201From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 17 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
In the course of a week or two we propose to visit Boston and I expect to find your mind as much improved as your growth has improved your person. It has often occurred to me when writing to you on the subject of books to caution you as to the nature of the Books which you should read and to guard you against such as are licencious for such I am sorry to say and (to the disgrace of mankind...
202From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 28 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
Although your last Letter was not quite so good as I could wish the consciousness and solicitude you appear to feel of its not being worthy of you convinces me it is unnecessary to for me to make any remarks on it—excepting that I must entreat you always to accustom yourself to do every thing as well as you can, lest you should find bad habits creeping on you which will be very difficult to...
203From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 1 July 1818 (Adams Papers)
This Letter will reach you I hope on Saturday evening and present you the sincere congratulations of your Mother who is truly happy to have given birth to a Son hitherto so worthy of her fondest affection—may evry future year add to the joy which at present fills her heart and insure not only her love but every blessing of which mankind is susceptible; the respect of your fellow Citizens, and...
204From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 17 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
You tell me that the highest prize in the Lottery is only 5000 dollars therefore you have not purchased my Ticket as I wished to make an experiment of your luck I suppose you think 5000 dollars a paltry prize however I should like you to purchase me a ticket in any of the Lotteries in which you can procure one for $4 and 50 Cents, or 5 which I see advertised in all the Boston papers and beg it...
205From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 26 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
Since I received your last Letter we have been kept in a state of great anxiety who was on account of poor Mrs. Caldwell the only Sister of your Uncle Boyd who was suddenly siezed with strong convulsions without any previous suffering or apparent cause; which fell upon her brain and after eight days of great distress to her friends she expired—Leaving a husband who adored her and sir Children...
206From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 11 May 1818 (Adams Papers)
I intended answering your last Letter my dear John after I had received the acknowledgement of mine containing five dollars which I wished you to expend for me in the purchase of a Lottery ticket—As you do not mention it at all in yours of the 3d. of this Month I am apprehensive that it has not reached you in safety— I have just began reading the memoirs of Doctor Franklin published by his...
207From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 5 April 1818 (Adams Papers)
You have at last much to my satisfaction, renewed a correspondence which ought never to have been interrupted, and that in the most acceptable manner to your parents, by an assurance of future attention and regularity—The accounts we receive of your conduct are very flattering, and we receive them as an earnest of what we may hope and expect as you advance in life, to reward us for the many...
208From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 14 February 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have read the pamphlet you sent me my dear John and am much pleased to find that you begin to turn your attention to literature in any shape—I admire exceedingly the principles which actuate the society for whom this address was made, but I am afraid that their doctrines are not made for our corrupt and perishable world and that like old fairy tales they will only serve to prove to the world...
209From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 25 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
It is impossible for me to express the happiness I feel at the news which comes by so many different channels from Boston concerning you, & which has been so agreeably confirmed by yourself. the rapid improvement which is evident in your style & writing is itself a sufficient indication of the pains you are taking to cultivate your mind, and take all the benefit and advantage which your father...
210From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 17 November 1817 (Adams Papers)
You will receive a Letter from your father by the same Mail which conveys this Letter to you in answer to the one which you wrote to him last week in which I am sorry to say you assumed a tone highly improper and disrespectful—The tender affection I bear you and the ardent desire (which forms a part of my existence) that I must ever feel for your welfare has induced me frequently while in...
211From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 18 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
I am so much pleased with your last Letter of 7th. instant that I sieze the earliest of opportunity of expressing my satisfaction at the rapid progress which you have already made in you style of writing and the hand writing does you much credit and Charles’s was likewise very good His turn of thought is evidently french and he requires great care and attention to correct him from the habit of...
212From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 12 October 1817 (Adams Papers)
I was very much pleased with the writing of your Letter and only have to recommend to you now to pay some attention to your style, which is essential to a gentleman; as he must necessarily through life enter into correspondence either on business or familiar subjects in which a correct and elegant style is expected and more particularly from persons possessing great advantages of education—I...
213From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 25 September 1817 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter my dear Son was received by your father a few days since but he is so extremely busy it is impossible for him to answer it immediately—We are very sorry to observe by your Letter that you are disatisfied with your situation and I must say I think you formed an opinion before you had time to judge either of its advantages or disadvantages. You must be perfectly sensible that both...
214From 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...
215From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 12 October 1810 (Adams Papers)
I recieved your letter my dear Child only a few days since and am charmed to find that George and you are such good boys I am sure you are much obliged to Cousin Abby for your letters. and I you will soon learn to write them yourself I hope as they will afford me double pleasure George is now near ten years old and is I am sure too much of a man to play truant any more and I am sure you never...