Yesterday passed without any material change—Mrs. Harrison called and Major Jackson and in the afternoon Mr. & Mrs. Walsh but I did not see them—They have just returned from Baltimore—Doctor Physick informed me that he hoped my brothers health would be firmly re-established in the course of a short time—I think it probable however he will operate once more— This morning I ventured down stairs...
392From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
August 7 After closing my journal I received your very affectionate Letter N 11 containing another order on the Bank. I cannot express the feelings of gratitude which swell my heart with unutterable thankfulness for your kindness to my Brother; who went through a slight operation without any great appearance of suffering—The worst part of the business is that it must be repeated four or five...
393From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
August 9 The Boston papers announce the death of one of our Grandees James Perkins—I think I recollect him many years ago; but I am not sure that I was acquainted with him. Was he not brother to S. H. Perkins? They tell a ridiculous story here about Mrs. S. Perkins She came to consult Dr Physick concerning a desease to which she is subject in her throat, and which will finally destroy her—When...
Mr Sergeant sent me your Letter yesterday morning and I thank you for the pleasant information it contained concerning the health of all at home—I wish I could give you the same assurance concerning my little party but the Coachman is still very ill and Elizabeth is also quite unwell. George is on the whole better but occasionally much indisposed and subject to faintness—Mary and I do better...
395From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
July 15th. Mr Sergeant called and talked of Paris in such exstacies, that my old suspicion returned as it regards a foreign Mission—Ewing told me that Mr. Calhoun was gone to Newport—We heard he was not going—rode out on the Ridge road which is lined with beautiful Country seats one of which Sergeant has hired for the Summer. He seems desirous of purchasing it as he say’s Country Seats are dog...
Mr & Mrs. Bache Mrs. Dallas, and Mr U S. Capt Biddle called but I did not see them—Your letter was brought me, and you need not fear my leaving it about; as I am in the habit of filing and locking up my letters immediately after reading them—it is true that there are great machinations against you at this time going forward; and that they must and will continue as the time draws nearer which...
397From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 10 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
August 10. Mr. Joanoff and Baron Maltitz and Mr & Mrs. Pederson and Mrs. Markoe called—I had gone out to visit Mrs. Lowndes who I understood had arrived; but I found that Mr. Lowndes had come alone to consult Physicians—He came down to see me, and I was shocked at his appearance—if the Doctors even set him on his legs again, they will have performed a miracle—I also called on General Brown who...
16 Sept Finding myself very weak after my tedious confinement to my chamber I determined to accept the invitation of Mrs. Hopkinson, and took my passage in the Steam Boat accompanied by Mary—The day was fine but contrary to our usual good fortune, we found no one with whom to have a chat, excepting an old Quaker Lady; who was on her travels for the first time in her life; and full of terrors,...
399From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
Johnson arrived last Eveng. and brought me your very kind Letter my best friend and I am truly grieved to learn that you were so anxious; more especially as I did not write until I arrived at this place, in consequence of having omitted to bring some paper for that purpose—As the Stage only goes three times a week, I took the earliest opportunity after taking possession of our appartments to...
400From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
June 24 I closed a sheet last Eveng. to send you and was quite low spirited at not hearing from you or John—This Morning Mary and myself were gratified by the receipt of your packet which gave us an excellent appetite for breakfast and contributed largely to her recovery—I hope George will acquit himself handsomely on the fourth as I am sure it would gratify his Grand father very much—I am...
401From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
The last budget from Europe was indeed a fruitful one according to Walsh’s paper—They appear to suffer every horror beginning with Fires, Plagues, Pestilence, Famine, Massacre’s, civil War, and tremendous Storms—All these are to be found in the different news—We have also a slight share of calamity, as the Country fever is said to rage again, and New York is violently afflicted by the Yellow...
402From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
By some thoughtlessness I dated my journal wrong the last time I wrote, and only anticipated my congratulations on the anniversary of Charles’s birth—My Brother is not so well to day, and suffers much from the heat. Indeed the changes are so frequent, and so great, in his complaint, that I vibrate incessantly between hope and despair—The Doctor is thought infallible and when his opinion is...
403From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 24 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
July 24 We passed the Eveng at Mrs. Fishers where we met a small party consisting of Mrs. Harrisson, pretty Mrs. Morris, a Mr. Gardner just from Liverpool; Mr. Morris, Mr Gilpin, and Dr. Chapman—The eveng passed in social chat in the course of which I made some grand errors, about the Feudal system which I am very little acquainted with; but concerning which the young Gentleman with whom I...
24 Sept We dined at the Counts and while walking in the garden he told me an excellent anecdote of a beautiful Quaker Lady who had paid him a visit—During their promenade in the Garden they came to the figures of Cupid and Psyche who are represented looking tenderly at each other. She turned to him with great naiveté and said, “had she been so situated” she would not have remained long in that...
405From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
July 26 It is this day four and twenty years since we came together, in which time much of bad and good has fallen to our lot: but take it all in all we have probably done as well as our Neighbours, and have been as much blessed as mortals usually are who cannot pretend to any extraordinary degree of perfection—I yet hope that many years are in store for you whatever may befal myself, and that...
406From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
Having arrived safely without any “hair breadth scapes” to relate, I have little or nothing to say, but, that we are well, that the Horses were very much frighten’d at their trip in the Steam boat, and that Dash is the admiration of every one; so much so that Joseph is very apprehensive we shall have him stolen— In Baltimore it is said that there is little or no fever—we remained there but an...
407From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 July 1821 (Adams Papers)
As Mary is much better to day I hasten to write you that the Letter of yesterday may not create unnecessary anxiety—After taking an Emetic she was so much relieved I found it useless to send for a Physician and had resolution sufficient to starve her notwithstanding her freting which produced the best possible effects—This morning the alarming hoarseness with the fever have entirely...
408From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
22 Notwithstanding I have just closed a sheet I shall continue to write, as I know however trifling my subject; you will be pleased to see that I am sufficiently recovered to be amused or interested by the little occurences which pass around me— Yesterday was a day of incessant rain and we were shut up in the House the whole day of course obliged to seek amusement in whatever shape it might...
409From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 August 1826 (Adams Papers)
I was so much hurried when I wrote to you from New York that I am afraid you could scarcely read the scrawl—We left that City yesterday Morning and arrived here at about seven o clock last Evening—Mrs de Wint is much better than she has been and I find her looking very well— In consequence of Mr Kings having enclosed your Letters to me under cover to yourself at New York I have been much...
410From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
July 27 I did not see the account you speak of in the Vermont paper, but your joke was not lost although it is un pen lest—.The young Ladies perhaps would have no objection as times go. Female modesty is certainly not the order of the day in this or any other Country, that I am acquainted with—We were invited to take Tea with Mrs. Fisher last Eveng. but my brother was so desponding we declined...
411From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 June 1822 (Adams Papers)
We have moved into our new lodgings and are very comfortably established with a kind old Lady who is very attentive and obliging—I should have answered Georges Letter yesterday but was confined all day by one of my worst head aches, the remains of which will prevent my writing to him to day— Our residence is at Mrs. Purdon’s 62 South 6th. Street between Chesnut and Walnut directly opposite the...
412From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 29 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
29th June—The Eveng was very dull and Mr Crane though in all probability a very good man has not the talent of conversation; or rather of that kind of talk which animates and amuses—Johnson is evidently much better but still thinks himself very bad—His complaints are half of them imaginary in consequence of living too much alone— 31 I believe I have gone back a day as I think I mentioned the...
413From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 1 July 1822 (Adams Papers)
Is Hugh Nelson going to Mexico? What is to become of Genl S.—? Nobody suits here but Poinsett—Surely this must be Back Stairs—I know you will not answer one of these questions but God Bless you. MHi : Adams Papers.
414From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
22 It every hour threatens rain but no rain falls. Mr H— says his Corn Crops will be very fine but it is only a small part of New Jersey that has not suffered—It is three weeks since my brother has been out of the House, and I cannot prevail on him to stir abroad—Indeed it requires no trifling exertion to get him out of his room—The novelty of seeing his friends has worn off, and he is again...
415From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 August 1822 (Adams Papers)
August 25 Went to the Presbyterian Church with Miss Pardon ; and heard a tolerable discourse from 12 Chapter of Paul to the Romans. Mr. Arbuckle is a very inanimate cold Preacher, and his style remarkably plain, and his language almost coarse considering the general refinement of modern language—He told us that Satan was the master of all knowledge; but that he knew nothing of love! That was a...
416From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 October 1822 (Adams Papers)
When I closed my last sheet I expected to be laid up again but Dr. Physick has decided that it is unnecessary at present and I am still at large. He has however determined to operate on my brother again tomorrow morning which will delay our return untill the middle of the week. I went out and returned several visits and afterwards took a family dinner at Walsh’s where I met de Menou Mr. Allen...
417From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
This day has brought me an invitation in form to attend at the Capitol tomorrow to witness the ceremonies and I am told that I must go—I shall therefore attend and all the members of the family will attend with me— Mr. Wirt declines the uniting the two characters in the Oration on the plea of not having known your father personally and his Patrick Henry having proved a failure from the same...
418From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday sat down to answer your last Letter, and wrote two, neither of which I have sent, as the nature of my feelings were was such that their expression could not have been agreeable—Altho’ still under it unpleasant impressions, and knowing that neither my opinions or feelings will ought avail, I consider myself in duty bound to write, lest you should misinterpret my silence and deem it...
419From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 June 1822 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hopkinson came yesterday to see me and in the evening accompanied me to the Academy of Arts which is prettily arranged as you already know but it is said to be better this year than common—There are two Salvator Rosa’s belonging to Count Survilier that are very fine an excellent likeness of Poleteca one of Mr Calhoun and a striking likeness of Mrs. Bloomfield which is really a beautiful...
420From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 July 1824 (Adams Papers)
Mr Crane brought me your Letter last Eveng from Bedford but although I was rejoiced to receive it I fancied either that you were not well or that your spirits were not so good as usual—I hope I was mistaken or that it was only a momentary depression occasioned by the heat— John writes that you have been unusually harrassed by business and I am glad to learn that the President is gone as I hope...