61John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you a letter from my wife, who would have written you earlier but that George has been very ill with a fever, for several days— He is however, thank God now recovered. I have not written to you so often myself as I ought to have done, the only reason for which has been the ardour with which I have thoughtlessly thrown myself into the vortex of public business— The only object or use...
62John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 16 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received last evening with much pleasure your favour of the 5 th: inst t: — I had been so long without any intelligence from home that I began to be uneasy— And even now, I cannot but wish you had said something about the family at Quincy— I believe it is more than a month since I have heard from thence, at-all— I am anxious particularly to know the state of health of my dear mother. I am...
63John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 December 1803 (Adams Papers)
I received two days ago your kind favour of the 3 d: inst t: and it was very precious as containing information of your health, and that of my father, and friends at Quincy.— I have been and am sensible of the inconvenience there would be in any free interchange of political sentiments upon the passing events, by a correspondence which must pass through the channel of the Post-Office— I...
64John Quincy Adams to William Stephens Smith, 2 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I find by the newspapers that a Commission of bankruptcy has issued against Robert Bird, and as it is impossible for me to attend personally before the Commissioners to make proof of my debt, and demand my claim, I take the liberty of inclosing them to you, with an earnest request that you would present them for me, at the next meeting of the Commissioners which I think is to be on the 10 th:...
65John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
The Louisiana revenue bill (of which I sent you some time since a copy) has this day pass’d the third reading in the Senate— But with various amendments so that it must go back to the House of Representatives, where it will probably pass on Monday— The first section has been altered in point of form, and made as I conceive more vague and uncertain than it was at first— In thirty-five days from...
66John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 17 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I inclose you together with the last sheet of the Journals of the House of Representatives, a Report from the Secretary of the Treasury, shewing the receipts and expenditures, upon the Seamen’s fund— You will see from this how much is collected in New-England, and how much expended elsewhere— Look particularly at the port of Norfolk. The Louisiana Government bill goes on prospering and to...
67John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 22 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I do not take the Washington Federalist; and it is now in general so poorly conducted as hardly to be worth sending you if I did— But I sent you some time since one of its numbers, and will send you others if they should contain any thing interesting to the fire-side. I can also inclose to you the Intelligencer which contains a pretty good report of the debates in the House— Those in the...
68John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of the 10 th: inst t: came to hand last evening— And I would take this opportunity to request that all letters for me from Quincy, may be put in to the post-office there; without waiting to send them to Boston— I shall thus get them sooner— My own letters too I hope go directly to Quincy.— My brother I imagine will be satisfied with the frequency of my writing or inclosing...
69John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
We have this day a sort of Holiday, to rejoyce for the acquisition of our new Territories— The Members of Congress of both Houses are to dine together— [The] federalists who opposed the cession however do not join in the party— Those of us who approved the measure, are to be of the feast—where we at least shall find not much congeniality. You will find in the inclosed papers numerous and very...
70John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 30 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
I send this day a packet, to your father containing the Journals and other publications of the day; with an Intelligencer, containing the account of our festival on Friday last.— That is to say, of the dinner— To morrow evening there is to be a Ball for the same purpose. One of the toasts drank at the feasts was “ An Union of Parties ,” which is like drinking the Millennium— I suppose they...
71John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 31 January 1804 (Adams Papers)
This prohibition of the admission of slaves into Louisiana, is like the drawing of a jaw tooth. We have expedient after expedient introduced to answer this purpose— Breckenridge has at last concentrated all his wisdom on the subject in the Amendment, which I now inclose you.— This is a tolerably good device to reconcile the two parties of slave and anti-slave, into which the majority are...
72John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 18 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
The Louisiana Government bill has this day pass’d, yeas 20. Nays 5.— It now goes to the House of Representatives, where we shall see what will be done with it.— On the final question this day taken I alone spoke against it, and was answered only by one member— He saw no Constitutional objection—because the clause authorizing Congress to make needful rules and regulations for the territory, and...
73John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 February 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received last Evening yours of the 11 th: inst t: — You cannot employ your leisure more charitably , than in writing me these long letters— They give me some of the sweetest of my enjoyments, and comfort me amidst the thorns and briars of the path I am travelling. I shall endeavour to complete your set of the journals; but I am not sure that I can get spare sheets of all the numbers you...
74John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
A few days since, I received your kind favour of 25. ult o: and am greatly rejoyced at the restoration of your health— But I have delayed answering it hitherto, because as the Session draws to a close, we find ourselves more driven for want of time; in addition to which we have had the extraordinary business of trying an impeachment, and I have been in trouble with illness in the family— Both...
75John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 15 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
You will see by the folio sheet I inclose to you, that the House of Representatives have not yet done with the Government of Louisiana.— The fourth Section is the only one in which there seems much difficulty to the Legislators of the day— Many attempts were made to vary that here, and they are renewed in the House— They sport with Louisiana, as a Cat sports with a mouse— But to help our...
76John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 20 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
A letter is now reading from Captain Bainbridge, with an account of the loss of the frigate Philadelphia, wreck’d on rocks on the coast of Tripoli—the last week in October— They were in pursuit of a Tripolitan Cruizer, and struck on rocks, not laid down in any Chart they had on board — Captain Bainbridge and 307 men, are prisoners in Tripoli.— I have already seen an account of this misfortune...
77John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 24 March 1804 (Adams Papers)
An attempt was made this morning to postpone the adjournment for two days—from the 26 th: (Monday next) to Wednesday the 28 th: — The motion however was rejected.— Next came a motion to meet tomorrow. yeas 3. nays about 20.— The motion to protract, will probably be renewed on Monday; but I believe without success. A bill has pass’d the Senate, the object of which is to abandon the further...
78John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 9 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your letter of the 4 th: inst t: which gave me pleasure as containing the information of the children’s health; and sorrow by that of your own indisposition— The remainder of the letter was equally painful and unexpected to me— Our separation was very much against my inclination; but it was your own choice, and it has been my unvaried principle, and I hope will always...
79John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 24 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days ago your kind favour of the 10 th: inst t: with the letter that accompanied, and thank you for the care of it— I lament to hear that your health continued so feeble and infirm, but I hope as the Spring advances, you will find yourself better— I approve much of your intention to wean John, and rejoyce at the information that he has recovered. I have been into Boston only...
80John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 2 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
I was two days last week at Dedham, where there was a Court sitting, at which I had something to do— On Friday evening I received your letter of the 17 th: of last Month— Yesterday, being at Boston I found your’s of the 24 th: and rejoyce to hear of your all being so well— They ought not to have charged you with postage for my last Letter— However, 20 Cents is not worth disputing with them. M...
81John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 20 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have received, my best friend, your kind and truly affectionate letter of the 12 th: or rather 6 th: inst t: on which I find some of George’s taste for literature, as I presume by the scratches I take to be his hand-writing. It is not improbable but that my Spirits have been some few degrees below the point of temperate warmth, and that my letters may have betrayed some marks of it— Yet my...
82John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 25 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
I should have answered your kind letter of the 13 th. a day or two sooner, but for company which has fallen in, and call’d me away just at the time I devoted to the purpose of writing— M r: & M rs: Greenleaf of Cambridge, Charlotte Welsh, and her brother William, who has just returned from India, and M r: Isaac Smith, and his Sister, who are here at this time— And yesterday, a tea-party of...
83John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 31 May 1804 (Adams Papers)
This morning I received your kind favour of the 20 th — And am delighted to hear that you and the children are so well— M rs: Hellen’s indisposition, I hope will prove only to be “the pleasing punishment that women bear”— I wish we could have here a little of that superfluity of rain which fell just before you wrote me; as it would bring forward my garden stuff as we call it.— You have no...
84John Quincy Adams to William Smith Shaw, 2 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
I enclose an order for $110. which I will thank you to present, and if accepted, receive the money— This together with the rent you have received of M r: Dexter, will pay the assessm t: due on my Bridge-Shares, and leave a Balance— I will thank you to pay the Assessm t: to M r: Foster, and take the rec t: — Please to send me word whether you have advertised the rooms in Whitcomb’s House and if...
85John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 9 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have now received your favour of the 29 th: of last month, enclosing a letter from your Mamma, for M r: Murdoch, which I shall take care to forward, by the first vessel that will go from Boston to England.— You had been so long without an attack of the spasms, that I had flattered my self, they had taken their final leave— I grieve to hear of their return— Perhaps it may only be in...
86John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 17 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday my mother went to Boston, and in the Evening brought out M rs: Foster with her two children, one of whom is unwell, and requires the benefit of a little rural air— But what was of more immediate consequence to myself, was your letter of the 6 th: inst t: which my mother also brought out, the profiles and all. One of your profiles is much more like than the other; and that of course I...
87John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 23 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
The Sun is just making his appearance for the first time these five days, during which we have had a cold North-East Storm, and almost continual rains— In the midst of this gloom, which has confined us closely to the house, I received your letter of the 10 th: with the account of our dear child’s illness— It has distress’d me much; and though I hope it is only the previous indisposition to the...
88John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 1 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
On Thursday, I went into Boston, for the first time this month past, and there received at once your two letters of 14 th: and 20 th: of June. They alleviated in part, and only in part the heavy anxiety which has weighed on my Spirits for the health of the dear child— I hope the fine weather has return’d with you, so that you have been able to give him the benefit of the air and exercise— I...
89John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 19 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
My visit to Boston yesterday, was equally successful with those I had made several times before; for I found there your’s of the 9 th: enclosing the profiles— I rejoyce to hear that your tour to Bladensburg has been of service to the health of the children— And I hope your visit to your aunt will prove equally so to them, and to yourself. I sincerely sympathise with poor Pichon and his wife,...
90John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 28 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
The delays in the receipt of my letters, of which you complain are occasioned some times by a delay in sending them to the Post-Office, and sometimes must be accounted for by the Post-Office itself— I have often times suffered the same impatience to hear from you, and last evening after having been nearly a fortnight without a line from you, received together your kind letters of the 13 th:...