Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 August 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My very dear friend
					Quincy 3d. August 1821

				Mr. Shaw brought me your letter last night of the 29 and you may be assured I will attend to the confidential injunction it contained— At the same time I will take the liberty of expressing my doubts as to the propriety of shrinking thus for ever from any manifestation of the publick feeling which it is natural to expect (and which with our Institutions which are altogether popular) it is sometimes dangerous to reject. To me who understand perfectly what the real motives are by which you are actuated, and who can fully appreciate them, it would be perfectly unnecessary to assign reasons; but the world seldom examine farther than the surface of things and our very virtues are frequently tortured into vices by  misconception— You in consequence of the natural coldness and reserve of your manners are more calculated to produce a harsh judgment than most men; more particularly as the publick opinion inclines to believe this coldness to proceed from pride; instead of being as I know from modesty, and a desire to avoid display. The Address notwithstanding it has been severely censured for party purposes, has in fact prepared the publick for a change of opinion favourable in every respect both to your manners and principles, and it would perhaps be wiser to meet it with ease and grace, than to be thought to shun it with disdain: more especially as there is nothing uncommon or remarkable in such a circumstance, as all the Secretaries are offered the same marks of respect or esteem; and the very desire to avoid it implies and attatches an idea of importance to it, which tho’ it may be real, ought not to be perceptible— You will read and frown perhaps at the remarks above; but you will forgive them, and need never sanction them. We have all a right to an opinion; perhaps not to express it; but the length of time we have lived together, and the cordial interest I must ever take in your interest concerns authorizes them, and makes them harmless— Last Eveng Mr Van Lenop was here wishing to make a compliment he said he hoped when he returned to America in four years he should have the honour of visiting me at the great house. I pretended not to understand and replied he would always be a welcome visitor at any house: upon which he began a speech meant to be very civil which terminated by “if the Vox populi must chose he did not know why they should not pick you up— We have all been sick here and Mary and myself considerably so— The Coachman’s fever left him for a week but returned last night— Your Father improves in health and  every hour and is planning parties all the time  I am to accompany him— He says you must break away from the President and Mr C Baron whether they like it or not for see you he will— Your Brother still has the jaundice and look badly but he is lively and conversable and more as he used to be than I have seen him for many years— We are all at a loss about Commencement and I am teazed by questions which I cannot answer— It is not very fashionable to make an entertainment on the occasion and in your situation from all I see and hear it would scarcely be possible to do it without making exceptions— At all events every part of the family that can will attend and what is to be done with them?Ever Yours—


Title: From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 7 August 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

My dear Boylston
Montezillo 7th August 1821.

Although I have not been able to acknowledge your kind letter, I have not been less grateful for it nor less delighted with the exuberance of the productions of your agriculture. My little hills too have been tolerably fruitful but they are mole hills in comparison with your mountains. I long to look down upon my hillocks from your lofty heights but all such delights are forbidden to and unattainable by me. I must be contented with gazing at your Wachusett from one of my miniatures.
We are blessed with the company of my dear daughter, John Quincy and her son George who desire to be remembered to you and by you and Mrs Boylstone. The Secretary is expected by the 25th. but all is uncertain with respect to him. He is flying in the air and no man knows when or where he will alight. I shall see you at the little Hills after Commencement. Farewell dear Cousin
John Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Mary Catherine Hellen Adams, 8 August 1821
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Mary Catherine Hellen

					My dear Mary.
					Washington 8. August 1821.

				I was much gratified in receiving your Letter of the first of this Month, which I trust will be followed up by others; at least as often as once a week—Of all the accomplishments that a young Lady can acquire there is none more reputable, or which can be more useful to her through life, than the talent of writing Letters—None that so indispensably requires the exercise of the faculties of the mind—Like all other talents it is much improved by practice; and when I gave the injunction with which I now thank you for complying, it was not less with a view to your profit than to my pleasure.Although your journey from New-York to Boston was so much shortened, by taking the Packet to Providence, I was apprehensive that it would prove a severe trial to your Aunts’ health—I hope it has been in the end useful to you all, and have no doubt that it was particularly so to you.We have had here nine of the hottest days in succession that I ever experienced at Washington—Since Monday they have been cooler, but the Sun is yet glowing with all his fervourA very melancholy Event happened here yesterday, which had been preceded by others too naturally leading to it—One day last week a Mr Hepburn attacked in the Pennsylvania avenue young Henry Randall, as he was walking with his Sister and another Lady—Hepburn knocked him down with a club, and there was a scuffle in which Randall stabbed him with a dirk, but so that the wound was not dangerous—Some days afterwards Randall made a like attack upon Mr Edward Fox;—in consequence of which Fox challenged him—They fought yesterday in Virginia, and Fox was shot dead upon the spot—This is a sad way for a young man to end his life—and still more sad, to be the means of so ending the life of another.The President came to the City yesterday for a few days—Your brother Johnson is very well—Mary Buchanan has been about a week at Mrs Frye’s, and is going this week to Philadelphia—I called to see her one evening last week but was disappointed, as she happened to be gone out.This Letter will reach you just in time for you to answer it so that I may receive the answer the day before I propose to leave the City, on my way to Quincy—I shall look for it therefore, and in the meantime remain your affectionate Uncle and friend

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 9 August 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My best friend
					Quincy 9 August 1821

				Your Letter was brought to my chamber door and thrown in by your father this morning before I was up he having heard me express some anxiety to hear from you yesterday morning was so good as to give it me as soon as it arrived—I am delighted to learn that you adhere to your resolution of leaving Washington on the 20th. and shall be careful to have a conveyance for you to Quincy from Dedham—The Coachman grows worse instead of better and we have very little use of the Carriage unfortunately as your father seems to take more pleasure in riding than in any other amusement—We are just setting out for Cambridge on a visit to the boys by his request but I fear a little that the fatigue may be too much for him though he is not willing to acknowledge his weakness. The plan of a party to Sandwich is not likely to succeed as the Scarlet fever is in the house Mrs. Clark being very ill confined to her bed at this moment (though not considered dangerously so) and several of the younger members of the family having already had it before we arrived—The Dr. has recommended caution and I have prevented Mary from going into the Chamber at all. By the time you arrive I trust every symptom of it will be removed as I should be uneasy at the idea of your being exposed to infection of any kind—The anecdote of Mrs. Hay accords so entirely with her character and disposition it was impossible for a moment to doubt its authenticity—Mr H must have felt charmed at the soft sensibility of his better half and delighted at the tenderness displayed by his most affectionate Wife—I shall probably see the Sheriff to day and will attend to your request—You however have nothing to fear as much pains is taking to render your Address unpopular and an Answer is in the Press it is said supposed to be written by John Lowell—dr. Eustis and De Grand called here and De Grand say’s that even Judge P. of S. was a little concerned at the effect it might produce Eustis however says it was not half bitter enough—Will Johnson accompany you? John Boyd is here very much improved and likely to make a very fine young man. He is very desirous of being exchanged to another Ship as the Columbus is to be layed up for a year and as he seems to have a taste for the profession it would render him an essential service to keep him actively employed—Perhaps Stewart would take him? Your Brother is likewise very anxious to get Thomas into the Cadet School they are now here and could it be done it might save the boy from ruin.—The Carriage is at the door and I am not half dressed—Ever Yours

					L—C Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 12 August 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

					Quincy 12 August 1821

				This will probably be the last time I shall write you as your journey will commence soon after the receipt of this Letter. My present object is to mention a plan which has occurred to me concerning your father who is very desirous of going to Commencement but who is evidently too weak to support the fatigue of the day without something is done to make it easy. My  plan is to engage two chambers and a sitting room at Cambridge to which we can take him the day before Commencement and to remain there with him until the exhibitions are over which will be three days. By this means he will escape all the fatigue of riding and have only the business of the day to attend to—He got through his journey to Cambridge and Boston very well the other day but he has suffered much ever since in consequence of the exertion which however he is not at all willing to acknowledge. He complains of a constant pain in his back and his eyes are very bad much in the state yours were in England—His spirits are pretty good and the anticipation of seeing you seems to keep him alive.We are to have a great parade here the day after tomorrow with the Cadets. Your father is to give them a breakfast and it will put him to much trouble and expence besides the anxiety which it produces—The Compliment is acceptable but it seems to me they might have paid their respects without expecting him to put himself to any inconvenience. The family however think differently and we are to have half Quincy besides the Corps. Large tables are to be set out of doors with every suitable refreshment and others in doors for the Officers and the Ladies—Your brother and Mrs. A. of course must do the honours and make the arrangements which are also partially put into Briesler’s hands—Shaw will likewise be here and we are to have Speeches &cc—I wish it was over the hour being early for me and not being very fond of such things—The Sheriff says he has not heard an intimation of what you feared so I pretended you knew nothing about it and that it was only an idea of my own. My health has been wretched ever since I have been here Mrs. Clark is better but Coachman still continues to have his fever—  I wish you would tell Ellen to put my two Grey Silk pelices one lined with white and the other trimmed with fringe into your Trunk and Elizabeth’s Great Coat which is in the large trunk in Entry—I will not gratify you so much as to say how much I wish to see you but if you participate the wish you will judge by your own feelings of those of your affectionate Wife

					Louisa C. Adams

					Give my love to JohnThe Quincy Farm looks quite handsomeAn Answer or properly a review has been sent to me of your Address by de’ Grand—It is a  coup manquée I would send it to you were it worth it—


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 17 August 1821
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My Dear Cousin
					Princeton Augt. 17th 1821

				Your kind & welcome Letter by mail of last Eveng relieved my increasing anxieties respecting the cause of your long silence, I placed it to various events, or employments but my fears suggested that you were unwell and too much indisposed even to dictate a Letter, as I knew Mr G W Adams was most probably with you—a Glimpse of relief however appear’d from what was announced in the Boston News Papers that the young cadets march to pay their respects to you at Quincy on Tuesday wch. they wou’d not have proposed had you been the least Indisposed—My mind is now at rest on that account & hope you will long, long continue to enjoy that health & spirits you evince in your correspondence with the Ladies & also the authors of public Orations—I am sorry to find its altogether uncertain as to Mr Secretary Adams leaving Washington this Season, I depended much on seeing him & Mrs Adams here before this day—I find she has slip’d by us, got to Quincy without our knowing of her having left WashingtonAs it will not be in our power to come to you after two days spent at Cambridge and seting 6 & 7 Hours each day in the meeting House—which I do not know how I can endure at this Season of the year. But I have to try it—and a trial of my strength it will be if the weather is as hot as it has been here for the last 7 days, The Thermometer has hardly once been below 85. & up to 92 the greater part of the time—I hope it has not been so much with you—We propose to hasten our departure from hence this day week, and pass our Sunday with you & return in the afternoon to the Hermitage, provided the weather or any interveneing accident should not forbid the fullfillment of our pleaseing anticipationsMrs Boylston desires her particular respects to Mrs Secretary Adams to wch. you will please to add mine, to hers & our kind regds to the Ladies—Mrs Boylston also begs you woud Accept her affectionate wishes & regards / And am my Dear Cousin / Your ever faithfull / And obliged Cousin

					Ward Nichs Boylston

					I beg my complimts to Mr T Adams & Mr G W A—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 August 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My dearest friend
					Quincy 18 August 1821

				The style in which my Letter of the 3d was written, pretty clearly evinced by its apologetic nature, the fear I felt of giving offence; and your answer has proved those fears were not unfounded: Surely I have never doubted the or disputed the all distinguished attentions you have received from your Countrymen, and still less ever suggested the idea that you courted them—You must permit me to say, that I think there is a wide difference between courting, and shunning, the advances of the publick, and that there could be no other meaning in the observations I made on the subject, you of all men must be most sensible, as my sentiment on the subject of intrigue of any kind, has been too decided on all occasions to be doubted—Your commission was executed and happily; as I found there was no cause for the caution which as I informed you I took upon myself altogether lest it might be misunderstood that your reason’s are solid and good I am perfectly sure were it my business to enquire; but it is quite sufficient you should deem them so, for me to act accordingly—Your Brother has met with an ugly accident which confines him to his appartment. The day after the Cadets were here, he took his two Children in his fathers Gig, and was overset by the little wild Horse who will I fear if not sold or exchanged sooner or later endanger your fathers life. The Children were fortunately uninjured; but the Judge had a large cut in the head, a contusion on the forehead, and the back of the head, and Neck, and a hurt on the breast—He was bled yesterday and is recovering fast from the disagreeable effects of the accident, but I hope it will confine him a short time longer, or till you come to us which I am glad to learn from your Letter is still fixed for the 25th.George’s part is the 24 part, in concert with Mr King Mr Coffin and Mr. Corbet who it is now said will return and take his part—The subject of George’s part is the influence of Natural Scenery on Poetry. He is determined to keep his part secret and not let a creature see it until he speaks it; otherwise he will not speak it at all—I like his independence and think it should be encouraged, for he had better exhibit his own thoughts than be indebted to the Genius of others—It will be given in before you arrive—Charles is here to pass his birth day. He does not look well having an ugly eruption on his skin, but this is common to boys of his age and rather an indication of health—I expect to hear from you once more before you arrive when I trust you will write me something I dont know and which will excite less and a different kind of interest, than the Letter received to day; which to be candid grates a little upon the feelings of your Wife and friend.

					L. C. A.

					 is a failing which I am sensible I participate with many, particularly when I find myself in a good  I shall do nothing with Commencement until you come—


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 19 August 1821
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

				6.
					My dearest friend.
					Washington 19. Augt. 1821.

				I have received your Letters of the 9th and 10th. and am able now only to ask you not to be disappointed if I should not reach Dedham next Saturday as I have proposed.The day before yesterday I was obliged to send an Express to the President, who is at Shannondale Springs—His answer might have obliged me to put off my visit to the North entirely—The Express has just returned—I cannot start to–morrow; but yet hope that I may on Tuesday—Then if I am not detained Philadelphia I may yet get through this week—Otherwise you are not to expect me till the night before Commencement.Mr and Mrs Smith sailed from Port au Prince for Pensacola the 27th. of July—Well.I can not even see to assure you of my unseasing / affection

					A.


Title: From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 August 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Shaw, William Smith

My Dear Nephew
Montezillo August 22d 1821

Have you the laws of Congress from 1797 to 1801-3 or the journals of the senate for that period? Can you find the Law by which provision was made for the Military Academy? Was it made before 1797 or during, or after that year? Before I left Congress in November 1777 Resolutions were passed for such an institution—They are in the Journals of 1775 1776, or 1777—can you find them? My Eyes forbid all search. Was there any Preceptor of such a Seminary appointed before Jonathan Williams? I remember my nomination of him and the reception that nomination met in senate
The secretary S A Otis gave me a particular Account of it—The testimony of many of the Senators to his qualification for the situation, from their personal knowledge was ample and satisfactory—you, I presume, must remember his appointment?
Naughty Child! on Saturday, you disappointed / your Uncle
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to John Peter De Windt, 8 September 1821
From: Adams, John
To: De Windt, John Peter

Dear DeWint
Montezillo Sept. 8 1821

I have this moment received the Joyful News in your Letter of the 3d. Say to Caroline “Macte virtute esto.” Go on and bless the World with as many daughters As Providence will permit. If She educates them to be as good as their Mother Grand Mothers Great Grandmothers Great Great Grand Mothers and Great Great Great Grandmothers They will be the Salt of the Earth. I have known this whole Generation of Ladies and a wiser or better race never existed in this World.
Your Convention begins well and I doubt not will be wise. They have able Men. Diamonds of the first Water.
I am with much Affection and Esteem / your Gradfather
John Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams, 2 October 1821
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To:

					Quincy 2d October 1821.

				1. U.S. Register—for 1822— 1824/102Memo—Thomas Boylston Adams—Junr, To be entered as a Candidate for admission as a Cadet at West Point—

					T. B. Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 October 1821
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

					3. Octr. 1821.

				List of Keys, left at Quincy by J. Q. Adams—with T. B. A.

			1. Padlock large French trunk—marked J. Q. A.2. Chest—not painteddo3. Chest do  do4. Mahogany box—5. Small black trunk6. Trunk de la Volaille7. Large Hair Trunk.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 October 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My best friend
					New York 7 October 1821

				The Enterprize has just arrived and brought all the stray baggage which will be delivered to us tomorrow morning—A Gentleman has just called to announce to us this very acceptable inform news who says he made every exertion to expedite its return—Of the Coachman and Elizabeth we have heard nothing but are in hopes they will be here tomorrow night and should they arrive I propose to leave New York tomorrow Eve on Tuesday in the Brunswick Steam Boat and proceed to Philadelphia where it is probable I may remain two or three days—Mr. & Mrs. de Wint do not leave Town until next Friday they have passed the Eveng with me and are very well—The little Lady is a very fine Child and Mrs. de Wint seems delighted at her having black eyes and says she is likely to be more volatile than either of her Children who are all three very steady and sober—I fear she is likely to be more like her namesake than is to be wished—George’s poetic effusions and Mary’s perpetual giggle makes it impossible for me to say more than that I am as ever your very affectionate Wife

					Louisa C Adams

					John S A Boyd came last night and took leave—He is in perfect extacy with his female Commander Mrs. S. whose high toned authority he spoke of with some mirth The Franklin dropped down this morning—We are still confined to our chamber—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 7 October 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

					My Dear John
					New York 7 October 1821

				The plan of your father to follow us as far as the cross roads to Dedham prevented my taking leave of you I therefore hasten to write you a few lines in explanation and to let you know how we go on—Our journey was tolerably pleasant until we reached Blakes at West Greenwich where the Coachman was taken sick and we were obliged to hurry on to New London as I was impatient to consult a Physician—who found him so ill as to be apprehensive of a Typhus fever. As your father wished us to accompany him to New York I left Elizabeth to take care of him and we went on board the Steam Boat where we found a great number of Passengers. Mr. Lanman whom you remember and he enquired very kindly after his old favourite—When we arrived at New Haven your father persuaded me to take a walk and on our return we found the Boat in which we had come gone and half of our baggage gone with it and all my money—You can easily imagine what a state of anxiety this threw us into and how foolish I felt not having a key left to the Trunks which we had with us and how pleasant the idea of losing all my pretty things was to me—In addition to this we had a most stormy voyage and so much disgusting Sea sickness that it scarcely possible to endure it—On our arrival here we could only procure a bed room and have had the delight of eating drinking Sleeping and receiving visits in the same since yesterday morning eight o’clock—Your father proceeded to Washington immediately with just enough money to carry him on and not sufficient to purchase a Cloak to keep him from the Cold—Mr & Mrs. de Wint have been here and are now remaining in New York which they do not propose to leave until Friday I have therefore given up all thoughts of going to Cedar Grove and shall continue my journey on Tuesday morning—John Boyd came last Eveng and took leave and the Franklin went off to dayMany times and oft have I thought of you and Charles since I left you and always with the conviction that you were both exerting the talents you are both so eminently gifted with to bless and reward the tender affection with which I am your Mother

					L C Adams

					Our baggage has all be brought back to us this Eveng—George is better but still poorly


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 11 October 1821
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					My dearest friend.
					Washington 11. October 1821.

				On arriving here yesterday, I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter of last Sunday from New-York by which I learnt the prospect of recovering the missing baggage—I found all well at home, but there is yet considerable disease in the City; and the yellow fever is said to be at Alexandria.Antoine says you sent him an order to get  a grate for the chamber over head; but he cannot find one that will suit—He desires me to tell you, that you can get one at Philadelphia, as good for 25 dollars as one which would cost fifty here—But he adds that there are none such to be had at Baltimore—I shall expect you here about this day week, and though anxious for your arrival, would not have you hurry yourself at all—Trippe’s Steam Boats will come from Frenchtown next Wednesday Evening, so that if you leave Philadelphia Tuesday, you will be there in time for him.I enclose three Letters for you, and remain with love to George and Mary, Faithfully yours

					J. Q. Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 14 October 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My best friend
					Philadelphia 14 Octbr. 1821

				Mr Sergeant sent me your Letter yesterday morning and I thank you for the pleasant information it contained concerning the health of all at home—I wish I could give you the same assurance concerning my little party but the Coachman is still very ill and Elizabeth is also quite unwell. George is on the whole better but occasionally much indisposed and subject to faintness—Mary and I do better than either and we hope to reach home on Wednesday according to your wish—On the whole Antoine had better get a set of Iron jambs for the Ball room like  those in your Library as I find Grates large enough for the room are very expensive—Give my love to Johnson and believe me most / affectionately yours

					L C Adams


Title: From John Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 16 October 1821
From: Adams, John
To: De Windt, Caroline Amelia Smith

Dear Caroline
Montezillo Oct. 16th. 1821

I have received your very kind letter of 7th. october—the friendly conspiricy between your Aunt yourself & Mr De Wint to transport me to fishkill—is admirably well contrived—and is very flattering to my feelings but it is too hazardous, ardous & magnificent to my feeble and timorus age to encounter I should infallibly be seasick on board the Steam Boat—and one fit of sea sickness would put an end to my frail fabrick and I thank you for kind wishes & intentions but I am under the necessity of declining yo with your compliance—my love to all my family, and yours, who are with you or at a distance from you—& rejoice that you are with your Aunt who is a precious Jewel, and a fine model for you we are here as well as usual—and all send love—I am your affectate G F

J Adams


Title: From George Washington Adams to William Smith Shaw, 18 October 1821
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear Sir
					Washington 18th October 1821.

				My Father has desired me to request you to send on with his law books a large Ainsworths Latin Dictionary and a copy of Adam’s Roman Antiquities both which are somewhere among his books at the AtheneumI am my dear sir / respectfully yours.

					George Washington Adams

					P.S. This is written in a hurry I shall soon write you a letter. I will trouble you to hand the enclosed paper to Mr Benjamin Joy and to tell him that I was requested to transmit it to him by his Brother Mr George Joy of London.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 21 October 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Washington 21 October 1821

				Your Letter my caused me a mixture of feelings some pleasing some painful the latter because there is an evidence of a temper little calculated to promote the success of your wishes and evincing a disposition to rebel against your fathers order which must end unhappily to yourself—Be assured my dear Son that industry obedience and application will produce the best effects and that while you practice those these virtues your Mother will be watchful of your wishes and will labour to gratify them—Your father is a little vexed at learning that you have again been to Quincy he says he possitively forbade your going there yet Elizabeth has written to Mary and says you were there last Saturday week—I am glad you have become acquainted with Mr Saul he is said to be a very fine young man but I a little mistrust the morals of a young man just from New Orleans—be on your guard as to the acquaintance you make for on them may Depend your future prosperity in this life—Second my exertions by your own and your Mothers in your favour may perhaps be crowned with success—I hasten to close my Letter as it is late and I cannot write long without suffering—Yours Ever

					L C A—

					Tell John when he writes to wafer his Letters—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 30 October 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Washington 30 Octr. 1821.

				Regularity and method are so essential to the acquisition of real knowledge that the little annoyance of the Bell is a trifle to the good consequences which its sound produces when it reminds you that certain duties are to be performed at certain times—The human mind requires an incessant spur or stimulus to invigorate its action or more properly speaking to force it into certain channels where application or study is requisite which from its nature is always more or less dry most especially when the higher branches of knowledge are to occupy our minds Your idea of being a walking machine is a very good one and I hope that your habits will all be regulated by decency and decorum as well as your studies hitherto I have had no cause of complaint—Home is indeed as dear to me as ever. but poor Washington has suffered so much that we hear of littl else but sickness and deaths—Julianna Wetcroft is to be married next Tuesday week to a Mr Marshall of Kentucky he is a Nephew of the Chief Justice and a man of fortune and talents—I do not hear of any other news worth writing at present and shall conclude with love to John your affectionate Mother

					L. C. A—


Title: To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 31 October 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

					My Dear & honoured Sir
					Washington 31 October 1821

				Since my return home George has so well supplied my place in writing to you and we have had so few events (save melancholy ones) to detail that I find it scarce possible to address you on any subject that can excite a moments interest—The family generally are well and Georges health we hope is rappidly mending—This day the new Spanish Minister was introduced to the President this day. He is said to be a gentlemanly agreeable man but I suspect he is a very high tempered and irrascible person and likely to give and make a great deal of trouble more especially at this moment when the Spanish Governors in Florida have cut out so much work ready to his hand—The City has improved astonishingly during our absence and is really progressing rappidly—The City Hall is a very fine building and when completed will be very ornamental The Unitarian Church is roofed and will be completed by Christmas—We are to have a very gay Winter in which I do not think I shall participate much not being in a state of health which will not admit of much fatigue—Many of the Members intend bringing their families it being the long session—Our sickly Season is nearly over and there are but few cases left these however are of the most desperate kind—Several instances of Yellow fever it is said have occurred but I am inclined to doubt the fret—It is however certain that it has been in some of the small Country Towns at a distance from the Sea Ports which makes the question of its importation very doubtful— I will write again soon—Give my love to all the family I find I am not to see my poor boys this Winter perhaps I may never see them again. but Gods will be done—Your dutyful daughter

					L. C. A—


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 31 October 1821
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My Dear Cousin
					Princeton 31st Octr. 1821—Wednesday Evg—

				Tho’ you have not indulged me with the pleasure of hearing from you, since your return to Quincy, I have been comforted with the assurances of others, who have seen you, that you thought you were benefited by your excursion and sustaind the fatigues of your journey much better than you expected—every thing that contributes to exhilarate your comforts, or pleasures, adds to mine in  a decuple proportion, and I hope when we meet at Quincy wch I hope soon to be able to do—I shall see you in perfect Health.—I assure you we daily & almost hourly recall to our contemplations the favor you conferrd on us & the obligations we owe for the visit you made us—and on this Day we particularly devoted to you as your natal day—my workmen and hired men kept it, as a Jubilee.—and tho’ I had not the fatted calf to kill, I slaughterd the Stalld fed ox, and made merry wth our friends, & they with theirs—and in the Evening treated the Carpenters, Labourers, & others, who repeatedly drank your Health in the best I could give them, with Cakes of the best wheat flour, spiced to their palates—abt 10 oClock the party separated in perfect peace & as far as I have heard (sobriety)—I have been detaind here much longer than I expected—but from necessity I am compeld to wait untill my farm House Cellar was stoned and my Frame  was raised all my working cattle being daily employ’d in drawing Stone and geting in my winter crops.—this being now in such a State of forwardness as leads to conclude I shall be able to leave this place on Monday the 5th of the ensuing month, if a snow storm don’t intervene, wch. may be expected at this season—Mrs Boylston desires her affectionate respects & regards to you—and kind remembrances in union with mine to Judge & Mrs. Adams & Miss SWith the greatest affection / I am ever yours—

					Ward Nichs Boylston

					PS Do us the favr. when you write to Mr Secretary & Mrs Adams rember us with every sentiment of regard


Title: From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 1 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

Dear Sir
Montezillo November 1st 1821

Though my visit to Princetown formes an Era in my Life, and afforded me as much pleasure as my nature, and state was capable of—And though I look upon every step of its progress with delight St Anthony who was as persecuting a saint as any in the Callendar took advantage of it to stir up his fires subterranean fires, and sent a violent inflamation into my eyes and face, which has prevented my writing till this time—I left your lofty situation and Elegant Establishment with admiration that I shall never forget—nor your, and Mrs Boylstons perpetual civilities and kindness’s I hope this Noble seat will descend to your Posterity, in the name of Boylston forever and ever—which reminds me of my duty to complain of your with-holding from me the sight of your grandson Ward Boylston of Lancaster—I would have skiped off my Bed like a grashopper to have seen him—And I reproach myself with my own hebetude in not thinking to demand an introduction to him
I found my Old Habitation looking externally exactly as it did when I left it, and without any difference internally, except a few repairs going on in the upper Chambers—Without fondly believing in any miraculous interposition of a special Providence for me, I am stricken with admiration, and deeply affected with gratitude for a surprising preservation, from a privation of a Place, in which to lay my head—The expence of repairs, though two great for my scanty revenues to bear without inconvenience, were not so great as I expected—My family are all  arrived in good health in Washington, and George town—I hope soon to hear of your arrival in Roxbury, and to receive you, and Mrs Boylston with open Arms at Montezillo—
I presume the secretary of State is sufficiently tormented in writing sharp answers, to bitter remonstrances, to Don somebody, concerning Floridian affairs
I am with sincere affection / your friend,
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 3 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

My dear George
Montezillo November 3. 1821

Your letter of the 28th. of October has been received with pleasure—First because it is sprightly ingenious and agreeable—Secondly because it is a proof of your continued punctuality and Correspondence—Thirdly because it gives us a most refreshing assurance of the abatement of the epidemic in Washington, Georgetown, and its neighbouring region
Fourthly, because you appear to be pleased with the tranquility and retirement of your present situation—
Fifthly, because you are sensible of the advantage you have of the Society and Councel of your Father, an inestimable blessing for which you can never be grateful enough, for, he is as willing, as he is able, to explain everything to you, and assist you, in every step, in the advancement of your studies—
 Sixthly because you will have so constantly the Society of your Mother, who has as much sense, as she has taste, and as many elegant accomplishments, as she has extensive acquaintance with the world. She can direct you in all your pursuits of French literature, as well as English; she can refine and polish your taste in all things—so much for this time, and this text—now for Politicks.—
I have been reading Vondoncourts Ionian Island from the History of the Intrigues of Venice, Russia, Austria France, and now England with Ali Pacha—It is to me highly probable there will be e’er long be a mighty explosion in the Province of Albania and Ancient Greece which must e’re long be a scene of desolation Or under an independent Government—I wish you would ask your Father, if he can communicate to you—And consequently to me, anything concerning the Proclamation of the Senate of Messina, or concerning the application of the Ionian Islands to our Government—
Your letters George give me a great deal of satisfaction—and I take delight in answering them—
I am your affectionate / Grandfather—
John Adams
P.S. love to your Mother and Mary Hellen


Title: To John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 5 November 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Washington 5 Novbr 1821

				When at Quincy you have often reproached me for being prejudiced concerning the Unitarians and not willing to listen to listen to the truth—I now candidly confess that I understand so little what the difference is between this and other sects I should feel very thankful if you would enlighten my understanding upon these points at the same time requesting you not to refer me to long Theological discussions which would be much more likely to disgust my patience than to convince my reason—All I want to know is what are the primary principles and if the difference is really nothing more than that which Jesus was not the Son of God but that he was sent by God being inspired by the Deity with particular powers to save man from perishing eternally by becoming a sacrifice for the Sins of the World.—You will be surprized at my writing you on this subject but I thoroughly despize a mean and a narrow prejudice and am desirous of being convinced by reason of my error—No man is more capable of producing this conviction on your dutiful and affectionate daughter

					L. C. Adams.


Title: From George Washington Adams to William Smith Shaw, 10 November 1821
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear Sir
					Washington 10th November 1821.

				For your favour of the 23rd October I am greatly indebted;  it should have been acknowledged before were it not that subjects are constantly accumulating in which we are led to apply to you and I thought it better to delay for a short time the answer to your letter in order to take an opportunity at the same time reluctantly to trouble you with some request or other. Such an opportunity has arrived as I am requested by my Father to thank you for forwarding the books in the schooner Ocean and to inform you that they have arrived safely and uninjured. The present request is that you will be so kind as to add to the books which I have previously begged of you to send on when a convenient opportunity shall offer, a volume of Terence the Delphin Edition which my Brother John will give to you should you recollect it when you see him. It belongs to me and I left it among my books at Cambridge.I was glad to learn the names of the authors of the North American Review as there are one or two articles in the present number very apropos to my present pursuits. The articles on Coke upon Littleton, and Colter on English Law I shall read carefully, the former by Mr Cushing the latter by Mr Brooks but I confine myself at present almost entirely to Blackstone with whom I am highly delighted. Indeed it appears to me to be one of the most interesting works which I have ever met with and gives me as much pleasure as it is calculated to afford instruction.There is nothing new in WashingtonI am Sir / sincerely yours

					George Washington Adams.


Title: From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 11 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					My dear daughter
					Montizillo 11 Nov 1821

				I have to thank you for two amiable letters—the last is of too great importance for me to answer to your satisfaction or my own. I am myself too much under the influence of prejudices to have ever reproached you seriously with yours. As long as association of ideas & feelings and the consequent power of habit shall be a constituent part of the constitution of human nature so long will all men labour more or less under the influence of prejudice. Esteem and affection for the faith that was taught us in our infancy and professed by our parents is rather an amiable quality than a culpable fault. It is our duty however to embrace the truth when we see evidence for it although it may counteract contradict our early opinionsI do  not however attach so much importance to creeds because I believe that his cannot be wrong whose life is in the right. I would not advice you to distress or perplex yourself with questions which have confounded the wise in all ages of the world. I believe that a hundred volumes would not inform you of all the arguments strong weak & indifferent which have been produced on the controversy between Unitarians & Trinitarians. For seventy years I have read everything that fell in my way concerning this subject and after all, you would be surprize  that you will if you did not think me insane, if I were to tell you how I would proceed if I were to begin this examination anew—but I will state begin by the folowing Questions.Quest 1. Is this stupendous & immeasurable universe governed by eternal fate?—2. Is it governed by chance? 3. Is it governed by caprice anger resentment & vengeance—4 Is it governed by intelligence wisdom and benevolence—The three first of these questions I have examined with as close attention as I am capable of & have decided them all forever in the negative. The 4th I have meditated with much more satisfaction & comfort to myself & decided unequivocally in the affirmative & from this last decision I have derived all my system of divinity & the first philosophy and have received more joy & comfort in believing it, than I could have received from believeing the affirmative or doubting about it the three first. The doctrine of the Trinity is a part of an immense system of doctrines of too enormous faith for me to digest—The imputation of Adams sin to all his posterity—their merit of eternal punishment for it—the damnable state in which we are all born—the necessity of an infinite sacrifice in the blood & death of Almighty God, as an atonement to himself for this guilt in a very few elected by hiswill his mere will to shew the glory of his power—but I must stop for the present—but I shall never cease to be your affectionate father—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 11 November 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Washington 11 Novbr. 1821

				When I left you I did not think  you were so soon to assume the sacerdotal vestment but I sincerely congratulate you on having even the external appearance of that which I so much advise and of course cannot wish to shorten the term which places you in so respectable a light—  That you should be eclipsed is not remarkable at all—but that you should make great exertions to shine by your own light and not to consent to be obscured by rays which however brilliant, may only prove luminous Meteors calculated to attract your attention and observation, rather than to repel your future attempts would not be remarkable and would only prove that an a positive act of volition is capable of overcoming the greatest difficulties and productive of the happiest results—I am never offended my dear Boy unless I see a determination to wound my feelings by disrespect or indifference either of which would hurt me more than I can express—The duty which I have ever considered as incumbent on me both as your Mother and your best friend frequently induces me to counsel and advise you and always with the intention of avoiding harshness or unkindness—The chief happiness of my life consists in knowing my children good and correct and the only real solicitude I feel is for their interest which engrosses my thoughts by night and by day—In them I have ever placed unlimitted confidence and I am too proud to think a child of mine could ever abuse it—My hopes have ever preponderated over my fears and I am convinced so strongly of your affection that it ensures your success at least as far as depends upon undeviating industry and application which even supposing you possessed the most splendid natural talents you are called upon to continue to make those talents profitable—.The serious style in which I am accustomed to write does not please you but you must remember that the topics between us must in a great measure be limitted but I will endeavour to make my correspondence more amusing if you will endeavour to write a better hand which you can do with very little trouble and afford your Mother who so sincerely loves you the greatest satisfaction—I could wish you would listen kindly to this request of your devoted Mother

					L. C. Adams

					Haughtiness always implies a great degree of merit—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 11 November 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

					My Dear John
					Washington 11 Novr. 1821

				I make no charges against you what ever and on the contrary am delighted to find that if I did you can so easily exonerate yourself from them—What I meant in my last Letter was simply to put you on your guard and to inform you that such a plea was made to your father as a reason for your not having risen higher in your Class—Georges pen is so prolific and his style so pleasant I believe I shall be obliged to resign to him a great part of my correspondence as I find myself too much inclined to serious counsel and the extreme affection I feel for my children leads me to fear when perhaps I ought to confide—I wish I had been of your party when George Barnwell was read I at least should have betrayed the tear of sympathy and have joined in the feeling of real woe which that admirable Tragedy relates—It is the awful and striking reality of the picture drawn in this piece that makes it so truly pathetic, that brings it home to the heart of every dissipated Youth and leads him to reflection—Too many are the fatal instances which we almost daily witness of such seductions and alas too often do we hear of the same fatal terminations of error and vice—It is a Tragedy which I never could see performed although I was in England when Mrs. Siddons used to perform in a style which harrowed the Souls of the beholders—I heard her say that this part and that of Mrs. Beverly were two of the most difficult to perform as it required every exertion to command her own feelings which were ever highly excited by the nature of the parts—After playing these and Belvidera she said she was generally carried home in strong histeria fits—I note your list of Books and recommend you to go on and prosper rely on it not a moment of exertion will lose its rich reward now or at a remoter period—The health of our City is restored but we are ineffably dull—George is a hard Student but begins to grow fat. I thank you from my Soul for your attention to my wishes concerning the Cigars and pray God to protect and bless you ever

					L. C. A.


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

					Dear George

				I thank you for your letter of the 4 Nov. I am very glad you have got so far through Hallams middle ages to hear that you are so nearly through Hallam’s middle ages. I am travelling through the same country from the benevolence of your friend Quincy, who after travelling through it himself gave me a lease of it for a term. It is a valuable compendium and I am very glad to find that he gives so great a character of MURATORI whose grand collection is in the library of the Mass. Acad. of arts & sciences and whose annals and antiquities are still in mine. The great work of Sismondi which he quotes with so much respect I have never seen; though I have read his literature of the South of Europe with infinite pleasure. If your father has not the works of this great writer, I hope he will procure them for you & your brothers. I owe the imperfect knowledge which I have of this writer to the friendship of Mr Lyman as I do for the use of 50 other volumes, which but for him I should have never received. I beg you to seek the friendship & correspondence of this gentleman.In Vellys history of France, you will find a great part of Hallam and more in detail. In Mezeray—father Daniel—Froissard & Phillip de Coomines you already know much is to be found. Hallams account of the feudal system is I believe pretty correct but I own to you I have never had so at strong an impression on my imagination and my heart as of the decided despotism of this system as from the poems & novels of Walter Scot—but if I should follow the confused ramblings of my old head I should never arrive at the conclusion that I am your affectionate grandfather

					J Adams


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 15 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

Dear George
Montezillo November 15th. 1821

I thank you for your letter of the 4th. November I am very glad to hear that you are so nearly through Hallams Middle Ages.—I am travelling through the same country from the benevolence of your friend Quincy.—who after travelling through it himself gave me a lease of it for a term.—It is a valuable compendium and I am very glad to find that he gives so great a character of MU RATORI, whose grand collection is in the library of the Massachusetts Academy of Arts and sciences; and whose Annals and antiquities are still in mine. The great work of Sismondi which he quotes with so much respect I have never seen; though I have read his literature of the South of Europe with infinite pleasure.—If your Father has not the Works of this great writer, I hope he will procure them for you, and your Brothers—I owe the imperfect knowledge which I have of this writer, to the friendship of Mr Lyman as I do for the use of 50 other volumes; which but for him I should have never received. I beg you to seek the friendship and correspondence of this Gentleman—
In Vellys history of France—You will find a great part of Hallam, and more in detail. In Mezeray, Father Daniel—Froissard and Phillip de Comines, you already know much is to be found—Hallams account of the feudal system is I believe pritty correct but I own to you I have never had so strong an impression on my imagination and my heart, of the decided despotism of this system, as from the poems, and Novels of Walter Scot—but if I should follow the confused ramblings of my old head, I should never arrive at the conclusion, / that I am your affectionate Grandfather—

John AdamsPS Mr Martin is on his way to the City of Washington


Title: From John Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

My dear Daughter
Montezillo november 15th. 1821

I have to thank you for two amiable letters—the last is of too great importance for me to answer, to your satisfaction, or my own—I am myself too much under the influence of prejudices to have ever, have, reproached you seriously with yours. —As long as association of ideas and feelings and the consequent power of habit shall be a constituent part of the constitution of human nature; so long will all men labour more or less under the influence of prejudice.—Esteem and affection for the faith that was taught us in our infancy and professed by our Parents is rather an amiable quality, than a culpable fault.—It is our duty however to embrace the truth when we see evidence for it—although it may contradict our early opinions.—
I do not however attach so much importance to creeds, because I believe that his, cannot be wrong, whose life is in the right.—I would not advice you to distress or perplex yourself with questions which have confounded the wise in all ages of the World.—I believe that a hundred volumes would not inform you of all the arguments strong, weak and indefferent; which have been produced on the controversy between Unitarians, and Trinitarians.—For seventy years I have read everything that fell in my way concerning this subject, and after all, you would be surprised if you did not think me insane. If I were to tell you how I would proceed, if I were to begin this examination anew—but I will begin by the following Questions.—
Question 1st. Is this stupendous and immeasurable Universe governed by eternal fate?—
2. Is it governed by chance. 3 Is it governed by caprice anger, resentment and vengeance—4 Is it governed by intelligence wisdom and benevolence—The three first of these questions I have examined with as much close attention as I am capable of, and have decided them all forever in the negative. The 4th I have meditated with much more satisfaction and comfort to myself and decided unequivocally in the affermative, and from the last decesion I have derived all my system of divinity and the first philosophy, and have received more joy and comfort in believing it—than I could have received from beleiving the affirmative or doubting about the three first.—The doctrine of the Trinity is a part of an immense system of doctrines of too inormous faith for me to digest.—The imputation of Adams Sin to all his Posterity. There merit of eternal punishment for it.—The damnable State in which were are all born—The necessity of an infinite sacrifice in the blood and death of Almighty God, as an atonement to myself for this guilt in a very few elected by his mere will to shew the glory of his power—But I must stop for the present—But I shall never cease to be your affectionate Father—
John Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 23 November 1821
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Adams, John

					My dear Nephew—
					Quincy November 23d 1821.

				Under an expectation that after our personal interview at Cambridge, you would provide yourself with the Article of dress which you required, and a new Hat, at Mr Fairbanks’s, I have been less urgent to answer your Note which was received and acknowledged by your Aunt, in my absence from Quincy. I have now only to Say, that whatever Garments you or your brother may want, if not, like yours, of the first necessity; the making of them would best be postponed till the Winter vacation—&ca.We are all well as usual and look forward to a pleasant interview, at the Annual Festival. Love to our Sober-faced but lively-minded Nephew of the first Class, from your / Affectionate Uncle

					Thomas.


Title: From John Adams to John Adams, 26 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John

Dear John
Montezillo 26 Nov 1821

I also am an advocate first for universal suffrage 2dly. for universal emancipation 3dly for universal toleration & fourthly for universal education.
But I must still inquire, what is meant by universal suffrage? If reading & writing were necessary, that rule would in the middle ages have excluded all mankind except the clergy and a greater part of them and even Charlemagne himself. I have three grandchildren at my fire side under fifteen, who can read as well & write better than Jefferson Maddison or Munroe. The present generation of children under 12 years of age  in New England can read & write better than their representatives in Senate & house. This qualification then will not do. Your discretion independence judgment & will are an admirable rule—but by what criterion shall we determine who possesses these qualifications & who does not. Who shall be the judges—who shall appoint those judges and are you sure that the judges will possess those qualifications themselves & are you sure that they If readig & writing constituted the  criterion this rule would exclude nine tent tenths of the people of England and forty nine fiftyieth of the people of France & the like proportion in Spain Portugal Italy and at least among the Catholic proportion of Germany & in Holland too and how great a proportion would it exclude even from Holland You make very light of the argument for the ladies & evade it by a turn of wit & gallantry but this is not argument Upon what principle of liberty justice equity & fraternity would you exclude them? Once let them know that they have the right and you will find them as fond of displaying their eloque and their charms and their eloquence in public as the men and as ardently aspiring to offices and dignities. We have had instances in this Country. Miss Eleneor Custuss grand daughter of Mrs. Washington & now a virtuous & excellent matron Mrs. Lewis. While a beautiful & blooming virgin she mounted her palfry and galloped to the hustings & demanded her right to vote as a free holder & a free holder she was to a large amount. Laws must be general & can not always comprehend every individual. The question is what law will be the most general & most equitable. My opinion  old fashioned to be sure—that property in land is the safest the most equitable and the most likely to produce education independence discretion & will. An acre of land is not likely to break or run away. Personal property more easily takes to itself wings. A group of foreigners ought not to appear on the day of election & decide the most important elections & the next day fly away like a flock of birds of passage. Personal property should not be wholly excluded but should be guarded by terms of residence or other proofs of permanence & stability—but a drunken ignorant profligate thoughtless licentious & giddy rabble ought not to bo away the property of the most industrious & substantial part of the community. Would you permit to come out all the paupers of England to vote for members of parliament & to vote themselves into parliament? I am not advocate for your pot walloping burroughs. These may be as pernicious  it would be to let out paupers & prisoners I agree with you that it is desirable to have an uniform rule in the US but when you become a member of Congress you may find it more difficult than you imagine—& you will find every general standard which you can imagine to be attended with more difficulties and will unjustly exclude greater numbers of individuals & admit greater numbers who are unworthy than your sense of right will approve. Exempli gratia If you fix on twenty one as the age—you will exclude many of 19 & 20 who are better qualified than many others already admitted of 22 & 23—If you Fix on free hold, you will admit many who are indiscreet and exclude many who are discreet. If you fix on any personal property you will find it liable to the same exceptions. If you fix on sex, you will exclude the better half of mankind—If you fix on writing & reading, you will exclude allmost all  man kind & even in your own country, more than you are aware of. By this time you must weary of reading this long epistle from your affectionate grand father
J. A. agree with you that an uniform rule throughout the US. is very desirable but how to effect it is the question


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 29 November 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					Dear Charles
					Washington 29 Novbr. 1821

				I was much pleased to observe that you had taken more pains with the writing of your last Letter than you generally do and sincerely thank you for it as all these things prove your affection for me much more strongly than could possibly be manifested by any other method and immeasurably encrease maternal affection by adding esteem to the strong ties of nature—You have yet but little idea of a correct and elegant style but practice and habit will soon correct these difficiencies and as your taste improves by the perusal of well selected authors and a general acquaintance with polite literature (not meaning by this only W Scott novels) you will acquire a rich flow of language which will enable you to express your ideas with purity and conciseness—The only caution I have to give you is concerning the choice of a model copy none servilely but select good from all and make a practice of noting passages which strike your imagination forcibly in a common place book but beware my darling boy of forming erroneous opinions of character and let no false colouring however specious or brilliant delude your understanding or mislead your judgment—There are unfortunately for youth too many such fascinating authors and Rousseau ranks the highest among them when studied by a youth just entering on the stormy period when the passions require constant controul to prevent them from usurping dominion over our reason—Have you read Miss Aikin’s Elizabeth? it is spoken of as an excellent thing! I am like you I do not like one idea’d persons but without drudgery in youth we cannot acquire a capital on which to live in old age and it is then we are made bitterly to feel ourselves reduced to be one idea’d and without a prospect of change for the better—While I know you to be applying with real energy to distinguish yourself by diligence and industry and I can never doubt of your ultimate success in obtaining every desirable distinction whatever cloud may at present obscure the horizonYour Mother

					L C A


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 2 December 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

					Dear John
					Washington 2 Decbr. 1821

				I should have answer’d your Letter earlier could I write with my accustomed care but it fatigues me so much I feel too much inclined to neglect my usually pleasant occupations—I received a Letter yesterday from your brother which indicates a very seriously discontented mind and makes me very apprehensive that his disposition is acquiring a habit of complaining and uneasiness calculated to injure his future prospects during his College education I know not what to do in this case but should think that his living much alone would encrease this tendency and lead to unpleasant feelings in his ClassmatesYou my dear John have a character and understanding so similar to my own I can freely utter my sentiments to you on all occasions without having to listen for an hour to sophistical arguments whose ingenuity may be great but the hollowness of which only irritate me because they convince they me that plain truth advanced by sound and correct principles, must often submit to appear vanquished when it is most palpably right and as I grow old it acts more violently upon my temper and has the unpleasant consequence of keeping me in a state of perpetual warfare to guard against the stealing influence such a mode of argument is calculated to produce—I think my Dear John were you and Charles to write a respectful and affectionate Letter to your father beseeching him to grant you permission to come under a promise that you will return before the expiration of the vacation so as to be at College when the term begins it might perhaps produce a good effect and at any rate if you were denied it would make matters no worse—Your father as you are sure acts upon the best possible motives and intends by this measure only your good—and that being his great object should it be possible that he would grant your petition it must operate upon you both as an additional motive for exertion any failure of which under such circumstances would render very unhappyYour Mother

					L C A—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 23 December 1821
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

					My Dear John
					Washington 23d Decbr 1821.

				Altho’ I write with difficulty I cannot resist the temptation and must gratify myself by writing to you and my Dear Charles even if I pay dear for it—Upon one subject the nearest to my heart I will say nothing lest I should say too much—In this world we must innure ourselves to disappointments and we must learn to meet them with patience and only remember them as incitements to greater exertions in future—Be assured that in well doing we have the greatest of all satisfaction the approbation of an approving conscience and with this all circumstances however painful they may be to our feelings for a time prove but the ephemeral evils of a little hour which is for ever gone ere we have hailed its birth—Madame de Stael was certainly a woman of an extraordinary cast and her talents blazed with a  lustre even during her life; and after her death as a brilliant metear for Fame to record and Trumpet to Posterity—Fortunately however for mankind, such women are rare; such minds could not be fitted for the common relations of society—They could not bear the shackles and restraints which man for his own comfort necessarily imposes, and would soar above that social and moral compact, which forms the strong basis of family union, peace, and happiness.—As a single individual, she was an object of universal admiration, As a Daughter to her Mother, and as a Wife, she utterly failed in those qualifications in which the real and great merit of Women consist—The natural propensity to coquettry which exits, in every female heart, and which varies but really remains until long after it is supposed to be no more, would utterly unfit us for the operations of government which even in the hands of Men give too much opportunity to display the narrow and evil passions of humanity; without the excitement of petty allurements addressed altogether to the sensual passions, and irritating natures of Mankind—Woman when she steps out of the common and limitted bounds of her Sex is an Angel, or a Devil: and as superiority generally creates a torrent of envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness, the latter as the great success, while the former shrinks dismayed from the appalling contact of vice and depravity—Your Mother my beloved Son is always flattered by the even exaggerated opinion of her children; for to them had she the ability, she would combine all that is great and excellent by way of example and stimulus to exertion—

					L. C. A—


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

My Dear Grandson,
Quincy 27th Decr. 1821—

I have mourned with your mourning in your No. 9 of the 16th Dec. for the loss of Colonel Trimble, and laughed through your gaiety concerning the Ball at the English Ambassador’s. The transitions from grave to gay and from gay to grave are very frequent in this mingled world and we ought to make sober reflections on them all. But I must transide from the letter to a former one.—
You are reading it seems my old English translation of the spirit of laws. If I remember any thing of scrawls in the margin, made 50 or 60 years ago, they were mere exercises of the pen made to imprint on my mind the substance of the Book. I fear they will be of very little service to you.—It is a great work and many things are to be learned from it. But perhaps some errors in it are to be avoided. He seems to think that government is a mere affair of Climate, and that despotism, monarchy, aristocracy and democracy are to be deliniated on the map by the scale and compass, and by the latitude and longitude of places. He talks too about fear, honour and virtue, as the principles of government in a manner rather too geometrical, for I believe no government of any kind can be established or supported without all these principles of fear, honour and virtue—mixed together in great or less degrees. He speaks too of the love of equality as a passion in the human breast, but I have never been able to find any such passion there. In all the democratical governments I have ever read, heard or seen, I have found as little love of equality as in monarchies, oligarchies, aristocracies, despotisms or even in mixed governments. In all governments there is an eternal struggle in every individual to rise above somebody or other or to depress somebody or other who is above him to his own level or to a degree below him. And this is my observation of human nature, but if Montesquieu penetrated deeper into it, I should be glad to be convinced of it. I have seen too many instances of men who had practically said
I love my friend as well as you
But why should he obstruct my view?
 We have prepared a handsome and convenient room for your Brothers, and prepared fuel and accommodations for their comfort and studies, and I am delighted to hear that they are become exemplary students. They have never been here through the whole term, except at Thanksgiving, and then they were very punctual to their time.—
You would scarcely know Penn’s Hill since is has been ornamented with so handsome a wall.—
 Tell your Father that I gave to your Brother John my old pine tree, and cod fish, and buck skin seal, but he has promised to send it to your Father, who is the most proper person to keep it and to give it to whom he pleases when he has done with it.—
Tell your Father that I have found the old circular pedigree which looks like so many wheels within wheels of boules de savon and that Miss Abigail and Miss Elizabeth have undertaken to copy it, and as they yesterday had the courage to go to Boston without a beau I presume they will be able to accomplish this enterprise.—
 We are all well or convalescent.Your affectionate Grandfather
John Adams


Title: From George Washington Adams to William Smith Shaw, 3 January 1822
From: Adams, George Washington
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear Sir
					Washington 3rd January 1822.

				I am directed by my Father to congratulate you upon the handsome acquisition you have lately made for the purpose of establishing the Athenæum in a more convenient and appropriate position and to request of you the name of the munificent donor who is announced as having given you a building for the purpose. Pursuant to previous custom I have to request of you to ask Messr Wells and Lilly in my Fathers name to transmit as soon as it is published a copy of the dissertation by Dugald Stewart which they have now in the press and remain as ever / gratefully yours

					George Washington Adams


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

Dear George,
Montezillo. 6th. January. 1822.

A cold frosty snowy morning. I have received your No 11.
I am glad you have got through the spirit of laws. You ought to read the Persian letters, the temple of Gnidus, and the other works of Montesquieu. But before you proceed further, I advise you to read, again, your father’s lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory, and that with close attention, steady care, and keen discernment—for although you may find the style, in some particulars, too well adapted to the juvenile taste of his audience, yet the work is of inestimable value to all classes of students, but especially to those at the bar.—I am not about to become your preceptor in laws, but I will advise you to pay particular attention to metaphysical studies from Descartes, Leibnitz, Marlebranch down to Dugald Stuart & Brown—and I will propose a problem for your future solution in the course of your life—viz Whether mankind is most indebted to Francis Bacon, John Locke or Dugald Stuart. Which of the three has most promoted the cause of real science—which most diffusively spread illumination and civilization in the world. I will pass over the first and the last, and fix on Locke. Inquire who have been his disciples. Bishop Berkley, David Hume, Condillac, Leibnitz, Clarke, Priestley, Hartley Reid, Voltaire, Rousseau, D Alembert, Turgot and the French oeconomists. All these were excited to their speculations by Locke and though none of them have agreed with him in all things, and certainly none of them derived their incredulity from him, yet taken alltogether they have done more to overturn tyranny civil, ecclesiastical and political, and to bring into credit & reputation principles of toleration, humanity, civilization, private judgment and free inquiry, than all the writers who preceeded them. Demons, witches, sorcerers, necromancers and judicial astrologers have fled before them almost out of this world. Montesquieu has also aided in the cause, though he was probably not a christian in the miraculous sense of the word. Yet he was a profound admirer of the morality of the christian system. His sarcasms are directed against the corruptions of christianity and the monstrous systems of tyranny & cruelty that have been erected on them not against the essence of christian philosophy or religion.—
Your brothers are pretty diligent students, and take no more diversions in skating or shooting than are for their health. They smoke not so extravagantly as when they had your example to keep them in countenance. I am very anxious and impatient to hear of your mother’s health.—
I am extremely sorry to see in the news-papers so much trumpery about a little sparring about diplomatic etiquette, and am glad that you have been prudent enough to abstain from the least allusion to it. Both those ministers have given universal satisfaction in the country and their feelings ought not to be wantonly or unnecessarily hurt by the Americans.—
I am your affectionate Grandfather
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 13 January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

my dear Grandson
Montezillo 13th. Jany 1822

I am glad to learn by your No. 12—that you are reading Burlamaqui and as he is sound in philosophy morals and Religion, I hope that you will not only read, but study him. Make an abstract or analysis of him, for I inculcate on all my young friends the maxim “studium—sine calamo, somnium.” My early patron Mr Gridley of whom you have so often heard me speak with veneration, who educated more young gentlemen to the Bar than any other lawyer, had so high an opinion of Burlamaqui, that he reduced the whole Book into questions and obliged his pupils to answer them in writing.—From Burlamqui, I presume you will proceed to Vattel, and I advise you to give particular attention to Heineceius on the law of Nature and Nations—Nor must you be fright’ned by the sight of Grotius or Puffendorf or Bynkershoek—nor of the Corpus juris, nor of Hoppius, Vinnius or Cujacius Justinians institutes, at least his defenitions, you ought to have at heart—there is no poetical rhetorical oratorical, romantic or belles letters read to the law. You must buckle on your armour and contend earnestly for the prize.—
We have here Mrs De Wint Caroline and her three little Girls, and have had much pleasure in their company They are now gone to Boston and will not return till Wednesday
We are happy to hear that your Mother is comfortable but fear that routs, Balls, and tea parties, will neither promote her health, nor your studies. Your Brothers are here, and are very agreeable—They are like you, are great readers, but I fear that none of you are such intense students as I wish you were—There is a very deep and broad distinction between reading and Study. Every Student is a reader, but every reader is not a Student.
I am my dear George, your affectionate / Grand Father—
John Adams


Title: From Ward Nicholas Boylston to John Quincy Adams, 14 January 1822
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My Dear Sir
					Jamaica plain Roxbury Jany 14th 1822.

				The Inclosed extract from a Letter I lately rec’d from my friend, Dr Nicholas, wch. I read to my dearly beloved friend yr. father soon after it came to my hand—he was so much pleased with it that he requested me to send you a Copy; And as his wishes are to me, the delights of obedience, I have promptly given it; presuming however that Dr N wd not wish it should be made public as comeing from him, but to use as you may see most proper—I feel very unwilling to intrude any other subject that may engage yr: attention to answer, when your time is so entirely preocupied in Public Concerns—The subject I have to introduc, and the favor I have to solicit is, in behalf of a Relation of our family Mr: Lynde Walter who  applied to me a few days ago to intercede with you in case the Bankrupt Bill now before Congress should pass into a Law, and Commissions should be appointed under it in this State (wch its most likely there will be,) that you would be so kind as to nominate him as one of them—he is a very capable merchant is abt 54 or 55 years of age, was a member of the late State Convention is now a member of the legislature from Boston but has been unsuccessfull in his Mercantile pursuits tho’ no want of Integrity has been imputed to him in their miscarriage—he has a family depended on him for Support—should the appointments not be already nominated; it would be confering a  Blessing on the needy; & giveing considerable aid to the only branch of our family that I know of, that so much wants it.—you have no doubt heard of the Munificent Present made by Mr J Perkins to the Atheneum—Mr Shaw in consequence called upon me to give up the Portrait of your Father to be placed there—I replied that the Picture was at your disposal, & not mine, that I had another disposition of it with your Consent—but without being more distinct to him—I told him he had better write you, & also Consult with the Original which perhaps he may do you probably my Dear Sir may reccolect that I mentiond both to the President as well as to yourself, it was my wish to have your Portrait as a Companion to it, to be taken by the most eminent american artist, and at some future day day placed in the Hall of the Anatomical Museum & Library wch I am prepareing funds to build at Cambridge, & are yearly accumulateing to which I mean to add some of the best of my family pictures by Copley, not from my family pride or Ostentatious view—but solely as evidences of the Genius of a Native American artist, who arrived at that high degree of merit in his Profession by the strength of his own unassisted natural genius without the benefit of a Master or the opportunity of example by visiting  the regions of antient Science or deriveing from the works others any Ideas for the improvement of his own.—Mrs Boylston & myself spent a very pleasant day at Quincy this day week, but we found our Dr Friend had suffer’d very severely by the Intense Cold of the Saturday preceding, and I fear will suffer in the same way from the cold of this day wch: is greater than it was then, the Thermometer (Faranheits) was this morning at Sunrise 10 degrees below the Cypher but it has risen in the Course of the day to 6 above the Cypher but is now growing colder—our Harbour is quite closed—May Heaven continue to you the enjoyment of uninterrupted Health and protracted years of every satisfaction it can bestow, with this and every other sincere & fervent wish believe me / My Dear Sir / Most faithfully / your Friend & Relative

					Ward Nichs Boylston


Title: From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 17 January 1822
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

					My dear Son
					Washington 7 January 1822

				The proposal contained in your Letter of the 12th. instt. does equal honour to your head and to your heart—It shall be carried into effect; but I shall take upon myself a suitable portion of the expense necessary to that purpose—I shall immediately write to your uncle concerning it.The sum received for the Claim given you by your Grandfather, was three hundred and seventy dollars and forty four Cents, which has been at interest for you from the 20th. of December 1819—On the 20th. of December last it amounted to four hundred and seventeen dollars and twenty–nine Cents; and allowing for compound interest quarterly added, will on the 4th. of July 1824. this day when with the blessing of God you will come of age amount to four hundred and eighty–five dollars fifty cents, by my calculation—But I wish you to make it yourself and write me whether you make it out the same—Now as I wish not entirely to take from you but merely to share with you the merit of a generous action,  I shall allow only the interest of your money to be applied to the purpose you have designated, and will account with you for the original sum of $370.44. the net proceeds of the Claim—Charging myself with the expense of making up the $500 necessary for maintaining your Cousin Thomas two years at the Academy preparatory to his admission at West PointI am with more gladness than words can express, your ever affectionate / father

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 20 January 1822
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Charles Francis

					My Dear Charles
					Washington 20 Jany 1822.

				At length I feel well enough to write you again though I have no reason to hope that my correspondence will be renewed with any regularity for some time—Your Letters my dear boy would afford me much more pleasure if there was a less peremptory and positive tone about them—Be assured that it is always possible to be manly and respectful at the same time and that we can better show our determination by our actions than by our words which are often vain and empty things more calculated to mislead our judgment than to confirm our good intentions—If you do not deceive yourself I am perfectly confident you will not deceive me but I am aware that the sacrifice of tastes and habits which are necessarily required of you will cost you such a struggle as will call for your utmost Strength of mind and resolution to atchieve. You are happily gifted with the powers if you know how to bend to the necessity—Go on and prosper industry and application ensure your success and by this success you reward and requite your Mothers fondest affection—George improves very much. he has conquered his love of argument and is in consequence always pleasant conversible and agreeable and by his constant attention and affection I am rendered both cheerful and happy—Johnson Hellen contributes largely also to my comfort by his amiable disposition and obliging temper—His dislike to company encreases every day, and he passes almost all his time at home—Your hand writing is improved but I would request you not to write so small and your letters would be freer and bolder. Do not follow your Mothers bad example; though Sins of omission, are not so bad as Sins of Commission, they are still very ugly, as they betray irregularity of mind and a total want of perspicuity in style two things not natural to a young man of your merit though unfortunately too much so to your affectionate Mother

					L C Adams


Title: From John Adams Smith to Jeremy Bentham, 21 January 1822
From: Smith, John Adams
To: Bentham, Jeremy

					My Dear Sir.
					Jan 21. 1822.

				I enclose the Amended Constitution of the State of New York which if you have not before received I beg of you to accept—If you already have a copy, I will request you to have the goodness to send this back to me, as I have not yet got another.I am very / sincerely & faithfully / yr obt Servt.

					J. Adams Smith


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 24 January 1822
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

					My dear Sir.
					Washington 24. January 1822

				I have received with great pleasure your Letter of the 14th. with the enclosed extract from that of your friend Mr Nicholls—I am very glad to learn that he proposes to publish a new Edition of his Recollections, and I hope he will withhold none of his opinions upon the great topics of National Law to which he well refers.—His Portraits of Pitt and Fox are more true to the Life than any others of the same personages that I have seen, but he has painted them in the costume of antique Sculpture—naked. Perhaps he has not allowed them quite enough of that indulgence which from a human Painter seems due to the infirmities of human Nature; and from my cursory perusal of the Book at your house in Princeton, I thought that the author’s friendship for Mr Hastings, had prejudiced him a little against Edmund Burke.—Since our delightful visit to you, last September, I have read the published part of the Life of Pitt, by the Bishop of Winchester; where are to be found, as was to be expected, all possible prejudices in favour of that Statesman—The Bishop’s book is rather a Panegyric than a Biography, and posterity will form a much more correct opinion of the character of Pitt from Mr Nicholls’s pithy recollections, than from Dr Tomlinson’s ponderous compilation of Parliamentary Debates.Mr Nicholls must have expected that his publication would prove more offensive to the partizans of Mr Fox than to those of Mr Pitt—The general impression produced by it is more unfavourable to Fox than to Pitt—On the great question of the Coalition East-India Bill, which fixed for the rest of their lives the destiny of the two men, Mr Nicholls, who at the time, as a member of Parliament acted with the Coalition, in the coolness of reflection, after a lapse of thirty-six years, not only passes sentence upon the plan, but discloses the fact, that it was neither conceived nor prepared by Mr Fox, who acted throughout the whole transaction, as the mere subaltern Parliamentary Speaker for Burke—The Statesman who lives for other ages than his own, must do something more than merely administer the affairs of his time and despatch the daily business of his Office—He must do something which will outlast himself—Something for which Posterity will remember him with a blessing—Mr Fox spent too much of his time at Brooks’s to accomplish any thing for after ages—He was always the Charles Surface of the School for Scandal—A good tempered, sparkling-witted, and generous hearted Rake, however interesting as a theatrical character is not the metal of which great Statesmen are made. Mr Fox was neither the conceptive nor meditative Mind of his own party, and Mr Nicholls has shown him in only his native colours to the world—There may be Statesmen in this Country, whom Mr Nicholls’s opinions on the subject of Blockade, and of the Slave trade will displease, but I hope that will not deter him from the publication of them—I believe his doctrine upon Blockade to be correct, and there never was a greater outrage upon the rights of neutral Nations committed than by Mr Fox’s proclamation of Blockade from the Elbe to Brest—I hope Mr Nicholls is mistaken in his belief that the abolition of the Slave trade will be found impracticable, but I fully concur with him, that the right of search ought never to be conceded as one of the means for effecting its accomplishment. The practice of search in War, has been rendered too odious to make its exercise tolerable in time of Peace.The Athenaeum at Boston is among the most useful literary Institutions of this Country; and I rejoice exceedingly that it has found so munificent a benefactor in Mr Perkins—I would with pleasure give them Copley’s Portrait of my father, but for the prior, and stronger claim which you have to the disposal of it—You shall dispose of it as you think best—As to a Portrait of myself, it may be a subject of Consideration hereafter.I shall attend as far as I may be able to your recommendation in favour of Mr Walter—It is however very doubtful whether any Bankrupt Bill will pass, at the present Session of Congress.I pray you to present my kindest respects to Mrs Boylston, and to believe me ever sincerely and affectionately yours.

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

Dear George
Montezillo 27 January 1822.

The splendid account we receive from you and others of the dinners parties and balls from Washington almost persuade me to give you an account of the splendour of my family In addition to those which you know very well, we have Mr Shaw Mr DeWint and his lady & two servants. Your two brothers who by the way are very studious & skate, cut & saw wood no more than is beneficial to their health. This is so pleasant a picture of domestic felicity that as you know that we are never satisfied with present blessings it excites in me a wish for something more and greater. I wish I could assemble all my posterity children, grand-children, &c &c &c from Washington and Georgetown from Pensacola and London; from Fishkill Landing & Utica. How happy should I be to give them a ball at Montezillo. But to be a little more serious. Your brothers behave very well—only John says Charles ate a dozen or two of apples more than his stomach could bear and was sick in consequence of it for a day or two but is now well again. There is in the Essex Register a story about me told by some gentleman of the sect of the Loyalists which represents me as a more blustering coxcomb than I ever was in my life. I never sent any such message or any other uncivil message to Gov. Bernard or any other Governor. There is another story in the Boston Christian Register of a conversation with me which however honorable it is to me I do not remember.
How is it into balls dinners parties drawing rooms & assemblies Silentre leges?
I am / Your ever affectionate Grandfather.
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 28 January 1822
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My Dearest Cousin
					Hermitage Reading 28’ Jany 1822 1/2 pt. 4 oClock PM

				When I had the pleasure of meeting Judge Adams in Boston on Saturday last, & to whom I gave a Note wch I took out of the Post—he intimated that it was probable you would not want for a Snow Storm, but would indulge us with Happiness of seeing you & the family some day this week, wch I was rejoiced to hear, as every appearance of Snow has passed off without leaving enough to make it possible to come to us on Runners—and he gave a promise that as he and one of his Nephews had some Business at Dedham to-day, one or the other would take Roxbury on their return to Quincy, & let me know which day except Tuesday that you would name—now as its near sunset I fear he has not left home or is detained at Dedham whereby I am induced to send a special messenger to request the favor you would name which day this week (as they will all be equally convenient to us) that you intend to favor us, together wth the Company of Mr Mrs Dewint, & the young Lady who I did not when I wrote on Saturday  had accompanied them, together wth Judge & Mrs Adams & your Grandsons—and Miss Smith if her Health will permit The Dinner shall be at any Hour you may name as most convenient to you—With Mrs Boylstons affectionate & respects, & regards to the Judge & Mrs. Adams & any our Respectfull Compliments to Mr & Mrs Dewint &c / I am ever faithfully & your affectionate Cousin

					Ward Nichs Boylston


Title: From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 30 January 1822
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

					My dear Son
					Washington 30. January 1822.

				I have received from President Kirkland, his answer to my enquires respecting your standing as a Scholar in your Class, and it confirms the Statement made by yourself—Your number upon the general scale, at the close of the last term was 24—In the course of one half year, you had risen from 45. This result has opened my heart to the cheering hope, that you will yet redeem a standing worthy of you—If there could ever have been a doubt whether it depended altogether upon yourself, that doubt is now dispelled—But you must not relax one particle of your assiduity—The change in your standing, in the course of the last term, is now only the pledge of a corresponding rise in the next—I receive it as a promise from you, that in the list of the next Summer, you will stand not lower than 12—I think you will accomplish this, and perhaps even more—I have fixed my hopes upon it, if possible with more anxiety than I had of your emerging from that degraded place which you had occupied—You are now in the career of honour and success—may the blessing of Almighty power prosper you in it!—In the particular studies of the last term you stand already higher than 24—In Theology, Metaphysicks and Latin, at 19. Your low standing in Natural Philosophy, the Study of the preceding term, still kept you down on the general list, but from this another half year of time well improved will extricate you—Composition, is the Department in which your progress has naturally been the least rapid, but in which it is also the most effectual—Pay particular attention to it, as well as to your speaking—With regard to which, I wish you specially to remember what I told you when I last heard you speak at Quincy—You must learn to speak with much more energy—It would be well for you to practice, when alone by yourself, and speak with what you would deem excessive vehemence—Horace says that fools, to avoid a fault run into its opposite—But wise men sometimes do the same thing. Practice by yourself, and try to rant like Kean—You will always be temperate enough when you come to speak in PublicAs a token of my sense of your good conduct, and improvement of your time during the last half year, I authorise you to purchase at Wells and Lilly’s a complete set of the Regent’s classics, neatly bound, and to request them to send the bill for payment to Mr Cruft, whom you will inform of my wish to that effect—I make you this Present as best adapted to the nature of the merit which I would reward, and as furnishing the most proper stimulus to further and if possible to increased exertion—Keep them in your Study—cultivate their acquaintance; and whenever those most faithful companions of Solitude shall fall under your eye, let them remind you of the pledge you have given, that henceforward to the end of your Collegiate course, you will not miss a single recitation, nor receive a quarter–bill, sullied with a fine.I remain, your ever affectionate father

					John Quincy Adams.

					“Fortiter occupa Portum.”


Title: From John Adams to George Washington Adams, January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, George Washington

ca. January 1822

Tell your Father that I have found the old circular pedigree which looks like so many wheels within wheels of Boules de savon and that Miss Abigail and Miss Elizabeth have undertaken to copy it, and as they yesterday had the courage to go to Boston without a beau I presume they will be able to accomplish this enterprize.
We are all well or convalescent. / Your affectionate / Grandfather.


Title: From John Adams to Alexander Bryan Johnson, 4 February 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Johnson, Alexander Bryan

					Monte Dear Sir
					Montizillo Feb’y 4th ‘22

				I thank you for your favor of Jan’y 23d. & am very glad to learn you have persevered to the end of your course in the study of the law & particularly that Abigail was wise enough to encourage you in your pursuit. This I esteem in her a great merit & a proof of prudence deserving of imitation by all her sex in encouraging their husbands in all manly studies & business, & there is none more so than the law—I advise you to commence the practice immediately—& to pursue it with attention & ardor upon the most honorable and virtuous principles. The subject of your literary design you have not mentioned, but whatever it may be I should make it entirely subservient to my practice at the bar—In making many books there is some labor much anxiety and more obloquy as I have found by awful experience.) and no profit My love to Mrs. Adams Mrs. Johnson all y’r dear children & respectful compliments to y’r father & mother—We hear frequently from Mrs. Clark —& who writes to Louisa many amiable & elegant letters—. She is very serious tho she sometimes dances at a ball. I am dear Sir y’r affectionate Grandfather in law—

					J A.

					P.S—Mr. de Wint & Caroline with 3 of their pretty children have made us a visit