61To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 31 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The extreeme distress of mind under which Mr Adams labours in consequence of our dear Mother’s distressing illness, totally incapacitates him from writing to you on the subject which excites in us both the most painful anxiety—. Most readily will I set out to Boston if in any shape I can afford assistance, and I should delight in giving every testimony of dutiful affection and respect to our...
62From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 31 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The state of cruel anxiety in which we remain on account of your Grandmamma’s illness has occasioned my not writing to you as punctually as I otherwise should have done and I now do not feel in spirits to say more than that both your father and myself are greatly pleased at your affectionate attention in writing so frequently. I thank you for your translations which your father says are better...
Expecting constantly to hear from you my dear Harriet I have felt involuntarily inclined to procrastinate every effort to write on a subject which has filled all our hearts with the keenest sorrow—How can we sufficiently thank you for all your kind attention? My poor boys will have still to call on you for that kindness you have always chosen shewn them and which now will be doubly desirable...
64From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 8 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
Your sudden silence after the affectionate and unremitted attention you shewed during your dear Grandmothers illness and the total want of information since on the subject of the family in general has occasioned both your father and myself much uneasiness and we are counting the mails every day to meet fresh disappointment Your Fathers Messenger has just been and I flew down in the hope of...
What have you been doing? where has your reason flown? while your poor Grandmother was yet warm in her grave; while your own mother whose all of happiness in this world depends upon the good conduct of her children was confined to her bed with a fever, what were you doing? following the foolish example of a set of wild and unruly young men whom you had not fortitude to condemn tho’ you must...
66From John Quincy Adams to Henry Coolman, 18 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
Will Mr Coleman do Mr and Mrs Adams the favour of coming and dining with them, this day at five O’Clock—of if engaged this day, to-morrow? NNGL .
I yesterday received your kind Letter in which you so feelingly lament the loss of Mrs. Adams—The loss to her family is irreparable and like yourself there is nothing I dislike so much as common public newspaper puffs which blazon virtues to the multitude who feel and respect them as little as if they never had existed and by whom they are no sooner read than forgotten—Hers were excellencies...
Your father wrote you a Letter yesterday in which he desires you to remain with your Grandfather to which I readily consented although with a pang which has absolutely made me sick such delight had I in the anticipation of your visit—My duties as it regards my children have always by some circumstance or other been rendered particularly painful and the sacrifices required have been almost...
69To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams yesterday received a Letter from you in which you are so kind as to send me a permission to write you confidentially as I used to do the last winter—Nothing but the fear of appearing obtrusive could have prevented my writing you sooner, and having obtained the permission to pursue the old form I will continue my journal writing according to the feelings of the moment; soliciting at...
70To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 10 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
December 10 Recieved a charming visit from Mr. Bagot, who sat with me an hour and chatted very agreably. Not a word about Mrs. Hay—who is giving rise to a great deal of conversation about rank and station—She has assumed a tone with the Corps Diplomatique, which places them and herself in the most unpleasant disposition situation—I have been worried with enquiries about it, but have hitherto...
I scarcly know how to apologize for my remissness in not writing to you sooner but did you know how I am teazed you would excuse most readily any apparent negligence and always assign some sufficient excuse for it Congress is come back and with it all the stormy passions jealousies and petty enmities which are so widely spread against those who either by talents or circumstances have risen to...
72To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 17 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
17th So very cold remained at home all day and saw no one 18 The day still severely cold but was persuaded to go and drink Tea with Mrs. Frye but did not bring home Mary Buchanan fearful lest she might take cold on changing her bed in such weather—Parties tolerably violent on General Jackson’s affairs— 19 Dined at the french Ministers—Dinner and Ball in honor of the Dutchess of Angoulemes...
As I hear there has been a great fall of snow during the last week or two in Boston I suppose you have seen many of those booby huts which you wrote me about last winter and perhaps have rode in one—I am not fond of them for they are apt to make me sea sick and should like much better to have a pretty Russian Traineau— As it is also the season for skating I must renew my cautions both to John...
74From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 22 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received your Letter of the 15 instt. and really can scarcely find an excuse for my long silence both to you and to Charles whose Letters afford me so much real pleasure—The Legacy of the picture must be very delightful to you, both as a proof of your Grandmothers kind and affectionate remembrance, and as a very good likeness of a father whose extreme tenderness and indulgence to...
75To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 25 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
25 This being Xmas day received visits as usual from Mr. & Madame de Neuville—As I have just received your Letter my Dear Sir, though an answer to it is rather premature in this place, I must say a few words on the subject of Foreign Ministers; and though t it is impossible for me to deny what you observe regarding them, respect for the family into which I have entered, will not permit me to...
76To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 2 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
I must begin this Sheet by observing that I have touched rather more largely upon political occurrences than is perhaps prudent considering how little I understand the subject—But the wish to amuse and interest you must be my apology and if the sentiments expressed are erronious they can do no mischiefs as they have no weight in themselves and can never be considered any thing more than the...
77From John Quincy Adams to Barnard,, 4 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
Mr. and Mrs. Adams request the Honor of Capt Barnard’s Company at Dinner on Monday the 4h of January at 5 o’Clock The Favor of an Answer is requested. MHi : Adams Papers.
You Letter was brought two days since, and I should have received it with the same pleasure your Letters have always given me, had I not perceived a great falling off in the hand writing, which surprized and grieved me a little; as I had always flattered myself that with due attention and constant practice, you would write a very handsome hand and with great facility—do not my dear child by a...
Accept my sincere thanks for your very kind Letter, and your still more kind wishes on the return of the Season of congratulation, which are reciprocated by us all with the utmost pleasure—Many, many years of unmixed felicity I trust are yet in store for you, to be enjoyed in the bosom of your family—I am sorry my Sister has been so long unwell; but these colds attended with Sore Throats have...
80To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 8 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
8th. The morning very stormy and a heavy fall of snow sent to decline an invitation to a Ball given by the Officers of the Marine Corps at the Barracks—Went to the Presidents to dine and finding the weather quite clear sent word to Miss Buchanan to make ready to accompany us to the Ball notwithstanding our Apology—The company were nearly all assembled when we arrived—The Vice President and...
I yesterday received your Letter of the 1st Jany. and cannot account for the length of time it appears to have been written, before I received it; more especially as it contained news to me very afflicting concerning your Brother Charles’s health, from whom, or of whom I have not since heard. I am very anxious on his account as well as on yours, and request you to be particularly careful of...
82To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
15 February January —Waked so ill with cramps in my Stomach as to be unable to rise and continued so all day and towards evening was obliged to send for the Doctor who gave me opium the only thing which could afford me relief— 16 Rose much better though still suffering from a stricture across the breast—Remained at home receiving visits until three o’clock—Mr Bailey and Mr. Forbes passed the...
83To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 22 January 1819 (Adams Papers)
Jany. 22 Still in bed not allowed to rise in consequence of the faint turn’s which still harrass my frame—The Dr made an attempt to bleed me, but the blood would not flow—and after opening two veins he abandoned the attempt—grew better towards noon—Col Johnson concluded his speech—Mrs. Smith passed the day with me and nursed me most affectionately—Mr Adams went to a Ball at Mr Pleasanton’s...
84To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Feby 1. Continued very ill but having company at Dinner made an effort to struggle against my indisposition with a view to receive my expected guest’s—It was however and at four o’clock having gone through the labour of receiving many morning visitors I was under the necessity of retiring to my chamber—She was unusually gay and excellent and all the company sociable and merry—The party...
I was delighted with your Letter and was only sorry you did not mention your health, which I understand has been very indifferent, and which causes me the most serious anxiety: write me I entreat you and beg your good friend Harriet, to write me what your complaint has been, and if you have any cough, I wish you to take the yolk of a new laid egg alone in a spoon every morning when you first...
86To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 11 February 1819 to 26 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Feby 11 Mr Bailey called this morning and informed us that Mr Pinckney was to speak at the Supreme Court and if we felt inclined he would accompany us—We accordingly accepted and went to Court which was just opened and Mr Pinckney rose—His oratory is formed in the modern theatrical school, and consists chiefly of whispered breathings almost inarticulate, and immediate transitions to burst’s of...
87To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 13 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Feby 13—A very bad cold—The day very stormy which prevented my going out—Mr. Bailey passed the evening with us—The question on Genl. Jackson’s affairs appears to be given up in the Senate—The popular opinion is too favourable—and though the Gentleman from Georgia who is to take the lead, might have found it useful in procuring the attention of the Ministry in the Country which he is about to...
In the midst of bustle and preparation for a small party of 400 and some person’s I cannot refrain from writing you a few lines in answer to your most soothing Letter which has entirely quieted all my anxious apprehensions as such kind care and attention can leave me no room for uneasiness— Our campaigne is almost terminated and it is really time; or we should all sink under the fatigue and...
89To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 18 February 1819 (Adams Papers)
Feby. 18th The Evening brought my expected guests or rather a small part of them and on the whole the party appeared to enjoy themselves tolerably well—The night was fearfully cold and my company left me early on account of the complaints of the Coach men who refusd to wait for them—We are drawing near a conclusion and I certainly shall not regret it—Some Music and some dancing— 19 Went out...
I have just received your little and your big Letter, and return you many thanks for both, which gave me infinite pleasure—As I am not at the head of so large a literary Institution as Mr. Shaw, I am not so fastidious in my taste; and find your production very good, considering the circumstances under which it was written: and I have no doubt, that altho’ it was full of defects as to the...