Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 21 October 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

				N. 2.
					My dear Son.
					Washington 21. October 1823

				I received yesterday your Letter N 1. dated the 15th. instt. with its enclosure, and am much pleased with the attention you are paying to my Affairs and your own—In entering upon a new Scene of life, it is important to begin well; to commence the formation of good habits, and to form a system for the employment of time which will obviate the formation of bad ones. At your Season of life, it is indispensable that you should keep a continual watch upon yourself; and deeply concerned as I am for your welfare, I rejoice that you are furnished with the means of occupying all your time in a manner which may be either immediately or ultimately advantageous to you—Your distribution of your time is quite satisfactory to me—Your attendance at the Office should be assiduous and unremitting—The two hours of five Evenings in the week devoted to the study of Book–keeping will be time most profitably spent—The knowledge which you will acquire by it will not be of the showy, but you will find it throughout life of the most useful kind—I particularly desire you to take the lessons in that art, as was suggested by yourself to be your intention—And let me caution you against the very possible imagination which may prematurely occur to you that you have mastered it, when you really understand it imperfectly—Like the boy who told his Mother that he had come home from School, “because he had learnt out.” Do not take a half a dozen lessons and then fancy you have learnt out—I shall put you to the test.If Judge Davis and President Kirkland think it necessary, or that it may be useful to the subscription for the Astronomical professorship and Observatory, that my name should be first on the list, I will consent to it—But you will tell the judge that it would be far more agreeable to me, to see the whole subscription first raised, and that mine should be added to it—I have indulged the hope that several others would take far the lead of me in amount, and of course in place—My desire is that the thing should be done—My name shall be on the subscription list, just where those two gentlemen please to place it—they understanding it, as my earnest desire that it may be as low upon it, as will be compatible with the accomplishment of the object.I arrived here on Saturday the 11th. instt. as I proposed when I left Boston—Mr Boylston’s son took me in a Chaise or as the modern fashion is to call it a Gig, from Princeton to Providence—There I found your Mother, and we came together in the Steam–boat Fulton to New York—We landed on Thursday Morning at six O’Clock—Your uncle Johnson was at the City Hotel—I proceeded thence alone at eleven Reached Philadelphia the next Morning and my own house here in F Street, the day after—Your Mother passed one day at New–York; two or three at Bordentown, and arrived here last Friday Evening the 17th. The Carriage, with Joseph outside and Thomas Allen within, reached here the Evening before last. Mary Hellen remains yet for a short time at Mrs Hopkinson’s—Your Uncle came on with your Mother to Philadelphia, and as far as Newcastle, where he embarked in the Swan to return to New–Orleans.There has been a very sickly time here these two Months; though not much mortality among persons of your acquaintance—Barron Stackleberg is just getting about, and looks like the Shadow of a Ghost. Mr Bailey is convalescent but not yet out. Madame de Bresson after five weeks of very dangerous illness, is beginning to recover Mr Crawford continues ill at Mr Senator Barbour’s in Virginia—Mrs Crawford who has just recovered from illness herself, went yesterday accompanied by Dr. Sim, to join her Husband. He is convalescent, but has been so ill, and recovers so slowly that he will probably not be here for several weeks—The President is at Loudoun in Virginia.Mr and Mrs. Frye are well—And so are their children just at present. But little Tom has had one or two chills since I arrived—Mr Little, buried his daughter, last Sunday—From necessity or from choice he preformed the service at the grave himself, and it was an agony to see his.Coll. Henderson was married last week to Miss Cazenove; and says I am told, that he has Cause enough to be happy—The three Miss Cottringer’s are also upon the brink of Matrimony—Johnson Hellen was here, a day or two before I got back but returned to Rockville so that I did not see him.Hereafter you must expect the gossiping news from other quarters and not from me—I conclude by desiring that you would always put a cover over the Letters that you shall write to me; so that the sheet upon which your Letter is written may not be torn in breaking the Seal.Your affectionate father.

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 23 October 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					Washington 23 Octbr. 1823

				I have been so sick my Dear Charles since my arrival at home it has been altogether out of my power to write to you or to George and I now sieze the earliest opportunity that you may be convinced I can never neglect you or forget my promise of writing frequently—Washington looks very dull although it is full of strangers but it is said we are to have a very gay and crowded Winter unless parties should run so high as to make it impossible a thing not at all unlikely to happen—We have a new publication which has just made its appearance called Randolph said to be by the author of Logan and Seventy Six—It has caused a perfect tumult in Baltimore where it is said the whole edition has been purchased by two leading families who are very roughly handled in the work—I write this to you but do not wish you to mention it as you have some branches among your acquaintance at Cambridge—It is altogether the oddest thing I ever saw and I do not know what to make of it—Professor E—— will not like it very well—but it seems to be the work of a madman who has occasional lucid intervals in which he writes well—Write to me often and let me know how you go on—Edward Tayloe is going to study Law at Fredericksburg but intends to make long vacations during the Winter here—I shall write to George tomorrow—We are all well and I am as usual your devoted Mother

					L. C. A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 24 October 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

					Washington, 24 October 1823

				...I now fulfil the promise I made you at my last visit to Princeton...The communications & disclosures which you made to me on the morning of the day that I passed with you, have left a deep impression upon my mind memory The sentiments to which they gave rise, mingling with the sensation which I experienced in the near view of your Wachusett Hill during the short walk we took together fermented in my imagination till they produced the poetical effusion, which I now commit to your indulgence in reading which I must refer you to the remembrance of the Conversation which passed between us on that day.With mrs Adams’ & my best regards to mrs Boylston & remain, Dear Sir, very faithfully Yours—Wachusett Hill a Sonnet 5 October 1823To Ward Nicholas Boyston Esqr.As your tall Mountain pressing to the skiesIn solitary grandeur lifts its formPresents his dauntless summit to the storm;and Wind & Ware & Lightning blast defies;Doth not the  view reveal to Fancy’s eyesThe image of an heart with virtue warmAmid Man’s Mortal Myriads as they swarmAlone with soul that on itself relies?Aye! and when on that Mountain’s craggy sideSuccessive the chering exhalations sail;His front sublime in transient darkness hide—;Then fall in showers that fertilize the vale—Boylston! When this impressive scene I see.—My thought spontaneous turns & dwells on thee.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 25 October 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					N. 3.My dear Son.
					Washington 25. October 1823.

				I have this day received your Letter of the 20th. instt. with the copy of the lease to Joseph Baxter—The substance of the proposition of Mr. Balch is that I should give him or Mr Baxter five hundred and fifty Dollars to induce them to return my house to me—To this proposition I cannot consent—I will say now nothing of the terms upon which Mr Baxter originally obtained the lease—The rent which Mr Balch pays him is a sufficient commentary upon that—But I wish You to ask Mr Cook and to examine yourself, as a lawyer whether Mr Baxter has by the lease any right whatever, either to assign it over to any other person, or in any manner to underlease it without my consent—And if he has not, I wish you to give notice both to Mr Balch and Mr Baxter that I shall not consent to its being either underleased or assigned—As Mr Cruft has consented to receive the rent stipulated by Mr Baxter from Mr Balch, I shall not look backwards to disapprove any thing that has been done; but I desire distinctly, that you object to any new Assignment or Underlease.The tenour of the lease is in its terms entirely personal to Mr Baxter, and there is an express reservation of a right to sell, during the lease, provided that Baxter should have the first offer to become the purchaser, subject to the Lease—The question is whether the right of assigning or underleasing, belongs to a lessee by implication, without words in the Lease authorising it, or notIf on examination you find that there is legally such a right, you will give notice to Mr Balch and Mr Baxter that I shall abide by the Lease according to its import; and hold them to deliver up the premises at its expiration, in complete repair—While the Lease continues I wish to make no alteration whatever—You say Mr Cruft is of opinion that the permanent repairs which Baxter covenanted to make, were done very badly—This is another evil for which I know not that I have now any remedy—To that by which I am bound we must faithfully adhere; and if you find that the right of assigning and underleasing is conferred ipso facto by the term demise in a lease; let it be a warning to you hereafter, whenever you have a lease to draw, to introduce into it an express Covenant that the lessee shall not assign or underlease, without the express consent of the Lessor.The utmost I would consent to do, would be that if Mr Baxter will now restore my house to me, I will pay him the 250 dollars, which the lease allows him to retain for his repairs—This proposition I authorise you to make; and it is more than in justice he ought to ask.Your affectionate father—

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Mary Catherine Hellen Adams, 27 October 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Mary Catherine Hellen

					My Dear Mary
					Washington 27 October 1823

				By desire of Mr Cook I write to inform you that there is some business which requires your presence here previous to the fourteenth of next Month and which cannot be delayed—Mr & Mrs. Thompson are supposed to be on their way and you may perhaps be able to join them but I fear will not have time to get ready—I leave it entirely at your at what time you will return and only mention opportunities that I hear of as I do not wish that you should travel without a Lady—Tell Miss Mease that I will have my Dress made up as handsomely as possible so as to do her honour and I beg you will learn every particular as to its make &c &cI enclose you a larger piece of my Silk and beg you to get me two yards—I expect Abigail every hour—She left Boston on the 23—I have just returned from the Races where I saw the famous Betsey Richards who won against the famous Childers—Mr Jackson sports a dashy  Carriage and three fine Children—The french Minister is not to come until the Spring—Baron Tuyll entertains no Ladies—and Laborie is Secretary of Legation at Dresden—As Dr Stocco has a fine taste I am told in Music I expect to find you much improved and am glad you had the opportunity although music is by no means the great essential of human happiness—Adieu present me most kindly to all and believe me affectionately yours

					L C A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to John Adams Smith, 29 October 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Smith, John Adams

					Dear Sir,
					Washington 29 October 1823

				Mr. Samuel G. Goodrich, the Bearer of this letter, is a Citizen of Connecticut, of respectable character & acquirements, recommended to me by very estimable friends, and related by blood and marriage, to the late Lieutt. Governor Goodrich, and to Mr. Bradley heretofore a Member of the Senate of the United States from Vermont, and his son a Member elect of the present Congress from the same State.—I take pleasure in introducing him to your acquaintance, and recommending him to your kindness.—I am with great respect and / esteem, Dr. Sir your Friend,

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 31 October 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

				N. 4.
					My dear Son.
					Washington 31. October 1823.

				I wish you to keep the enclosed Letter for my father, till the next time that you shall after receiving it, go out to Quincy to spend the Sunday with him—You will then after breakfast deliver it to himself in his Chamber, no other person being present; and tell him that I have requested you to read its contents to him, and afterwards, with his approbation, to burn the copy of Verses on his birth day—If he prefers keeping them, I have desired that no Copy of them may be taken.Your affectionate father

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 31 October 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

					My ever honoured father.
					Washington 31. October 1823

				I was desirous of offering you some token of my dutiful Affection, upon yesterday’s anniversary; and having as you know occasionally wasted an hour of leisure, upon the cultivation of Poetry I attempted the performance of my intention in verse—I soon found that the theme called for the Voice of a more favoured wooer of the Muse than I have ever been, or can ever hope to be—and after writing the enclosed lines I have hesitated whether I should send them to you, or commit them, as Juvenal says to the Husband of Venus—I have concluded to leave that task for my Son George, with your approbation, after submitting them to your indulgence—I have put them under cover to him directing him to deliver, and read them to you himself. Should you think them worth preserving I would only request that you would suffer no copy of them to be taken.Whether giving utterance to my feelings in Verse or in Prose, they can be no other than of a faithful and affectionate Son.

					John Quincy Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, October 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To:

					October 1823

				Silver Plate3640Desk80Screens150Commode40Curtains50Tables25Presses40Commode20Matrass20Toilette70Toilette404 Bed Quilts200Piano700Buffet200Chairs & Sopha100Chairs75 5450Table10Wine1200Night stand &c402 Pair of Candlesticks80  20Old Tables &c50Bedsteads8Card Tables40Desk & Book Shelves75Chairs & Sopha700China500Bedding250Kitchen340Chairs400Glass & Cow205 9280


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 2 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

My dear grandson and namesake
Montezillo November 2nd 1823

I thank you for  two letters written at two notable periods of your life one at the happy meeting of your family at Providence and New York, the other at Washington all in health written with the vivacity, and spirit for which you are so remarkable. They gave me and the whole family a great deal of pleasure and excite an appetite for your account of the first part of your journey. We have nothing here but the merry meeting of the waters from the East and the West at Albany: a multitude of Cattle Shows and Mr McLeans magnanimous will. Your brother George is perfectly well settled in Boston, is very regular, studious enough, and a great comfort to me. I have plunged into my 89th year and in three months time shall arrive at the age of my Mother when she departed. My Father died at 70 and three months: who could have thought that I should outlive the age of my Father by 18 or 19 years. We have had a long course of very disagreeable easterly weather, so disagreeable that I can take no pleasure in looking at the summit of Montezillo where Adams from a saucy world withdrew.
Tell your Father that Shaw and I have been to Major Wales’s and borrowed the records and he and Elizabeth are trying to conjure out the meaning. I fear they will find it harder to decypher than our friend Vander Kemp found the dutch Antiquities of New York.
My love to your Father, Mother, Abigail Smith Adams, Miss Mary Hellen; How do you like Thomas? Tell him Eleazar does very well but he do’nt entertain us so much with his talk as he did
I expect much cheerful entertainment from your sprightly pen. It will serve to divert me from minding the torment of Erysipelas which has no mercy
I am my dear John / your affectionate Grandfather
John Adamsby order attest George Washington Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 2 November 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					Washington 2 Novbr. 1823

				Having just dismissed my visitors Mr. Jackson and Mr  McTavish I hasten to write you in answer to your long expected and long wished Letter which reached me yesterday—Your encreasing popularity is a thing as you observe calculated to excite vanity you must therefore be on your guard against the encroachment of so ignoble a passion for even men of superior understandings suffer it sometimes to steal upon their better sense and often unawares to themselves it makes them ridiculous—Vanity is the vice of the little souled and can have no baleful influence on the lofty mind—I am happy to learn that time and application enables you to conquer what you have always insisted to be insurmountable—Young people are very fond of high sounding words more especially when time or duration is in question and they seldom think of either the latitude or longitude of the word never when they use it so freely—This however is a habit which from the nature of things invariably cures itself and we cannot help smiling when we discover how easy it is to accomplish what we persuaded ourselves is impossible—Thus it is with Rhyme and thus it will prove with oratory—The volition once determined difficulties vanish like the evanescent Meteors of the night which ere they appear are lost to our vision—As you and I have always lived on terms of confidential friendship independent of all the ties which exist between us as Mother and Son I claim a perusal of your first attempt which I shall scan with all the indulgence which you can wish or desire and the gratification of this request will largely contribute to the consent of your father to your petition which is already half granted—I am very glad to find that you gain ground in the opinion of your worthy Tutor whose sagacity I have every reason to admire—I hope however that he will prove more correct in this opinion than in the one betrayed at your entrance into College—As you like your present year in College so much we shall expect that your attachment will prove such as to ensure its permanence for two years and prevent all difficulties and with this wish expecting to see you soon I end the epistle of /  your affectionate Mother

					L C A—

					Abigail has just arrived quite well—


Title: From George Washington Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 5 November 1823
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					My dear Mother
					Boston 5th. November 1823.

				It was painful to hear that you had been so ill after arriving at Washington and astonishing that people tell you you have changed for the worse. This is not a thing to mortify you as you have been always superior to dependence upon mere looks but it has always struck me as a disagreeable and not infrequently an ill natured remark to tell people that they have changed for the worse. It is probable that there will be more company at Washington this Winter than generally happens for the all important question will fill the city with partisans who wish to be favourites and hope to draw their portion of sustenance from the public granary by making fair weather in season with its probable director. Congress will include greater numbers than it has hitherto done and with it will flow in a multitude of spectators from our city and claimants from necessity, and would be politicians, and apprentices to legislation, and marketable young ladies and a thousand others for no purpose whatever and from no motive whatever. There will be plenty of company good bad and indifferent but the city may neither be peaceable nor comfortable till the tide flows outward People begin to talk about a speaker, they talk about every thing and almost always expect impossibilities. Man is a strange, queer, changeable, humoursome animal, and often bankrupts his wit by taking men upon tick. The record of prejudices, passions, follies and extravagances increases with the record of births, marriages and deaths and men go on, improving in some things, stationary in others, and perhaps depreciating in others from years end to years end till their generations die.Miss Harriet has purchased a Chinchilli trimming for you at 15 dollars the lowest price at which one was to be had. It has been paid for and will be brought to you probably by Mr and Mrs Webster. As you do not describe the kind of Shawl you want I am afraid to purchase one before consulting you. The Cranberries have been bought and together with the Barberries sent in a barrel to Mr Binneys store to be dispatched for Washington next week. Johns fishing pole will accompany them. I have found a copy of the Cunningham Correspondence which shall be sent on with my next letter to Father. The direction to my Uncle shall not be forgotten. Grandfather is delighted with his cane and thinks it a model for all the staffs of the present age. He keeps it constantly by him and makes perpetual use of it. Thus by a small present you have conferred a real benefit and occasioned pleasant reflection by a memento which ever accompanies the person obliged. Grandfather is well saving the torment of St Anthonys visit which he does not seem inclined to discontinue. Erysipelas has violently attacked his legs and his patience will not enable him to keep his hand from them so that we are afraid he will make them much worse. He has seen Dr Holbrook who has prescribed for them but prescriptions are I fear of little avail. Aunt Adams’s family are well and little Joe has recovered. Thomas is to be at home soon and has sent an earnest petition to commence his visit at thanksgiving which by the proclamation of our good old governor is to be on the 20th of this month. Charles is well and doing well: Dr Welshes family in health and spirits Every body as merry as the weather will let them be. People talk about Miss Otis and Mr Ritchies marrying next month tho I suppose they know no more about it than does your affectionate son

					George Washington Adams


Title: From John Adams to Caleb Stark, Jr., 7 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Stark, Caleb, Jr.

Dear Major—
Washington 7 November 1823—

 The very great despatch with which you have answered my last not only proves to me that you are desirous of continuing the correspondence of which that letter was the commencement on my part, but requires immediate thanks & accordingly to show you that I shall not be backward in furthering its continuance I hasten to answer you although your letter was but last night recieved & although this is the third I have this day written: one in answer to a letter from Bob Burton & one in answer to my brother George.
I was much amused by your account of the Exhibition of Themes although God knows I should not have had much desire to have been bored by them 	quite so long as it seems you were. I am very much of your opinion regarding the limits in which ladies ought to be confined. But they are such infernal slipery things that it is difficult to confine them at all without the utmost care. I know not what they may be in that land of  & good habits, but in this as perhaps in some other cases their
"Offence is rank it smell’s to heaven"!
You never before wrote me the account of the Boniface of Litchfield & I must thank you for so doing in this letter. Your joke too upon the word poor-house I take in full force & can only regret that poor Joseph should have been compelled to enter it. By the Bye on my journey here I dined with the said Count Joseph at his own mansion which is any thing but a poor-house. It is indeed most sumptuous & he gave us a most glorious dinner. None of that miserable poor stuff hall brandy half Cayene pepper we used to drink for wine at Cambridge. His grounds are very beautifully laid out & his style of living altogether very elegant. He is himself a man of literature & taste & a very good republican withall. He has selected & purchased many beautiful paintings by the first masters & they make a large & fine part of the furniture of his house. He is very attentive to all travellers to whom he is introduced & is quite an old acquaintance of my family’s.
I know not what to write for your amusement as the season of our gaiety has not yet commenced & until it does we have nothing here beyond the events of a country residence which you know as well as I are but very slim materials for letter writing. Our ladies here are not of that Blue stocking description you are favoured with & never meddle with other people’s business; They confine themselves to a beautiful appearance in a ballroom & employ themselves in acquiring the power of talking upon all the insignificant subjects which arise in such a place. Beauty is their great aim & I amuse myself in exciting their jealousy by loudly praising some other person in the room & never paying any compliment to her with whom I am conversing.
In hopes of soon having something more amusing to communicate / I remain / Your friend & classmate

John Adams—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 14 November 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Washington 14 Novbr 1823

				Your two Cousins and John having left me at home and gone to pass the evening at Mrs. J Monro’s I shall devote some time to you by way of amusing myself and to find occupation as neither reading or writing are at present suited to my sight being almost blind—I really do not wonder you should have suffered uneasiness at hearing the poor child cough as I know nothing more distressing than the sight of suffering which you know you have no power to relieve—Mr Fuller will shortly come on this way to make one of the turbulent Congress with which we are so constantly threatened this winter—Things are at present in such a state it is difficult to say whose pretentions are the most successful and intrigue is more busy and more deeply at work than ever—From all I can learn things do look black as you observe not only in the Newspapers but elsewhere and the best way is to look forward to a quiet retirement from public toil and strife which is certainly more suitable to my age and particularly my state of health which is not likely to mend—Your father if you write to him will immediately grant your petition to come on this Winter and witness the sport as he only said when I mentioned to him that he had no idea you wished it—You are sure of my support and Johns—George is so much engaged in business for his it has not been in his power to see you very often—his father is much pleased with him and his oddities are very amusing and very harmless— God Bless you my Son be diligent and reward your father for his great indulgence by improving every moment of your time and thus secure the respect and affection of your Mother

					L. C. A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Johnson, 16 November 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Johnson, George

Dear Sir
Washington 16 November 1823—

I recieved your note of yesterday with the Bank & flour books & shall be glad to see you tomorrow morning—
My son mentioned you told him you had sold yesterday 500 barrels of Flour for Cash. I will thank you to deposit that & all future receipts of Cash, in the Branch Bank to the credit of my son John Adams; & draw upon him for all monies which you may have to pay, in this business. I request also that every check or order that you draw specify what it is for & to whom paid.
The banks must be satisfied before the first of the next month & then & on the first of any succeeding month the Book in Bank must be balanced; & a statement of the flour & wheat on hand furnished me.
Respectfully Yours


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 16 November 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Washington 16 Novbr. 1823

				I wrote you a hurried Letter the other day my dear George in answer to your last as I was fearful you might purchase me another Shawl. As I am now much better than I was I will enter more fully into my winter plans and of our present life.As yet we have but little company excepting occasional morning visits—I have been papering and painting one or two of my rooms and that with the bad state of my health has made it impossible for me to entertain the Strangers who have called—Mr Calhoun who has twelve thousand Dollars a year independent of his salary can better afford to keep open house all the year round than we can. We had one dinner last week for the Diplomats and the new Slave Commission and the Massachusetts Gentlemen—I was too ill to go down but the dinner I am told was remarkably pleasant—On Thursday we propose to give another to the Prussian Minister who has just arrived and the Florida Gentlemen among whom we must as usual have Mr. King who otherwise I should certainly not have invited as I have a great dislike to his character and we are not at all proud of his acquaintance—He boasts I am told of having much influence with your father and the family and you can judge of the correctness of the report—If having house room merely from respect to the Presidents appointment and the Office he fills is influence he certainly has an opportunity twice in the year for two or three hours of pretending to enjoy an opportunity among twenty others of to speaking to us while he eats his dinner and that is all—I propose to have my Tuesdays once a fortnight as my health will not admit of them more frequently and entirely on the old plan. The City is to be crowded with company and some attempt is to be made to introduce small social parties—These may do very well for the residents but can never do I think for the Heads of Department without giving mortal offence—If people undertake to entertain at all it will be so much gained as Washington must be very dull unless something of this kind is introduced and every day we hear of new Members who are to bring their families and we are to have a number of beauties and fortunes who are to besiege the hearts of our single Congressmen—This is the best part of the business as a belle passion may at least afford them sufficient employment to prevent their cutting each others throats—This is a singular epistle but as you have probably received one lately that gave you more pleasure I shall make no excuses—The young Lady has a great desire to have some scarlet Flowers if you could meet with a dozen small bunches to trim a dress I suspect it would gratify her very much she has been teazing me to give her some for some time—If you could get them Mr Fuller would bring them but they must be sewed in a small box—She does not know I am writing—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Thomas J. Hellen, 16 November 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Hellen, Thomas J.

					Washington 16 Novbr. 1823

				I have at length so far recovered my health as to be able to write you my Dear Thomas but I expect at the same time that you will answer my Letter as I am not in the habit of meeting with neglect or indifference—We are very anxious to hear of your health and likewise of your improvement and if you still like your situation? and also to tell you that your friends at Quincy will be very glad to see you during your vacation—Your Guardian who is very sick desires me to say that he is ready to settle your bills whenever they are sent on and it would perhaps be adviseable to send them on by any of the Gentlemen who may be coming this way.Mary has returned from Philadelphia very much improved both in manners and appearance and will I flatter myself still become an accomplished and elegant woman—Johnson has recently paid us a visit having been appointed a delegate to the great Canal meeting which is at present an object of interest in our part of the Country and more particularly to the District—Robert is much hurt and mortified by your entire forgetfulness of him as you are now a man I trust you will assume all the most amiable characteristics of that noble animal in its best nature and prove how strongly the early and best affections of youth are impressed upon his heart—without such attachments pure and innocent in themselves life would lose its greatest charm and the world prove a cold and solitary blank. Let your heart expand to the delightful feeling and do not give up old friends for new ones—You will probably in another year be fitted for College if you intend to go through that education you are yet so young that you have time enough to prepare yourself and you can chuse your own time—God Bless you my Dear Son—Give my best respects to Dr Abbot although I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance otherwise than by anticipation but I look forward to it in future—Your affectionate Aunt

					L. C. Adams.

					you will scarcely find it possible to decypher my scrawl—


Title: From Lewis Cass to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 17 November 1823
From: Cass, Lewis
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					Madam,
					Detroit Nov. 17. 1823.

				I had the honour to receive your letter, with its’ enclosure for Mrs. Boyd, which was immediately forwarded to its’ destination. It will afford me pleasure at all times to take charge of any letters, you may wish to address to your sister.I beg yor acceptance of a pair of moccasins, valuable only as affording a rare specimen of the delicacy of Indian female work.With great respect, / Madam, / I have the honour to be /  your obt servt.

					Lew Cass.


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 18 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

My dear grandson.
Montezillo 18th November 1823.Where Adams from a noisy world withdrew

Your account of the first part of your journey, is quite as entertaining and instructive as is that of the latter part, recorded in your former letter. The seventy persons on board the steam boat who were obliged to sleep in mats covered with a blanket, reminded me of my excellent friend and physician, Dr Holbrook’s account of the treatment of the small pox in Canada when our Revolutionary army was there. I am endeavouring to persuade him to write a history of it. It is as horrible as your steam boat adventure was laughable. That history of war, pestilence, and famine, united to destroy our army, has been hitherto concealed from the public but you young philosophers ought to inquire into it. A canal of fifteen rods in length, and deep and large, dug every day and filled up every night, with human bodies, perished under the small pox, is a scene of horror that my paralytic nerves cannot contemplate.
Tell your Father, that I have assembled a council of interpreters, who are copying those records that he remembers very well—Mr Marston, Mr Apthorp, Mr Hills, Mr Shaw, Lawyer George Adams, Miss Elizabeth Cooms, Miss Louisa Foster and some other ladies and gentlemen are employed in the work. I feel a little like Pisistratus when he assembled the learned men of all Greece for a compilation of Homer; We have no news here but that Buckingham has got into another scrape; indicted for a libel on the Russian Consul Eustaphieve.
I know very well that you can be sober sometimes: you can go from grave to gay and from gay to grave; but I think the severe is gradually prevailing over the lively and I hope in time will entirely conquer your wild rattle about selfishness and the dark side of human nature and teach you to delight in contemplating her lovely virtues; her sublime intelligence; her moral and social qualities: I wish you could be here the day after tomorrow: and then we should have the major part of your family.
Love to all the family
John Adamsby order attest.
George Washington Adams who, having received your No 2 and a letter from Mother proposes to answer both with all the speed he can master. You will see from the above) interrupted.
Grandfathers P.S. Your hours fly so lightly that I fear that you will not relish the company of Saunders and Plowden, Bracton and Littleton.
resumed (that Grandfather is much better than when he last wrote: St Anthony flags in the contest with Dr Holbrook and cold as the weather is Grandfathers spirits defy the foul fiend. I am spending the week here in study; having committed to Mr Cruft any business which Thanksgiving week may possibly produce. It shall be my aim to sacrifice no hour which can sooth or animate the declining age of him who is by us both alike venerated and beloved. Charles is expected tonight. It was impossible to send your fishing pole as I expected, but it shall travel immediately on my return to Boston. Requesting my Mother to take care of her health for all our sakes and asking respectful remembrance to my Father, with love to all your circle I remain your affectionate brother.


Title: From John Adams to Caleb Stark, Jr., 23 November 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Stark, Caleb, Jr.

Dear Major
Washington 23 November. 23—

Night before last I recieved your communication in answer to my last which was as welcome as all the others recieved from you. I must thank you for a great deal of amusement which it all afforded me; Your description of a certain society astonished me somewhat & I was glad to see that even one individual dared to raise his voice “like a pelican in the wilderness” against such a crying sin. Very pretty indeed! that young girls are to say who shall have the management of their husbands children! They much better take care lest they get no husbands upon such conditions. If the society was instituted to take care of bastard children I am sure I should be the last to disapprove it; but is devilish hard that a man who has to provide for his children both legitimate & illegitimate, can not have the management of them. If I was in your place I would make use of that said Newspaper to raise my voice against such an usurpation of the rights of man. And if that would not do I would make it my first Laws case. However as the devil will get into these girls I do not know after all but it would be a dangerous case—
What under heaven do you suppose has got into Bob Burton? he writes me such confounded mournful letters that I suspect some little gipsey has been playing the fool with him. If so I advise him to go to sea; for sea–sickness is a most excellent remedy for all love diseases. For a description of its wonderful effects see Don Juan Canto 2. By the Bye have you seen the six last published Canto’s of the said work? Or does not the religion of Connecticut permit such works to be sold in the state? It is perhaps almost too orthodox for such a very freethinking, liberal people. It is hardly enough in the tolerant spirit of the blue laws. Do they permit you to talk or think on Sunday at Litchfield? And do any of those young ladies you mention give occasional religious discourses? or perchance they discourse of nothing else? how stand all these matters? Let us know something of the land of old Roger Sherman?

I have got nothing at all to tell you as Congress has not yet commenced & nothing takes place of any consequence till that time. In a week we shall be bored by a tremendous lot of would–be great men from various parts of the Country who will at least be engaged in some thing concerning which I can write. Untill that time therefore I remain as ever / Your friend & Classmate

John Adams—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Samuel L. Southard, 29 November 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Southard, Samuel L.

					29 Novbr. 1823.

				Mrs. Adams requests the Honor of Mr Southard’s Company at Tea on Tuesday the 9th. of December and every alternate Tuesday, during the Session of Congress, when agreeable.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 3 December 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Washington 3d Decbr 1823

				Our winter routine has begun and as usual I am plunged into the depths of visits invitations dinners &c &c &c—It is singular just after reading Randolph that I should have become acquainted with the supposed Author of the Work and that his conversation should have produced conviction in me that the supposition is not incorrect—Speaking of the Painters I could have fancied I was reading the Book and not only the observations or criticisms were the same but the language was almost word for word—He is an oddity possessing strong sense a wild imagination entirely, ungovernable by reason and I think experience with an insatiate vanity which prompts to fancy no one equal to himself. His conversation is strongly characteristic and you instantly see that he erects himself into a judge of every one who has pretention to talent or superior capacity and genius—Thus he has handled all our great men of the day in his book with considerable power and not much judgment during public censure by his severy and concealing himself from its resentment by denying that which he cannot maintain—He is going to Europe for three years and as I really think he is gifted with fine natural talent I wish he may derive all the advantages which are afforded but which are so seldom properly used by persons in the same circumstances I took perhaps more notice of him than I ought but as a character now very much marked I wanted to judge for myself and have given you my opinion at large—did I care for anybody perhaps I should of him that is I might have feared his lash or his praise; but it is all the same thing to me and I care very little what he says either way—I am glad you have written to your father—He will answer you the first moment of leisure and I think according to your wish but it is on condition that you do not travel much in the night—John is so excellent a correspondent and writes you so much fun you must not expect anything of the sort from me and I have great reason to believe that you are a little of a Joseph Surface  towards by the fits of laughter I hear when he reads your epistles. I hope not for hypocrisy is the thing that would be the most disagreeable to your affectionate Mother

					L. C. A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 December 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					December 3-11, 1823

				3rd: December. My whole morning was occupied with visits and writing cards of invitation—we have had 40 or more Members of Congress already here and all who call I invite to my Evengs. if I can help it I will invite only those who call lest it should be said I am courting them to further any particular purpose—We dined alone and Mary being sick I denied myself to company—Mr Petry called and several Gentlemen have been passing the evening with Mr A— Mrs Talbot the Wife of the Senator, who has just arrived from the West Indies called this morning—Mrs McKim & Mrs Bailey likewise made me a visit—I went to Mrs Crawfords the family are still quite sick—Gave Mr Wyer a lecture which he did not like upon discretion, a virtue the poor man is not much troubled with—The P.M.G. seems as if he wanted to shake off responsibility by transfering appointments to the Senate—He is said to be a great man—I fear he is a dealer in little things4. The morning was stormy and it rained most heavily so that some of the orders for the funeral were countermanded & there were but few persons attended excepting some of the Heads of Department & one Senator—The funeral was handsome but nothing extraordinary—We had some gentlemen to dine with us—Mr Salazar Mr Palacio Mr Gomez Mr Valanilla Mr Poinsett Mr Garnett Mr Larned Mr Newton Mr Trimble Genl. Swartwout Mr John Mason & Col. Dwight—Four or five gentlemen disappointed us—Among them Mr Forsyth who neither came nor sent an excuse—I mark this as he is lately returned from a foreign Mission—After dinner was over Mr Trimble told Mr A— he supposed he knew that as it regarded the Presidency he should support Mr Clay or rather that Mr A— must know for whom he would vote—Just as if he supposed that we expected that the dinner we gave him was to bespeak his good word—It is a strange ignoble state of things and I cannot comprehend such littleness—Mr. Petry came in the Eveng.  and we played Boston until twelve oclock—Mr A— finds so much amusement in it I encourage his visits as much as possible by way of relaxation  and to keep him from thinking of the passing events—I have twice today been given to understand that the game is nearly up for him—The caucusing is eternal out of doors—Mr Poinsett says he is worn out with it already—he has taken a house to himself that he may not be in the way of hearing so much concerning politicks out of the house of Representatives—Mr. Durand St. André the french Consul has arrived to take the place of Mr Petry who goes to Madrid very much against his will having been forty years employed in this Country—5. Mary was quite sick—Abigail and I went out to a visit to Mr McKim and several others—Nothing of any importance occurred during the day—We passed the evening alone—6. We had a continual succession of visits through the day 45 of them Members of Congress—Writing notes and booking cards was a continued occupation I may almost say of a distracting kind—I was in a fever before I got through and was very much tempted to wish them all safe at home even while I was thanking them for their civility—all of which proves how little I am fitted for a public station—Mr. A— dined at Com Morris’s & Mr Petry came and played Boston—The new french Consul arrived—9. Did not go to Church not being at all well—a number of visits Mrs Thornton & the Miss Forrests sat here and the former was very inquisitive about the Correspondence and hoped it had not had a bad effect upon the health or spirits of the old gentleman I assured her that he was well aware that he could never have written any thing that could really disgrace him in the minds of honest men to suffer such a circumstance to grieve him and that the only sting it carried was the painful connection that however well we may wish to think of human nature we cannot  shut our eyes to its corruption—10. Paid a number of visits and received a number—Went to the Navy Yard and engaged Music for my parties which begin tomorrow. To these parties which are almost the only ones anticipated for the winter I am indebted for much attention and politeness which I suppose ought to excite a large portion of gratitude to my dear five hundred friends for their good will—Mr A— is invited to dine with the President a thing not altogether kind as I shall have to receive all the new Members without having any one to introduce them—He has however promised to come home the moment he can quit the Table—we are threatened with a great crowd—A great intriguing to get the Caucus and much agitation and down cast looks in the T. Department—Sickness sorrow and mortification are too much to contend against in any body. Evening alone—11. Mr Wyer called to inform me that Gen Scott was very desirous to get an invitation from me which I immediately sent—He is anxious to be reconciled to Genl. Jackson & the Gen is willing to meet him half way, supposing that Jackson would be here he wised to adjust the difference at our house in which however he was disappointed the weather proving so bad that numbers who intended coming failed—Our party was however very brilliant notwithstanding the Snow and the young folks enjoyed themselves as much as if there was no such thing as Snow in the world—Theirs is the happy time of life when all is sunshine and the hours are winged with joy however evanescent—Col Dwight acted as my aid de Camp and fortunately only one Member arrived previous to Mr A—s return—That was a Mr Hogeboom of New York with whom I had much conversation—He insisted on it that the pillars of the H.R. were of rough stone and covered with some sort of stuff which they call marble and I could not persuade him that they were solid blocks—He said the building was a fine one and that we were fortunate in having fine Architectors in this Country—They staid until eleven oclock Mr & Mrs Brown our new Plenipo’s to the Court of France appeared for the first time in their new character and like most others affected not to be pleased with that for which their hearts have panted for upwards of two years & for which half the Washington world envy them


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 December 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

					my dear Son
					Quincy December 4—1823

				I have seen many of your poetical effusions, from the time when you were at College, to this last Month. And there are so many indisputible proofs of natural and Social affections, and genuine poetical imagery that if you will had cultivate the muses as much as you have politicks you might have made a Shakespear, a Milton or a Pope, for anything that I know, how“How sweet an Ovid, is in Murray lost”The posey or nosegay of October 30th. is carefully locked up in a straw by itself, there to shed its perfumes and waste its splendours, like the roses in the wilderness—As Mr Pitt sayd of the Epitaph on Montcalm “it is perfectly beautiful” though I suppose it will be accused, whenever it appears of filial partiality and my admiration of it, imputed to parental dotage. be it as it may, I consider that & Webesters as two of the most beautiful sprigs of Laurel that ever crowned my brow. I rejoice to hear of the happiness of you all—And especially my Daughters restoration to Health,I have found St. Anthony a most malevolent Saint but the skill of Holbrook has almost quelled his  malignity,—I wish you a pleasant winter, and how can I say, that I hope to see you again next Summer,—I am your affectionate Father

					John Adams

					P.S tell John that I am afraid that Drawing Rooms Ladies & Parties will divert his attention from his G F tell him that his letters are so sprightly & frolicksome that I wish to receive one every week


Title: From John Adams to Caleb Stark, Jr., 7 December 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Stark, Caleb, Jr.

My dear Major
Washington 7 December 1823—

 I recieved two days since your favour of the 30th of last month for which I am as thankful as usual. By some strange combination of circumstances I find we have both chosen the Sabbath day for writing our communications. This in me is nothing as I am in the land of dissipation & what Ticknor would call “heartless frivolity” but in you who sojourn in the land of the blue laws & good habits is exceedingly strange—By the bye, do not those said blue laws prohibit the writing of letters on Sunday? you who are studying the Laws may probably meet with such a one some of these days when your progress shall have become greater.
Did I tell you that while I was in New York on my way hither I was honoured by a visit from the indefatigueable Mr Blunt. He called upon me at the City Hotel & I can assure you I was glad to see him. He laboured so honorably & so generously in that last affair of ours that his visit afforded me much gratification. He like us is pursuing the study of Law & is reading with his brother who is a young practitioner in the State of New York & with whom I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted while there. I hope he may succeed & prosper which he certainly may, if he be but careful & avoid bad company which you know ruined him the first part of his time at College—
As I am desirous that you should give me some account of the manners & customs of that very pious & religious state in which you find a resting place for a short time I feel highly delighted that you have commenced it in your last. That trait which you mention in their character of a want of hospitality is as disgusting as it is marked. I myself have experienced it in a slight degree—There is something so excessively mean & little in that state of feeling which is confined within certain degrees of latitude & longitude & which can not extend itself for the space of a mile or two beyond the sphere of its usual action; that, as a trait of national character, I never can but dispise it. The part of being a stranger in a land unknown to us is in itself embarrassing & disagreeable enough even when we are assisted by every convenience the people can bestow; but when this is witheld we feel we are among a race who at least want one of the characteristics of civilization. It is a strange fact too that such a disposition should exist in that state as a want of hospitality is no part of our National character & least of all of those sections of the Country which form the immediate Neighborhood of that state. One would think also in a society where so much stress is laid upon religion the moral & gospel precepts would be observed in which we are commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves. But enough of this discussion as I am sure you must ere this be heartily tired of my wonderfully excellent speculation—Continue if you please to dissect their Character & their manners. Tear the veil from hypocrisy & let deformity stand revealed—

As we are anything here but religious our preaching is not carried to so high a degree of perfection as where it is more in request. Jean Jaques Say you know says that the supply will be according to the demand. As in merchandise so in preaching. All this parade & tirade is to introduce my excuse for a event of life & intrust in this letter. Having been to Church this morning the parson was so dull that I fell asleep and am not yet perfectly awake. The singing withal was so execrably bad that it made me think the Lord must have a shocking bad ear for musick if he could be pleased with it. It was moreover a Presbyterean Church & they do lower us poor mortals to such vile, unworthy, rascally worms that it almost makes me sick at my stomach to attend their services. Thus having written a long & stupid letter, but accounted for its stupidity quite well I must sign myself / Your sincere friend & classmate

John Adams—


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 7 December 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My dear Charles.
					Washington 7. Decr. 1823.

				I have duly considered your affectionate Letter of the 25th. of last Month, and shall be glad to see you here, during your approaching vacation—I will direct your brother George to furnish you the money, necessary for the journey, and assure you of the cordial welcome which I hope and trust will always endear your father’s house to you as your home.I do not altogether understand that part of your Letter, in which you intimate that you have been subjected to charges of extravagance—Your expenses at Cambridge, have been considerably greater than those of your brother George were while he was there; and I have thought you not sufficiently impressed with the necessity and the duty of economy—I thought the same of your brother John, and I wish you could both be made sensible of it, before it will become a simple question between your self-indulgence and your own ruin—A day, which you may be as sure will come, as that you will live to be the providers of your own ways and means—But I have never charged either of you with extravagance—Nor have I ever refused to discharge those of your expenses which have been known to me; even those that I have disapproved—With regard to your application to  your studies I receive with pleasure your assurance that it has been assiduous, and that you are fully conscious of its effect upon your acquisitions of knowledge—I hope it will also be manifested by a corresponding rise of your standing in your Class, and before you leave Cambridge to come here for the vacation I wish you to call upon President Kirkland, with my compliments, and remind him my of request that when the bills are made up for this half year, he will write to me, and inform me, what your standing, upon then will be—Well assure that it will be more favourable than it was the last year. I may add, that you need not apprehend that my expectations will be more sangwine than you could desire.I am your affectionate father.

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 9 December 1823
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					5.My dear Son.
					Washington 9. December 1823.

				Your Letter of the 14th. ulto. N. 4. came duly to hand, but I have not before found time for replying to it—The House in Hancock Street must wait its appointed time; that is for the expiration of the lease.I have invited your brother Charles to come and spend the winter vacation with us, and have informed him that I should direct you to furnish him with the money necessary for the journey—You will accordingly supply him with seventy–five dollars for that purpose—and as my brother has informed me that he has not funds of mine in his hands sufficient for the payment of Charles’s Bills at Cambridge, you must also pay them, and charge the amount to my account with you.I find in your Letter a grammatical error, which I now mention because I was in the habit of committing the same myself; for many years after I was of your present age—You say that my father shew, a copy of verses to Mr Marston; using the word shew, as if it were in the past tense of the verb to Show—But shew is not in the past tense—It should be showed or shewed—Shew is in the present tense; alternative to show.I want to hear what progress you make in your Law–reading and in your Lessons of book–keepingYour affectionate father.

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From George Washington Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 10 December 1823
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					5.My dear Mother.
					Boston 10th. December 1823.

				Just this moment opening my shutters I find the ground covered with snow and it lays apparently somewhat deep. We have had a number of little drizzles as the parson called them but this is the first real snow storm of the season. Yesterday was very disagreeable: a very light snow was falling all day but not enough to accumulate much, and the air was exceedingly sharp and piercing. The thermometer was four degrees lower than it has been yet and the wind was strong Nor West. Amid all these horrors of the weather, your letter was a most cheering prospect though it must have arrived here the day before, since the papers of yesterday morning announce that the mail south of Philadelphia did not reach us. I regret the death of Mr Ghreum he is said to have been more friendly in his opinions of this country than any of the Corps Diplomatique except Stackelberg. We had not heard that he suffered from ill health upon his recent arrival in the United States, and the news of his decease was the more striking from the want of preparation. Mrs Greuhm will it is possible remain in this country: she was if I mistake not, married here and has resided some time in Washington.The Message seems to give general satisfaction; but is indeed neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring; neither here nor there; Some people are anxious to ascertain what he means by that passage intended in terrorem to the holy alliance for they can make nothing of it. It is a very statesman like paper, cried up to the skies as the one of the last winter was and certainly as worthy the enthusiasm of popular applause.I spent the last Sunday at Quincy. Grandfather was very well on Sunday till the evening and then complained of a head ache: he woke the next morning with a bad cold originating probably in his imprudently leaving off his flannels and his unwillingness to resume them. Mr Shaw has been staying there almost a fortnight: he is better there than any where and he has a cough which if he does not take special care will finish his life. Grandfather will be charmed at the renewal of your journal and I am anxious to receive it. I will keep the letters carefully and preserve them alike from indiscretion, curiosity, and envy. Grandfather may wish to have them but I shall manage to retain them, and would you permit should like to get the former series to preserve. The session will no doubt give rise to many incidents both directly and collaterally, which in your hands will produce interesting details and amusing descriptions I used to take great pleasure when at Washington in reading the green edged volume which is valuable not only for its style and the fidelity of the historical information it affords but also for its portraiture of your feelings, sentiments and character. You promised to give it to me hereafter and I shall earnestly hold your promise.Miss Sophia Otis was married last evening. The night was very stormy: “mauvaise augure.” We have no news in town. Mrs Quincy has been unwell and is observed to be in very low spirits. Life has no variety for me; but I am really very happy. Perhaps constant employment and intercourse with men in business and affairs of money will eradicate those unpleasant traits which marked the character of your  / affectionate son

					George Washington Adams

					Love and Remembrance to all


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 December 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Washington 12 Decbr. 1823

				I send you a sheet of journal my Dear George which you can read to your Grandfather if you please or such parts of it as you think fit—I shall address it to you thro’ the winter which I think will be more prudent and I wish that you could coax y. Grandfather to give you all that I have written as I think it would be safer in your possession in case of accidents—Journal 30 Novbr. 1823In a righteous cause we brave both good and ill—Obey Gods Laws, and act with virtue still—The Session opens with me pretty much as it does with Congress that is to say with a constant alternation of chill and fever or hot and cold fits and struggling to shake of the domineering ill which teazes and disturbs me—with the additional aggravation of being thought to suffer in consequence of the contest which at present occupies the attention of the Nation—for which in fact I care very little, more especially since I have acquired the certainty of our perfect independence in point of fortune to ensure of our future comfort—My ideas on this subject are these—In the eight years of Mr. A——s service as Secretary of State, independent of all his former public services he has done more to establish his fame and to deserve the gratitude of the Nation than any man in the Country—In this respect he has little, in fact nothing to gain and should he lose the election which is most likely from present appearances the disgrace will not fall upon him but heavily on that very enlightened Country and people who could not discriminate between sterling worth and base intrigue—For him therefore I consider a private station as glorious as the Chief Magistrates Chair and as far as I am concerned is in comparison perfect freedom to the prison house of state—As usual a stormy winter is foreboded and it is whispered that a caucus is to be called immediately to counteract the effect produced by the elections in N. Y, or rather with a view to intimidate the Legislature of that State and force them to support the Caucus Candidate—The War party will be very active to maintain its independence from all others and will probably the weight of the battle in the beginning will probably be between these two—The City will be crowded and the Ladies are hailed with pleasure as the medicine which is to sooth and calm the turbulent spirit which is likely to be roused by party feeling—Mrs Monroe is dangerously ill and the House of the President will probably be closed at least for some time There are no foreign Ministers Mr Crawford quite out of health The Sec of the Navy in lodgings, and Judge Thompsons family sick—You can judge of the brilliant prospect of gayety for the Winter in addition to which Mr Brown is going to France—I have determined to have my parties once a fortnight as I am not able to undertake it oftener & what all these strangers are to do for amusement I do not know—1st. This day Congress meets and it is expected that the Session will be one of the most important that have passed for many years—It was ushered in by a melancholy event—Mr Greuhm the Minister from Prussia expired at five oclock this morning & the official communication was made in great style by the Barons Tuylle & Stackelberg—In the afternoon Mr A. went to announce it to the President of the Senate & the Speaker of the House and in the eveng. Baron Stackelberg called to make arrangements with Mr A. about the funeral—Tis singular that one of the Representatives of the holy Alliance should have died the very day of the first meeting of a Congress which is likely to be called upon to resist the encroachments of these rapacious Sovereigns and I hope it is ominous of the defeat—He was a good and amiable man and the situation of his poor wife is really pitiable—added to which it is rumoured that he has not left her in good circumstances—The Speaker Mr Clay was elected by a majority of 1139. votes Mr Taylor having declined—Mr Barbour was sent forward as a trial of Mr Crawfords strength and the issue has not been favourable Poor man he is in dreadful health and at this moment confined to his house by a dreadful inflamation in his eyes brought on by the quantity of digitalis which he took during his illness—Mr Clay it is said is in very bad health likewise but much better than report led us to expect—Genl. Jackson is expected every day—The struggle is terrific when it overacts the great the small & the brave—Numerous visits—2. Received a number of visits after which I went to see the poor Widow but did not see her—She is at Mr Lee’s and the young Ladies are very kind to her—Saw Mrs Frye whose children have the measles but are getting well over it—Mr A. dined with Mr Petry—The Presidents message went in today but I have heard nothing about it—Received a present from my Sister Boyd at Mackinaw of an Indian Pipe for Mr A. with a petition to procure the situation of Collector for her husband—Mr Steward also wants to change his situation and wishes to be made Pay Master—Mr A. went again to the P. of the Senate and the Speaker of the H. R. expressly at the request of the Members of the Corps Diplomatique to announce that the funeral of Mr Greuhm would take place tomorrow at eleven oclock—This is a very disagreeable business and it will probably give rise to many unpleasant remarks—and give opportunity to renew the question which has for some time lain dormant upon ettiquette—it is however unavoidable in this instance—he has merely been the medium of communication & Congress must suggest what they think proper. He stayed out until eleven oclock—Mary has been so good as to copy my journal—My sight is so bad I cannot neither see to read or write and I do not feel as much at liberty as I have hitherto done to give my opinions on passing subjects—Your Uncle Tom is furious about an attack made on him and his Department during his absence and has finally resolved to give up his place and no longer to abide in the land of Sodom and destruction—Love to all and much affection to yourself from / Your Mother

					L C A—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Gardner,, 13 December 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Gardner,

					13 Decr. 1813

				Mrs. Adams requests the Honor of Mrs Gardner’s Company at Tea on Tuesday the 23 of December and every alternate Tuesday, during the Session of Congress, when agreeable.


Title: To John Adams from Josiah, III Quincy, 14 December 1823
From: Quincy, Josiah, III
To: Adams, John

					Sir.
					Boston. 14. Dec 1823.

				Mr Finch an English gentleman of science and great ardour in geological and mineralogical pursuits intending to pay his respects to you at Quincy has requested this letter of introduction for that purpose.He is grandson of Dr: Priestley and has visited this country for the prosecution of his inquiries into in science, and is particularly desirous of being made known to you. In which I am happy in being able to gratify him / very Respectfully / yrs

					Josiah Quincy


Title: From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 18 December 1823
From: Adams, John
To: De Windt, Caroline Amelia Smith

my dear Grand Daughter
Quincy December 18th. 1823

Your kind letter of the 14th. has given me great pleasure, I congratulate you on the Birth of your fifth Daughter. God Bless the lovely little creatures, may they all imitate their Mothers & Grand Mothers from the seventh or eighthth generations such a race of Mothers has rarely existed in this world I believe. I hope you will educate them as you Grand Mother was educated, by reconciling hardihood and delicacy, equally qualified for the politeness of a City, and the roughness of the Country; for the first societies in France & England and for the cares, labors, & economies, & Charities, for a Middling Farmers wife in Quincy—I hope your Daughters will be qualified for City wives, or Country Wives, wives of Lawyers, Philosophers, or Devines, provided they are as Orthodox as I am, or Merchants—or Tradesmen, or wives of some of your Western landholders, who have a thousand, or a hundred acres of Forest threes to cut down, and convert the Land into fruitfull fields; teach them never to dispise the Middling interest, Abigail has Boys enough to furnish each of them with a husband—my love to Mr De Wint and all the little babes—
You may call it Sophia, or Euphrasian or any other Greek name you please, provided it be not Hellen—I wish as well to the Greeks as any of you, I think my Friend the prote Bishop White, has done himself great honor by his conduct in Philadelphia.
Accept the best wishes of your aged and decrepid / Grand Father
John Adams


Title: From Andrew Jackson to John Quincy Adams, 20 December 1823
From: Jackson, Andrew
To: Adams, John Quincy

					Decembr. 20. 1823—

				Genl Jackson presents his compliments & thanks to Mr & Mrs. Adams for their polite invitation to a Ball at their house on the 8 of Jany—He had designed not to visit during the winter after night owing to his ill health; but their politeness on the present occasion influences him to alter that determination, and he begs leave to say that he will with great pleasure wait upon them on the evening of the 8th.


Title: From John Adams to Caleb Stark, Jr., 23 December 1823
From: Adams, John
To: Stark, Caleb, Jr.

Dear Major
Washington 23 December 1823—

I regret that a disagreeable but unavoidable circumstance prevented my writing to you on Sunday as my rule heretofore pursued required & this is the first moment I have had since that time. The circumstance to which I allude was an absence from this city occasioned by the sickness of a young friend & relation of mine who has just entered upon the practise of that profession, a knowledge of which both you & I are at this moment labouring to attain. Having selected Rockville a county town in the state of Maryland for the scene of his opperations he withdrew from the gaiety of Washington & applied himself so incessantly to the study of the Law that his health is materially injured & a sudden attack called me from my pursuits here to visit him. With this explanation before you will forgive my failure for this time.

To commence by answering your quaere I must inform you that the lovely daughter of the Hon John Holmes of Maine is not at present in this city nor is it expected that she will emerge from her retirement in that charming climate where before this everything must be congealed. I am inclined to think she felt herself too much neglected last winter to come again immediately. Indeed she has had much of the climate in which she rides to be a very tempting dish for any one’s palate and more particularly for such epicures as we are here. She is colder than a snow man & not half so pretty. Beside which you know if we must have these infernal appendages tacked to us we are desirous they should hang as light as possible; but the poor girl is as heavy as lead & as tall as a poplar tree—no more wit or soul than a statue & no more beauty than sin. So much for Miss Holmes—My remarks concerning Blunt in my last were dictated both by anger at the manner in which some self important puppies treated him after his return & by pleasure at the thought that so fine a young man had risen superior to the disadvantages under which he laboured. I took him by the hand on his return & at least from me he never recieved any intimation of what he once had been. Moreover when I saw how some of not half his intrinsic worth & but little above him even at the moment of his greatest degradation in fact what–ever they might be in appearance, recieved him I felt bound by every good feeling I possessed to give him every opportunity to show himself which my own standing with my classmates & fellow collegians placed in my power I never had any cause to regret the part I took—Had the same change been effected in his character in the sophomore year which afterwards took place he would have graduated high as a man & a scholar—we have now in the City a brother of Blunts who is an associate Editor of the N York American & a practising Lawyer in the courts of that state. He is a young man of very modest & pleasant manners & a very excellent mind which has recieved some considerable cultivation. He is hear on purposes connected with the aforesaid newspaper & having seen him often & became quite well acquainted with him I have taken up an opinion very favourable to the two—

It is to be hoped those said letters you mention have no dates otherwise I know not how you will account for what we should call negligence in the delivery of them.

We expect Charles my brother & your old acquaintance here to night. He is to pass the vacation with us which as you may well suppose will much please / Your friend & Classmate

John Adams—


Title: From George Washington Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 24 December 1823
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

				6.
					My dear Mother.
					Boston 24th. December 1823.

				I have received your journal for the two first days of this month and shall as you permit read parts of it to my Grandfather. He has consented to give me all your preceding journals which are to be delivered to me next week. He thinks this the most proper disposition which could be made of them as he does not wish them liable to any view but those which you may voluntarily grant. I shall preserve them with the utmost care as they form a very interesting series.—. We had as Charles has probably told you a very heavy snow storm on the two first days of the last week which caused the tides to overflow the wharves in Boston and damaged Mr Quincys salt works at Quincy. The damage there was not very considerable but Mr Quincy says that if the storm had continued twelve hours longer it would probably have cost him a thousand dollars. Shaw and I were at Quincy and were fastened there by the storm till Thursday morning when we both returned to town. On Saturday evening Grandfather was quite unwell but he revived very much on Sunday. He did not lie down all day Saturday which probably induced great weakness and exhaustion in the evening. On Sunday he had company all day in rapid succession and seemed to be pleased and gratified by it: he does not go out of the house at all and I think stands in need of exercise for he is much weaker than he was when you left us and shows it particularly in the evening: his spirits however are good and his hearing has improved. Boston is a famous place for all sorts of reports, as the following instance will prove. It is gravely reported that Mr Andrew Ritchie who was recently wedded to Miss Sophia Otis, was married in a suit of white satin, with ruffles of superb lace on the sleeves of the coat and the border of the waistcoat and particularly in white satin shoes. This has been so great a topic of conversation, though utterly destitute of truth that it struck me as worth while to inform you of it. If fame gathers feathers as she flies she will have more than white satin pinions when she reaches Washington. We have had several splendid parties in Boston but I have not, although invited to several, attended any of them, principally because they were given to the bride whose wedding visit I have not yet paid. The Greeks are much talked about but as yet not much assisted in Boston. Some of the Boston Merchants thrive by the Smyrna trade. The papers tell us there is to be a caucus at Washington and many here are waiting anxiously for its result. The wheel of State will begin to roll here next month and some think that before it stops it will crush our good old governor. Enough of Politics. You have not mentioned yet the arrival of the flowers or the silks or the cranberries so that I am in doubt particularly about the latter. Did you see Dr Keating? Please to tell Charles to draw Mrs Clarks order and pay the money to Father as I have paid her upon her urgent request. It must be drawn early in January that it may not be sent on here. I shall answer Fathers last letter this week on my return from Mr Boylston, who has urged me to dine with him Christmas day: most affectionately your son

					George Washington Adams.


Title: Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, "List of Plate", 1823
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To:

				List of Plate

					1823

				1 Silver Ewer and Bason12 Bottle Stands1 Tea Pot and Strainer1 Coffee do1 Milk do1 Sugar dish2 Ladles1 Punch do4 Salt Cellers  4 do Spoons2 Pr  of Flat Candlesticks1  do High do1  do Sugar Tongs1  Case containing 2 dozen Knives, Forks do & Spoons do.1 Tea Spoon and 1 Table Spoon with Mr. Adams1 Dessert Spoon with Charles2 dozen fluted Knives and forks1 dozen and ten Dessert Knives and Forks  Spoons.dozen Knives and Forks do Table Spoons Knives and Forks do. Tea Spoons Charles


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 1 January 1824
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Washington 1st Jany 1824

				God Bless you my Dear Son and send you many many happy years to enjoy life and do honour to your Parents and Society is the fervent wish offered by your Mother whose prayers for your welfare are so pure they will be received and granted at the throne of mercy as long as you continue to merit them—We have entered on probably the most stormy year of our lives on which hang great and momentous events. for my I neither hope nor fear but for your father I feel sincerely all the troubles and vexations which must assail him in this mighty struggle which rouses alike all the passions and most violent feelings of mankind—Let it end as it may I trust there is yet much of happiness in store for us away from the cabals and intrigues of public life—You will be surprized at not receiving more of my journal but the fact is I have absolutely not time to attend to it this winter in consequence of the immense influx of visitors that besiege my house and which really and literally overwhelm me more especially just now on consequence account of a Ball which we are to give on the 8th of this Month which is to be attended by General Jackson a magnet  so powerful as to attract not only all the Strangers but even the old residents of the City who never thought of coming to see me before—As all Congress have been invited en Masse you can readily believe that I have between 9 hundred and 1000 invitations out and there is still a week to fill up—I have been obliged to order Carpenters to place Pillars on the lower floor to prop my house which If I do not take this precaution will surely be a falling house and then what would become of all the Capulets aye and the Montagues too—We are all sick of bad colds and the Winter is so unwarrantably mild that we are likely to continue so until it wears a more becoming aspect—We are very anxious concerning your Grandfather to whom we beg you will say every thing affectionate and suitable to the Season as well as to Mr Boylston to whom you must return my thanks for his good things—Every thing arrived safe and we have perhaps the kernels though we lost the Shells I will therefore only add remembrance to the family with whom you are and remain your affectionate Mother

					L C A.

					A certain friend of yours for whom it is said you feel an enthusiastic admiration is playing a game which no one can comprehend but the INITIATED in your Capital—At least so rumour says.

					Mum—


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to Ebenezer Green, 6 January 1824
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Green, Ebenezer

					Mr Green.
					Quincy 6th Jany 1824

				I am compelled once more to demand payment in legal form of a quarter’s Rent, of the Farm &. Dwelling, where you live, which became due on the first of January Instant—Your immediate attention to this business, may save you and myself further trouble—Your’s & ca:

					Thomas B Adams Agentfor J Q Adams—

					A true copy of a letter delivered to Ebenezer Green, at the request of Thomas B Adams.


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 12 January 1824
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

Studious Youth
Pretty-Hill, Jan 12th: 1824

Your letter of the 28th: Decr. is an epistle of a sage. I will tell you  a story, of ancient days. “When I was a Sophomore at College, my mother and her Sister Ann Adams, Wife of my Uncle Ebenezer Adams, came to spend the day with me. On looking round my room, they thought I wanted several little articles of accomodation, which they did not see. They asked why I had not this thing, that thing, and the other thing. I said “I made out to do without them and as they cost money, I was loth to burthen my father with the expence. They commended my prudence, but advised me to procure the things. My Aunt on Her return home, bruited about in the neighborhood that she “really believed, Cousin John, had come to years of serious consideration” You may apply this to yourself, if your conscience will permit you.
I rejoice to hear that your Cousin Johnson Helen, is better. Give my compliments to him, and advise him to pursue a rigid regimen of cooling diet, and as much exercise on horseback and on foot, as he can bear; rather than go abroad to Europe for his health, instead of which, invite him to come to the northward and spend some time with me at Montezillo, where we will carry him about in your carriage and show him all the fine hills, fine islands, fine harbours and fine rivers, in this neighborhood and make him breathe the salubrious mountain and salt water air.
 We are waiting to hear an account of the grand dance on the 8th. of the month. If you have an opportunity, give my compliments to General Jackson and tell him, if I had strength enough in my old fabric I would take a “Journey to Washington” and pay my homage to the “deliverer of his country.” Good old Massachusetts however reduced in power and consideration is still very happy. “Long may she continue so.” I approve your resolution to attend the Supreme Court and advise you to take notes or minutes, and never forget the Proverb “Studium sine calamo somnium.”
Your affectionate Grandfather

John Adamsby orderT. B. Adams Jr.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 February 1824
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					My Dear Son.
					Washington 3. February 1824

				On the 5th. of last month I received your Letter dated on the first and have been in expectation of receiving the statement of your account promised in it, which has not yet arrived—It gives me great pleasure to learn that you are persevering by elevating your attention to the art of regular account keeping, and I cannot cease to exhorting you to master it throughly and to apply it unintermittingly to the transaction of your own Affairs.  I this day draw upon you, a bill, at sight, to the order of Alexander Kerr, Cashier of the Bank of the Metropolis, for one thousand Dollars—From you Letter, it appears you had a balance of 1221..88 in your hands to which you have doubtless since received further additions—I shall write further respecting your brother Charles hereafter. I am your affectionate father

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 February 1824
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					My dear Son
					Washington 3 February 1824—

				On the 5th. of last month I received your letter dated on the first & have been in expectation of receiving the statement of your account promised in it which has not yet arrived. It gives me great pleasure to learn that you are perseveringly devoting your attention to the art of regular account-keeping  & I can not erase exhorting you to master it thoroughly & to apply it unintermittingly to the transaction of your own affairsI this day draw upon you a bill at sight to the order of Alexander Kerr, Cashier of the Bank of the Metropolis for one thousand dollars. From your Letter it appears you had a balance of 1221.88 in your hands to which you have doubtless since received further additions. I shall write further respecting your brother Charles hereafter.I am, your affectionate father—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Broom,, 3 February 1824
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Broom,

					3 Feby 1824

				Mrs. Adams requests the Honor of Mrs Brooms Company at Tea on Tuesday the 3d of February and every alternate Tuesday during the Session of Congress when agreeable.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 February 1824
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Washington 12 Feby. 1824

				I received your Letter of the 7th yesterday Evening and was very happy to learn that you sustained the rigours of the Climate so well as I have involuntarily felt some apprehensions lest you should have suffered in consequence of your residence for so long a time in one so much warmer and milder—Poor Charles left us two days ago and I think with deeper regret even than usual—under an appearance of great coldness he possesses an ardent sensibility which I much fear will expose him to severe trials his judgment is however so strong and matured for his age that I fervently hope it will counterbalance in a great measure the evils which we must anticipate though we cannot prevent them in our career through life—I am pleased my dear George with your attachment to Mr. Webster as I am sure it is founded upon reason and principle but permit me to caution you upon the most dangerous trait which I have long perceived in your character and which I have long long wished to correct or rather to restrain—You are I know at that period of life when a young man shakes off parental authority and for that very reason at that time of experience and knowledge (if I may so express myself) when your own understanding will teach you to appreciate and value the counsels of a Mother whose sole study has been the advantage and welfare of her children—The trait of which I speak is one in itself always more or less dangerous to a man who is to be thrown either by his talents or his station into the active bustle of a busy life in a very busy world—In such a situation we require all the cool mature deliberation of sound reason to guide us and particularly a habit of viewing with calmness and steadiness the characters, habits, and manners of those with whom we associate and thus  guarding ourselves from the greatest evils to which we are subjected by intimacies and friendships with person’s who however attractive and alluring they may to a warm heart and exalted imagination oftentimes only produce upon mature acquaintance shame and vexatious disappointment—It is the warmth of your imagination the goodness and, almost simplicity of your heart that leads you to judge well of every one and makes you heedless of realities and blinds you to errors palpably conspicuous to every one beside—Mr Neal would probably say that this defect proceeds from the poetry of your mind I should say that it proceeds only from a desultory mode of thinking and from strong impulses not properly controuled I therefore beg and entreat you to check the evil ere it swell to a torrent which will overwhelm all your bright prospects with sorrow and place you in a world of shadows in which you will find no counterpart—An enthusiastic disposition is seldom a happy one as it dwells on extreemes not to be found in this our mortal sphere where we must take the bad and good as it may be meted unto us with resignation and gratitude—Do not fancy that I have written this Letter from any particular cause. Your father and myself have been much pleased with the propriety of your conduct—but when you left me I proposed to write you on the observation which I had made on your general character and I have only fulfilled the promise made to myself while I was capable of it as my health is so unequal I am seldom able to write at all.—Be careful of yourself and ever love

					L. C. A—


Title: From George Washington Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 2 March 1824
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					My dear Mother.
					Boston 2nd. March 1824.

				It is pleasant to be able to inform you that Grandfathers health rather improves than declines. He has gone comfortably through the month of February and is now better than he has been for some time past. The family at Quincy are well. Mr Cutler, the Episcopal Clergyman there seems to have made sad havoc with poor Susans intellect. She is very enthusiastic and the religious fervor grows rather than diminishes. There would perhaps be no reasonable objection to this were she prudent but the ostentatious display of opinions in direct opposition to those which he entertains sometimes irritates Grandfather and much affects his comfort. Cutler is considered in Boston an eloquent man and amiable in his private character but not as endowed with very remarkable powers of mind, or blessed with superabundant judgment: he has however established a great reputation at Quincy and his eloquence excites if it does not mislead some of the ladies of his congregation. Charles has come home in very fine spirits, delighted with his winters enjoyment and more talkative than we ever knew him. He afforded Grandfather much entertainment by grouping his fellow passengers and describing their peculiarities which he had noted with that discriminating accuracy of observation which has always distinguished him. He gave us an excellent imitation of Mr Emmets manner in arguing the steam boat cause and was full of news from parties, Congress, the Supreme Court and home. His friends here have generally thought him too reserved but he has proved to them what we knew before that he can be delightfully communicative. The Caucus at Washington seems to be the fashionable topic throughout the Country and does not produce much effect here. The Maine Legislature has adjourned after proving by a vote for nominating Electors, the Majority to be in favour of my Father. There have been probably as great efforts made for Mr Crawford in Maine as in any quarter of the Union but they have been hitherto constantly unsuccessful and though Maine may possibly be divided in her Electoral Vote yet the Majority from present appearances will go for my Father. There is a paper at Taunton in this State called the Free Press which has till now been edited by Messrs Merrick and Parsons a son of old Judge Parsons who has now relinquished the Editorship. While Mr Parsons was joint Editor the Free Press supported Mr Calhoun but now Mr Merrick having become sole Editor has come out since the Caucus in favour of Mr Crawford. Few people however read the Free Press and those who do are not generally satisfied with it: the little merit which it has hitherto possessed giving but frail hopes of its future excellence. The electioneering gentry here are wide awake and sowing the seed which is to produce a harvest for the first of May. The Federal party are struggling to regain the ascendant either in the chair, the Senate or the House if not in all and the Republicans being pretty sure of the Chair are anxious about the prospect for the Houses. Mr Otis is riding round the lists at Hartford and proclaiming himself the Champion of the far fained convention: he has thrown his gauntlet at the Governor but the Governor sets firm in his saddle and rides carelessly on having ensured the victory. My letter seems about to close with a flourish of trumpets but it is more agreeable to express again the respect and affection of  / your son

					George Washington Adams

					P.S. Your letter would have been answered before had not an indisposition (which confined me several days) of a bilious nature prevented: please to mention this as the reason why Mary’s last has not received a reply. I have now entirely recovered and am quite well. 6th. March.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 4 March 1824
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					My dear Son.
					Washington 4. March 1824.

				I duly received your Letter of 15. January, with a Statement of your Account of Agency to the close of last year, upon which I have one remark to make, to which I wish you to pay the most pointed attention—It is that in charging yourself in the Account B. with $1139..29 for Cash received, you do not shew on the credit side, in what manner or for what purposes it has been expended—You only credit yourself by “Expenditure on Agency” so much for each of the three Months of October, November, and December—This is scarcely better than rendering no account at all—I desire you to send me a particular statement of every item of this expenditure of $1139..29. that I may know for what the money was paid; and that in all of your future Statements of Account you would particularize so that I may have in this respect no questions to ask.I wish you to ascertain whether at the Boston Athenaeum, or in the Library of the Historical Society there is a file of Boston Newspapers for the years 1777 and 1778. and if there is, that you would examine them to see if they contain any account of the death of James Knowles, understood to have been a Lieutenant on board the Boston Frigate, and Prize-Master of the Ship Fox, in which he was taken and carried to Halifax—He was afterwards exchanged—returned in a Cartel to Marblehead and died in the latter part of the Winter of 1778 at that place—Make these enquiries as soon as possible, and write me the result.I have only time to add that we are well, and that I am your / affectionate father

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 7 March 1824
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

My dear Grandson,
Montezillo March 7th: 1824.

Your kind letter of the 22d: February No 15 is as pleasing to me as the former numbers. I have not seen the Pilot. The young ladies, you speak of instead of tinkling verses and frivolous novels, had better read Dr Barrows sermons, get them by heart, and deeply impress them upon their souls. As to the Caucus I am glad you have not written me upon that, fir it si a very unedifying topic. The misfortune of Chief Justice Marshall is a severe affliction to me as it is to you and your family. I rejoice that his character and conversation are held in so high estimation by you, for he is a diamond of the first water. We are likely to be entertained here till next June with a controversy between Mr Otis & such antagonists as here after may appear, and I fear that anecdotes and circumstances will be brought to view which will give no pleasure to sober sensible people of either party, but the world must do its own business and I am glad that I have no more to do with it: however I have almost got to that state in which political writings of all kinds roll o’er Montezillo and but soothe my sleep!
It grieves me to hear of the frequent indisposition of your excellent Mother but I hapily find that there is a redeeming and restoring force in her constitution which preserves her and may it long preserve her even to the age of my Grandmother which was ninety. Your Brother the almost Lawer, who is here, has become fluent, eloquent, and voluble, upon every subject as if he had never had any hesitation How he has conquered all his checks and stops so effectually I know not, but he must have taken as much pains as Demosthenes did, who with pebbles in his mouth marched to the seashore and there harangued the storms.
I am well satisfied with you all three fully believing that you will make respectable men let Harvard College say what it will. Say to Abigail I hope she will return home before the putrid weather. I build strong hopes of seeing you all in August. Mr Shaw has disappeared from us for five or six weeks and for a long time I did not know where he was but have lately heard that he is in Salem, what he is doing I know not. Pray continue your letters regularly for they are one of the cordials of the old age of / Your affectionate Grandfather
John Adams.