121From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
How shall I express my thanks my best beloved friend for you very kind attention. No 8 was put into my hand on my arrival in Town where I went to carry Charles to School he wrote you a long letter yesterday which I shall enclose in this and was very desirous of completing it without mistakes but it was more than he could perform and he was considerably mortified at not having accomplished the...
122From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
123From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
124From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 6 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
125From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Still no Letter from you mon Ami! I can scarcely account for this, as Mr Hall wrote me, that you had had very fine winds, for six days after your departure, from Gottenburg. I wait impatiently for tomorrow, in the hope that the Post of to day, may have brought me a few lines, at least to announce your safe arrival. the irrisistable desire I feel to offer you my sincere congratulations on your...
126From Charles Francis Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Mama presented me your kind Letter of the 20th. of June, No 2, which I read with great pleasure, particularly that part of it which tells of the dress, of the Boys and Girls; in Holland. I laughed very much at the large breeches, and Umbrella petticoats, and wished very much I could be with you, to see all these droll things. I have come home for a Vacation of three weeks, but Mr Fishwick has...
127From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
The heartfelt delight I experienced at the reception of your last favour No. 11 is not to be expressed. there is always a sort of heavy anxiety attending the knowledge of our friends being at Sea, that neither reason or Wisdom can entirely subdue, and the news of a safe arrival, produces feelings of Joy, and gratitude, which is difficult to describe. how keen these feelings must be, when the...
128From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
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,...
129From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your two last No 12 & 13 were delivered to me at the same time I presume the first had been detained at the Post Office and closely inspected and even the second was also examined but not detain’d As to Day was our Wedding day and the day on which the Emperor’s return to us Capital was celebrated I went to the Te Deum and spent my morning in praying for the success of your Mission. when I...
130From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you two Letters which I received for you some time since one of which I mentioned before Mr. Smith will give them to Willink should you not be in Amsterdam and he will forward them to you the last I read and did not think worth the Postage it having already cost 5 R. 61 C. It is two o’clock in the Morning and I have just return’d from Oraniumbaum I am so tired I can scarcely hold the...
131From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your No 14 is just put into my hands and the hope it gives me of your return has come most opportunely to restore me to something like happiness my spirits were so much depressed at the parting with my Sister and her Dear Babe and the house is so dull and gloomy without them that I roam about like a spirit without knowing what to do with myself or on what to fix my attention Charles is almost...
132From 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...
133From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
134From Walter Hellen to John Quincy Adams, 6 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure to write you on the 22nd. January last, by Mr Clay; since which I have not had the honor to hear from you. Mr Boyd being about to embark with Govermental Dispatches, for the Embassy at Ghent; I cannot refrain from dropping you a line, mostly to say, how most sincerely do I pray that you may have completed, the grand work in which you have been engaged, before this can reach...
135From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
136From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
The last time I wrote you I was so excessively fatigued and it was so late that I scarcely know what my letter contained since which I have been expecting a letter from you and am much disappointed at not receiving one though I shall cease to regret it if your silence is caused by the arrival of the English Commissioners we have news to the 22d from England from which we learn that Mr...
137From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
138From Charles Francis Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
I recieved your kind Letter, of the 22 July, and was very glad you were so much pleased with my Letter. I still keep my Journal, and Copy my Letters in my Letter Book. Mama had some Cucumbers planted in her Garden, first there came green leaves, afterwards yellow Blossoms, and when the flowers dropped off, I found a number of little Cucumbers. We had also a great many Strawberries and...
139From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
140From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your two last numbers 21 and 22 came together as usual on Saturday last. I could not help smiling at your idea of the Rose bud which though very pretty I have no sort of claim to Master Charles painted it and without my knowledge slipped it into the Letter to shew you what he could do Martha was his instructress and I had nothing to do with it at all. I always doubted the fact of the Crown...
141From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
142From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
Hearing that a vessel was fitting out of Nyork to carry dispatches from government, I venture to write a few lines, altho I know not where you are, not having received a line from you of a later date than Febry last, as you will no doubt receive every information from the Secretary of State, of the situation of our Country, of the dangers which surround it, the determination of all parties to...
143From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
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...
I was so fortunate as to recieve your No 25 on Wednesday which was the day in course but as it was the first time I mention it as something extraordinary I shall certainly be very cautious as you request about your letters— I cannot help smiling at your affected difficulty about filling a sheet of Paper and were it possible that a compliment from your wife could have any value I should almost...
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...
146From Charles Francis Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 September 1814 to 6 November 1814 (Adams Papers)
I was very happy to recieve your Letter of the 12 August, which I have been waiting for with much impatience. I am sorry my writing was not good, but I hope in time I shall learn to write, with as much ease and elegance as Brother George; I will take more pains for the future. You ask me what I mean by a colour? it is a small piece of red paint used in painting Pictures. The rose-bud which you...
147From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you on the 26 of August, and sent my Letter to N york to go in a dispatch vessel. I did not at the time know of the Humiliating and disgracefull Catastrophy which had befallen the city of Washington!! nor have I language to describe my feelings at the Torpor which blinded the Government to a sense of their danger, and their defenceless situation The Capitol is destroyed, but America...
148From Abigail Smith Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 September 1814 to 25 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
upon the 26th of August; I wrote to you, and Sent my Letter to Newyork; to go in a dispatch vessel; I did not at that time know of the Humiliating, and disgracefull Catastrophy, which had befallen the City of Washington!! I have not language to describe my feelings, at the Torpor, which blinded the Government to a Sense of their danger, and their defenceless Situation. The Capitol is...
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...
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...