John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 19 August 1804
John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams
Quincy 19. August 1804.
My dearest friend.
It is almost a fortnight since I received a line from you; and you have heretofore been so invariably punctual in writing me at least once a week, that for some days I have felt not a little concern lest this interruption of correspondence should have been occasioned by illness either of yourself or of the children—1 I encourage hopes however as much as possible, and discard as far as within my power the apprehensions which I cannot altogether suppress.
My own health continues as good as usual; the weather has been generally cool the greatest part of the Summer, and this part of the Country has been bless’d with remarkable healthiness.
I have been into Boston only once since I wrote you last; and that was on Wednesday, to attend the funeral of Dr: Howard, the father of the Gentleman whom you know.—2 I had flattered myself with the expectation of finding a letter from you at the Post-Office; but was disappointed.
We have occasionally had company here in constant and uninterrupted succession through the whole Summer. Mr: Otis’s and Mr: Smith’s eldest daughters are now here—3 Mrs: Beale is just recovering from a severe and dangerous illness— Shaw is still here; recovered entirely from his rhumatism, but left with symptoms in the breast & side, which have hitherto prevented his return to Boston— My dear Mother has had her health uncommonly, untill within these three days; but is now much indisposed.
The Citizen and his princess are gone from Boston; while on their visit there they were entertained with a Ball at Dorchester, at which the walse was danced; and sundry other incidents occurr’d, which are the subject of conversation.—4
The duel yet furnishes matter of controversy at New-York, and of numerous publications, true or false— A writer has appeared with the profess’d design of vindicating Mr: Burr; but after publishing three numbers, under allegation of numerous avocations has ceased in the newspapers, and promises a pamphlet. On the other hand to increase the odium against Burr, Cheetham has made a long story, about silk’s being proof against pistol ball’s, and Burr’s writing to a taylor for a silk Coat, in which he killed his adversary &c— Meantime, Eulogies Orations, and Crepe for the deceased, drop like hail, and spread like weeds—5 All which I take to be Much Ado about Nothing.
Ever affectionately your’s.
RC (Adams Papers).
1. The last letter from LCA received by JQA was that of 31 July, for which see JQA to LCA, 26 Aug., and note 1, below. JQA acknowledged it in his most recent letter to LCA, of 12 Aug., where he voiced his concern for their children and approval of LCA’s parenting. He also reported Jerome and Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte’s departure from Boston and the bounty of fruit in the orchard (Adams Papers).
2. Rev. Simeon Howard, pastor of Boston’s West Church and father of Boston physician John Clarke Howard, died on 13 August. Members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences formed part of the 15 Aug. funeral procession, with JA and JQA in attendance (vols. 7:466, 11:497, 13:200; Boston Repertory, 14 Aug.; Boston Columbian Centinel, 15, 18 Aug.; D/JQA/27, 14, 15 Aug., APM Reel 30).
3. See JQA to LCA, 26 Aug., and note 2, below.
4. The Bonapartes visited Boston from 28 July to 9 August. During their stay they were guests at a 3 Aug. annual gathering on Deer Island in Boston Harbor hosted by the city’s selectmen, also attended by Rufus King, Christopher Gore, “and many distinguished Federal and State Officers” (Boston Repertory, 31 July; New-England Palladium, 7 Aug.; Boston Columbian Centinel, 11 Aug.).
5. The New York Morning Chronicle, 6, 8, and 11 Aug., published a defense of Aaron Burr by Vindex, a pseudonym of William Peter Van Ness. In the first piece Van Ness noted that “the most malignant and unwearied efforts” were “daily employed” to “blacken” Burr’s character and “jeopardize his life.” The second installment charged Alexander Hamilton with spreading “written and parole expressions, injurious to the honor of Col. Burr,” and the third stated that Vindex was unable to continue “with the promptness required by news paper discussion.”
James Cheetham published an article in the New York American Citizen, 7 Aug., vilifying Burr and contending that because recent press reports had purported that “no ball” shot from a pistol would “penetrate a body clothed with a silk garment,” Burr requested a silk coat from his tailor and wore it during the duel (Ryan Chamberlain, Pistols, Politics and the Press: Dueling in 19th Century American Journalism, Jefferson, N.C., 2009, p. 37). For the roles of Van Ness and Cheetham in earlier writings about Burr, see TBA to William Smith Shaw, 13 June 1802, and note 4, and AA to JQA, 23 Jan. 1804, and note 4, both above.