borden Town although poor Mrs. Hopkinson was sick the greatest part of the time—I sent Charles on to secure me apartments and Mr Biddle accompanied me to this City in the Steam Boat from Washington—but our passage was boisterous and disagreeable— Charles King informed me last night that he had forwarded...
27 Sept—In the Evening the Count and Countess came to visit us and sat above an hour conversing very pleasantly though not very favourably of Miss Keene who appears to be no favorite with him notwithstanding her evident desire to attract his attention—The young Lady seems to have taken a sort of partiality for me; and politely expressed a wish that I would prolong my stay in Borden Town as my...
I was much disappointed at the receipt of your last letter having flatter’d myself that you would have had some letters from our friends both in Boston and Washington The Conservateur of to day announces that you have at last recieved the answer to your last Note and that it is of so favorable a nature that peace will be the consequence of the truth of this I can form no opinion but the report...
Our winter routine has begun and as usual I am plunged into the depths of visits invitations dinners &c &c &c— It is singular just after reading Randolph that I should have become acquainted with the supposed Author of the Work and that his conversation should have produced conviction in me that the supposition is not incorrect—Speaking of the Painters I could have fancied I was reading the...