Your letter of the 21st arrived from Quincy this Morning and I can only assure you in answer that your Mother is much better and that Charles is very well. you may therefore spare yourself any farther anxiety and hope to meet us soon in perfect health I merely write a few lines to satisfy your doubts concerning them and to express my regret at your cause not having come on when you expected...
Without knowing where to address you I cannot refrain from writing to you to inform you of our health, and our great anxiety to hear from you two posts having arrived without bringing us a line. I was uneasy at first lest you should have been prevented from writing by indisposition, or accident on the road, but on reflection your silence may have been caused by finding a number of letters at...
Having heard of the arrival of the Fingal you may suppose how anxious I am for the next Post A letter was brought me from Gottenburg addressed to you as I percieved immediately that it came from Quincy I opend it and found that it was from your and contained the most interesting news I can hear that my Boys were well I was however much grieved to find that George was to enter so soon you know...
I have been so occupied in writing for Mr. Adams ever since his indisposition that I have really not had time to answer your kind Letters and have brought myself in debt to all my Correspondents and they accumulate so much that I am unable to satisfy their demands. My Boys are also at home which is another ample source of occupation as Mr. Adams’s time is of too much importance to the public...
You cannot think how much I was disappointed in your last last Letter when I open’d it I was in the full expectation of reading all the good news which we had recieved here at least 4 days before instead of which I found nothing but a melancholy detail of all the suffering and disgrace which had befallen us I hope you had heard the news more in detail when you dined with the Ministers and that...
We have this morning recieved your kind letter my dear Mother and I hasten to write you a few lines by a Vessel which I understand will sail immediately Mr. Adams is very well but so much engaged it will not be in his power to write by this opportunity having only notice of it late last night Mr Harrod is not yet arrived but is hourly expected—I shall be extremely happy to see him and shew...
Conceive the astonishment your Letter caused me if you can and still more the Treaty which is published in the English Papers I think it is indeed pointed at the Eastern States and that our good Friends the Yankees have some ground for discontent but I must learn not to say all I think— I know not what to do about the Selling of the goods and I fear I shall be much imposed upon this is a heavy...
Some how or other By some mistake I think I misdated my last Letter to you and it is only to day that I discover’d it. Had yours last of the 23d of Septr. not been accompanied by one from Mrs. Smith I should have been extremely uneasy, at the great depression of Spirits under which you appear to labour. The melancholy situation of our Country, warrants almost any degree of apprehension, and we...
After so long a silence my dear mother I scarcely know how to address you without troubling you with complaints of your not writing. since July I have not received a line from you our solicitude and anxiety to hear from you adds terribly to the tediousness of our banishment and render my residence here almost insupportable— It is here confidently reported that Mr Adams is shortly to be removed...
St Petersburg Octbr. 23d We are now my dear Mother enjoying the delights of a violent Snow storm and I presume this will be the last opportunity of writing by Vessels sailing from hence to America our intercourse for some months will I fear be much interrupted I hope however you will write by opportunities to Hamburg or England as often as possible— Winter has returned and with it all the...
61From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Harriet Welsh, 1 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I ought to have thanked you long ago my Dear Harriet for your very obliging Letter announcing the recovery of Mrs. Adams for which news as you rightly and kindly judged we were very anxious I am happy to find by the last accounts that she is once more restored to health and I hope that the Summer weather will reanimate her could she bear the journey I think towards Winter she should move...
With a mind sorely depressed by the late afflicting intelligence from America and the many additional circumstances which are hourly occurring to encrease the difficulties of my present situation and I feel almost incapacitated from writing even a few lines to thank you & my dear Sister Adams for the very tender and affectionate manner in which you broke to us the melancholy Tidings of our...
I write you my dear Madam, to announce our safe arrival at Cronstad, after a most tedious, and dangerous passage, of eleven weeks; during which I suffer’d considerably, both fear and sickness, which continued throughout the voyage. my health is however good at present, and we propose to go on to Petersberg tomorow— I entreat you my dear Madam, to remember me most affectionately, to all our...
The surprize and sorrow I felt at the receipt of your last letter cannot be expressed and I felt my exile even more than I had ever done before you will I know be displeased at my thus writing but I cannot help it and the bad news which is continually arriving makes me too unhappy to attempt to conceal my feelings. Tell Boyd how very very much I regret not seeing him the disappointment I met...
At length my dear Madam we have arrived in this splendid City and find ourselves plunged into the midst of difficulties, and expences from which nothing but a return to our own Country can extricate us, unless the American Government will double the present appointments, which I am almost certain will never take place— Mr Adams has not yet been presented owing to the indisposition of the...
Your two last favours of the 19 and 22 of July were again deliver’d to me together at on Saturday last. I was delighted to hear you were so much pleased with your situation, owing to the amiability of your companions, but am very sorry that your absence is likely to be prolong’d; but as I have often said if Peace should really be the consequence, I should not repine at passing the whole of the...
I intended writing you a long Letter this evening my best friend but was interupted by a visit from Mr. Harris who had however nothing new to relate he appears to be a little impatient to learn what will be your fate and you can “guess why ” I believe he only does me the honour to visit me to find out if I am not likely to quit the Country soon and I am mischievous enough to flatter him with...
Your letter is this moment brought me and Mr Lewis has called at the same time to inform me that Drumond and all his Army are taken God send this may be true we have whispers of Chauncey having forced Sir James to retreat this however is not confirmed and I am in a state of anxiety to know if the letters of to day will say any thing about it This news will I hope produce a good effect and...
I recieved your very kind letter my dear Aunt a few days since and hasten to answer it although without hopes of its my letter’s arriving at its destinatio n owing to the Danes who capture every American Vessel either passing the Sound or the Belts I have written by every opportunity but we have heard of the captur e of almost every vessel which contain’d our letters it is shocking to think of...
I hasten to inform you of our safe Arrival at this City after as pleasant a journey as the Season would admit and thank fortune with out the most trifling accident Permit me to offer my thanks for the polite Letter with which I was furnished for the Governor from whom I have received the most flattering attention and to request you will in my name assure Mr. Kosudavlow of the very high sense I...
As the tops of the Houses here are cover’d with Snow and the winds continue to be contrary I venture to write you a few lines, my best friend, in answer 2 No 4, which I recieved this morning. the extreme irregularity of the Posts, has prevented my addressing my letters to Reval, and I have already forwarded three or four to Stockolm, and Gottenburg, which you will find on your arrival.—I am...
72From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 14 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
You cannot think what a disappointment your not writing occasion’d me! I have been weighing and reflecting upon every thing which might have caused your silence and have only been able to attribute it to that of sickness, which fills my heart with uneasiness Your Aunt Smith, being about to return to America, I take the opportunity of sending you a Watch, which I request you will use in the...
73From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 1814 (Adams Papers)
To offer you anything like consolation for your irreparable loss my dear Mother is I feel utterly impossible and Heaven alone can pour balm into the wound which in its wise decrees it has ordained. Too recently have I suffer’d the same dreadful stroke not to feel how every fibre of your heart must have been rent by this great great affliction if the tenderest sympathy could in the smallest...
Your kind letter with that of Mrs Smith reached me the day before yesterday and I hasten to answer it merely to state that we are well and making as much dispatch as well the nature of things will admit I think in my last letter I mentioned a possibility of leaving this place on Sunday I find this arrangement very premature and shall not mention untill I am actually on the point of setting off...
Your last letter afforded me inexpressible pleasure as far as regards self we both likely to be pleased with our Children but to me it would be more agreeable to learn they both resemble you as I have had too many convincing proofs that I even with all the means in my power am not fitted to be or make others happy thank God they bid fair to do you honor and though we have had but little share...
As this is probably the last opportunity I shall have to write you I sieze it with avidity, and hope notwithstanding the failure of our negociations, that some favorable circumstance may occur, which will render the communication more frequent, and more safe. Our prospects are dreadful, and I see no end to our banishment, unless some miracle should release us from our present difficulties. I...
I had entirely left off writing under the idea that you would have been on your way home very shortly after writing your Letter of the 2d which I answer’d and sent to Dresden. You appear to be under great anxiety about my discretion, and I am very uneasy likewise because every thing that you right write me is know before your letters arrive not from your letters but from England and I am...
We wait with much anxiety for Letters, to reassure us on account of your health; although the last accounts were highly favorable, for which I am indebted to my old and valuable friend Harriet Welsh, we yet cannot feel perfectly satisfied, until we are assured under your own hand, of your complete restoration to the blessing of health. I am at last enabled to answer your questions concerning...
Having already written to Mrs Adams, by this conveyance, my dear Madam, I cannot think of losing, so favorable an opportunity, of repeating my thanks for your kind care of l my beloved Children; of whose happiness and welfare, I have a full conviction while under your protection—Never untill now , did I so sensibly feel the loss, of the little property I was once taught to expect, I might then...
80From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Adelaide Hellen, 31 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have been very negligent my Dear Sister in not sooner answering your very affectionate Letter for which negligence I confess I have no substantial excuse to offer unless a little dissipation has Led to idleness I must trust to your indulgence for pardon. We had heard of the Death of Col. Smith through the medium of an American Newspaper some time before we received our Letters which only...
Mr. Todd having just called to announce his departure I hasten to write you although I do not think his departure will take place so soon as he expects. You will my joy on arriving in London at finding my Boys ready at our lodgings to receive me although in excellent health the pleasure was too much for me and I was several days before I recover’d my usual composure—We have not yet found a...
As Mrs: Perkins has kindly offered to take Letters, I hasten to answer your kind Letters of 24th: April & 2d May, which I received the day before yesterday. I fear the Boys will not be able to avail themselves of this opportunity, as they are much occupied previous to the Vacation, which takes place next Week. George has a part to perform in one of Terrences plays, and a French piece, and from...
In the first place I will inform you, as I know how very particular you are, that I have received No 9 and 10 with its enclosures, the last of which I have sent to your old friend the good Revd: Pere, by Mr Smith ten minutes after its reception this morning at 10 oclock. In the next place you will observe that I have number’d my letter and that you are indebted to me two numbers. my first was...
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...
You must laugh at the information contain’d in my last as Mr. Harris tells me he wrote you by the same post that the resignation was accepted Mr. H.—as far as prevarication goes is certainly a good diplomat for he came to me very full of what I wrote you and told me he had it from the Gentleman himself. he was here last night with what he wrote you and at the same time stating that the...
I am so exhausted by fatigue that it is with the utmost difficulty I can scrawl a few lines having just return’d from a Fète at Pavloski which lasted two days & Nights I may say as you know at what hour the Balls break up The fète was most beutiful and we recieved every possible mark of Distinction the Emperor spoke to me and asked where you were I told him you had seen at Ghent he said he had...
From your last Letter of the 19 I am led to believe that you are not likely to return home so soon as you expected, I shall therefore persevere in writing untill you positively forbid it. Our Old friend Mr. R. B. Forbes has just been to visit me he is come to Petersburg on his way to Ghent and expects to return to America he says Boston is become intolerable to live in, that his family are...
We have been some time now without receiving Letters from you, although we have heard of you from other branches of the family. In your last Letters to the Children you mention the approaching marriage of Susan which ere this has probably taken place should it be so I must beg you will make my congratulations acceptable with every good wish for her future happiness. We are here plunged into...
Your last Letter was indeed flattering to me. eminently as you are gifted with the talent of writing your approbation must afford the greatest pleasure and exite encouragement. It has often been to me a source of wonder how you can write to so many in one family, and yet never appear at a loss for subjects; but you possess the talent of giving interest even to trifles and the easy course of...
Mr. Harris was here last evening, and made me an offer of a House, which as times go is remarkably cheap, and I have thought it prudent to accept it upon condition that he will let us have it by the Month. the rent is 3500 Rubles it is the House in which Von Essen lived in the Place St Isaac. as I know not how you are going on, or at what time you expect to return, I have delayed taking any...
I write you again my best friend; although I have nothing from you, since your Letter from Amsterdam; to inform you of the arrival of Mr Harris; he left London the 24 of June, and sailed from Harwich the 26, and reached this City on Sunday Morning at 4 o’clock; a journey of 20 days. He looks fat and well, and is very sanguine as it regards our affairs. The Emperor it is said is at Pawloski,...
Your No 21 and 22 were recieved by me as usual last Saturday, or rather Sunday morning, as it was so late at night they could not send them to me. I was particularly anxious to have them as Mr. H had been to me with a load of bad news, stating that the Mission was broken up, and that all prospect of a Peace was entirely at an end &.. &ca. The fact is however ascertained that the Ministers had...
Yesterday my best friend I had the heartfelt satisfaction of hearing of your safe arrival at Stockolm, for which I began to be very anxious. thank God that you have so happily escaped all the perils and dangers which threaten’d you, and that you are no longer exposed to them. you cannot concieve the joyful agitation into which your letter threw Charles, he was perfectly wild with impatience,...
Your kind Letters have remained unanswered much longer than I intended owing to the constant employment Mr. Adams found me having no Secretary and the trouble attending the search for a house which we have at length procured at a Village called Ealing, about seven miles from London; the situation is beautiful, the House comfortable, and the distance from the great City supportable, added to...
Having recieved your very affectionate letter of the 12 August No. 26 this morning I hasten to answer it although I know the Post will not leave this place untill Wednesday. I am very sorry that a foolish jest in my letter should have made you so serious; the manner in which you have answer’d it, has indeed proved to me that your spirits are but little better than they were, and that I have...
Your No 28 was deliver’d to me yesterday morning. Your fears of bad news from America in the autumn fill me with alarm, and I open all your letters with trembling, lest I should find some horrid circumstance relating to our families, or friends. that Proclamation of Cochran’s is always present to my imagination, and the consequences which may result from it, that I turn from it shuddering. You...
I much fear you will accuse me of negligence in having omitted writing to you by the two last Posts you must make some allowances for the retirement in which I live and my being at the best a very poor Scribe to account for the great difficulty I find in spinning out a letter even to you and I am sure I can with much more reason boast of, “bestowing all my tediousness upon you. ” I have been...
Within a few days I have received your two very kind letters of April and am sincerely grieved to find your health still continues so poorly the fine season will I still flatter myself restore you to your wonted strength and entirely relieve you from your present complaints. In my last I mentioned to you, that I expected to attend at the Royal Nuptials which took place on the second of May—We...
I did not mean to offend you, in what I wrote you concerning the information you gave. but I was so much watched , every word I utter’d appear’d to be made of so much importance, I was in a continual fever, lest some foolish observation should give rise to doubts of my discretion; added to which our good Friend the Chargé under pretence of receiving the same news, used to pump me very hard,...
100From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
Owing to the unfortunate detention of your last letter (that is to say No 2) I lost the opportunity of writing to you at Revel and I fear you charged me with at least unkindness. the letter which I wrote you two days after your departures appears to have been mislaid as you have made no mention of it and I addressed the others to Gottenburg and Stockolm where I hope you will find at least one...