Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 9 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

N. 18.
My Dear Son.
Ghent 9 July 1814

Upon looking back on the list of my Letters sent to America, I am surprized to find that the last I wrote you was dated so long ago, as the 13th: of September; but the causes of this long silence have not been from any abatement of my affection for you. During the whole of the last Winter, and untill I left St: Petersburg to come upon my present Journey I did not receive a line from you—There were very few opportunities by which I could forward Letters; but neither of these circumstances was what prevented me from writing to you—The Truth is, I was the whole Winter, writing to you and your brother John, as you will find by the Essay of which I now send you the first part. My Intention was to have finished it before transmitting any of it to you; but the latter part of the Winter, and untill I came away, my state of health was such that I was obliged to abandon these researches, and I now cannot tell when I shall be able to resume them—Imperfect as in every respect that which I now send you is, I may perhaps never have the opportunity of making it better, and I had rather enclose it now with all its faults, than leave you to think it possible that your father should have been so long without giving you some memorial of his regard.—You will consider it as a sequel to my Letters upon the Bible, and it was promised you in the fourth Letter of that Series—The second part, if I live to finish it, will I hope be shorter than the first.
I take this opportunity to remind you, that you have never acknowledged the receipt of any of my Letters, to which I now refer, excepting the first, and that I do not know how many of them you have received—I do not say this by way of reproof, but to enjoin it upon you as a general Rule, to answer every Letter that you receive, not only from me, but from every other person—This is a very necessary Rule to be observed throughout life; and to a man of business, which I hope you will be, indispensable—There are exceptions to it, as to all other general Rules—Such as, when the Letter you receive is in answer to one that you had written, and there is no occasion for a further correspondence—or when a person writes to you without expecting an answer—There are sometimes people who write impertinent Letters for the sake of obtaining answers, and it may occasionally be proper to disappoint them—But such cases are rare, and in all others, remember that to answer Letters, whether of business or of Friendship is one of the duties of social life.
And whenever you answer a Letter, always take care to inform your Correspondent, that you have received the Letter that you are answering—If the Correspondence is continued, and you have from the same person a succession of Letters, you should also specify the date of each Letter, as you receive it—This is so essential in all affairs of business, that some persons always begin their Letters in one form; by acknowledging the receipt of the last Letter they have from their Correspondent, and specially noting its date or number—Letter-writers who are studious of elegance, do the same thing, but with varieties in the form of acknowledgment; and oftentimes merely by referring distinctly to something contained in the Letter which they have received.
To give you the example with the precept, I have now the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of three Letters from you—One of which, though dated 3. July 1813. only came to my hands the day before yesterday—The other two, dated 20 January, and 8. March of the present year, I received on the 3d: of June, in Sweden, on my Journey to this place. I have now those three Letters before me, and I remark with very great pleasure the improvement in your hand-writing between the first and second, and still more between the second and the last. I have been heretofore much concerned at observing, and hearing of your backwardness in this part of your Education; but your last Letter is so much better written than any of yours that I had before seen, that I do not altogether despair of your acquiring at last a very tolerable hand—What you now want is practice, and a constant warning against falling into carelessness—Even in your last Letter, the date, address, and first three Lines are much better written than the remainder, because it is evident that you began by writing slow, and carefully, and that as you proceeded you grew impatient and careless.—Your Grandmama writes me, that you were to employ part of one day every week in composition, of which I was very glad, for nothing can give the talent of writing, so effectually as the habit of writing.—Never be discouraged, my Dear Son, by the difficulties of beginning, which stand at the entrance of every laudable pursuit—On the contrary, determine to conquer them, and be assured that of all the enjoyments of human life, there is none more pure, and exquisite, than the consciousness of difficulties surmounted, for an object worthy of attainment.
Among your studies, I hope that of English Grammar is not neglected. You say in one of your Letters that you have improved some, in your writing—but that is not good English—You might have said some thing—or some what—But as some is neither much nor little in quantity, so it is by itself, nothing at all in Grammar.
The account you give me of the melancholy death of your schoolmate, and the hymn sung at his funeral, of which you sent me a copy have moved me many times to tears. When I first read them, I thought of the distress with which the shock must have afflicted his Parents, and shuddered at the idea, that it might have been one of my own sons, while I blessed God for having preserved them. The hymn is at once poetical and pathetic. The analogies between Death and Winter, Youth and Spring, with their application to the mournful fate of your companion, and the final reference to the hopes of a blessed immortality, are all easy, natural and well adapted to the occasion—I wish you had told me by whom it was written.
I am very well satisfied with your account of your studies, as far as it goes; but I do not find mentioned in it any thing of English Grammar, or of Arithmetick—I trust you have not been without instruction upon both those Articles, which I consider as essential as Greek and Latin—When you say you have been through Lucian, I suppose you mean his Dialogues of the dead, though I did not know that they were in use as a school-Book in America. I hope you will neither cease nor remit in your study of Greek and Latin untill you find yourself able to read Tacitus and Lucretius with as much ease as Robertson and Pope, Thucydides, Sophocles and Plato, as readily as Gibbon, Shakespear or Addison—And take care in all your studies to learn for instruction and not for Pride—Beware of Pedantry. Keep ever before your Mind the principle of acquiring knowledge for the sake of making it useful to your friends, your Country, and your fellow-men.
I am, Dear George, your affectionate Father—
John Quincy Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 10 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear Mother
St Petersburg July 10th. 1814

As Mr & Mrs Smith are about leaving this Country I cannot suffer them to depart without a few lines although my Spirits are not in a state to render a letter from me very agreeable Mr Adams as you probably know has left me in Petersburg and it is very uncertain when we shall meet again; did I not fear to indulge my feelings I could make bitter complaints of the cruel separations I am obliged to endure, and could you conceive how dreadfully isolated I feel in this great City you would with your usual indulgence forgive the impatience and uneasines’s which with my best efforts I cannot conceal. From present appearances I much  fear little benefit will be derived from my individual sufferings as from what I can gather from the English Minister there is very little prospect of a Peace
A Month has nearly elapsed since the date of Mr A’s last letter he left Gottenburg in the John Adams Frigate for Amsterdam on the 12 of June The journey has proved of great service to him and I understand from some Gentlemen who saw him at Gottenburg that he has grown fat this news has contributed much towards reconcileing me to my lot, the dreadful state of his health for the last two Years had kept me in a state of perpetual alarm, and he had just recover’d from the Jaundice when he went away. The Customs and manners of the people of this Country are so unsuitable to his taste, the great expence of living, in such a style as to maintain his rank, the utter impossibility of enterring into society upon any other footing, with the severity of the Climate, which is peculiarly injurious to the Nervous system, had brought on complaints of so alarming a nature, that most of his friends, judged it dangerous for him to pass another winter in this Country; without at least trying the effect of change of air this he is enabled to do and although the very gloomy prospect of our affairs (if they are as bad as here represented) will sensibly affect him I trust in the mercy of Heaven to turn the hearts of our Enemies and to grant us a good, honorable, and lasting Peace, and I hope it will inspire our Rulers to put us on such a footing as to be capable at least of defending ourselves if we are attacked which from this our great and last effort seems to be very difficult; every Country but ours I believe had so far advanced in Wisdom, as to have discover’d that Generals did not grow up in a night, or that a Navy could not be formed in a day, but like most of the absurd and foolish  Schemes of modern Philosophers, we are left to smart under the dire effects of experiment, untill the substantial blessings we enjoyed, pass away from us like Shadows and leave not a Wreck behind. Wou’d to heaven Mr. A. had nothing to do with this thankless Mission, it is dreadful to be so scorn’d, it is more dreadful to deserve it—
You tell Mr A in your last that I shall feel old when I see my Children on the contrary  my dear Madam I think I shall feel ten years younger. You are not aware of the change which sorrow and the extreme severity of this Climate produces my looking Glass is a faithful monitor, and my party colour’d hair tells a truth which all my vanity cannot lead me to doubt.
You will probably see Mrs Smith and her sweet babe this is another severe trial but in this World we know not what we must or can undergo. it is a subject I dare not dwell upon,
I will therefore conclude my letter by requesting you to present me most affectionately to the President, and all the members of the family, and to believe me ever your very / Dutiful and affectionate Daughter
L. C. Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 11 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

My Dear Son.
Ghent 11. July 1814.

The last Letter that I wrote to you, was dated the 31st: of August 1813. Almost a year ago—and as I know not whether you have received it, I enclose with this one a Copy of it—I have explained to your brother George in a Letter to him the causes which have prevented me from writing to either of you for so long a time—He will shew you his Letter, where you will find them—I now send addressed to him and you, an Essay written for the use of you both—It is very long, and perhaps you will not find it very entertaining—I am not sure that you are even yet of an age fully to understand it; but as you wrote me long since your intention to keep a file of your Letters, and I suppose George does the same, you may put this Essay upon the files, and read it when you shall be two or three years older.
 I have now the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of 21. January—but think, my Dear Son, that between this, and the last previous Letter I had from you, there was almost two Years—I do not wonder you thought it necessary to tell me that you had not forgotten your mother and me; but I hope you will never again be so long without giving us reason to remember you.
I am glad to find that you are engaged and making progress in the study both of the Greek and Latin, and that you have also begun to learn French—I hear that you are considered as a good Latin Scholar, and having acquired that reputation so early, I hope you will take care never to lose it.
I am now far distant from every part of my family—Almost as far from your Mama, and your brother Charles, as from your brother George and you— But I have the consolation of hearing much oftener from them than it is possible I should hear from you. I left St: Petersburg the 28th. of April, and I have already received many Letters from your Mama, and two from your brother Charles—You know he is not yet seven years old, but he keeps a Journal and a Letter Book—I hope you have before this received one or two Letters from him, by which you will see what progress he has made in his hand writing.—He goes as steadily to school as his Health admits, and has as many amusements and is as fond of them as other children of his age.
The last Letter I have from your Mama, is dated the 7th: of June—she had then just moved into the Country for the Summer, for the benefit of Charles’s health—The Country is always much healthier for children than such large Cities as St: Petersburg.—I suppose you know your Aunt Smith has a little daughter name Caroline Amelia.
I know not how long I shall stay here; nor whether I shall return to St: Petersburg or whether your Mama and brother Charles will come to me here—Neither can I tell when we shall return to America; but I hope it will be next Spring.—I have been so long and so many times disappointed in my expectations of being restored to my whole family, that I scarcely dare to indulge my hopes any longer—yet I flatter myself they will not always be frustrated—I am, Dear John, your affectionate father
John Quincy Adams.


Title: From François Adriaan Van der Kemp to John Adams, 13 July 1814
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John,Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear and high respected Sir!
Oldenbarneveld. 13 Julÿ 1814.

How was I delighted in Seing your handwriting on the Addres—I could not guess—it was a Letter—I did not expect one—although I was confident, that, if the State of your health had been worse, Cornelia Amelia would have deemed it her duty to Send me a line—You can guess—how I was delighted—when opening it—I Saw it was a Letter from my revered frend—I glanced over it, without looking at the inclosed paper—I taught it was Some present from mrs Adams—and So it was and well a double one—garden Seeds—or rather flower Seed to adorn our Little garden for my daughter, and a precious communication from your Ladÿ. This is pouring balsam on a wounded heart—mÿ wife and daughter Shared in mÿ agreable Sensations—Why are these So quickly fleeting awaÿ—but I ought not to complain Lett my rather congratulate you with your revival—with the happy prospects of Seeing an amiable grand-child betrothed to a worthy man. I have been intimate with an old gentleman of that name the father in Law of Hendrik Fÿnje—an eminent merchant at Amsterdam, a native of Middelburg in Zeeland—I Spent many pleasant days at his country Seat—near Breukelen—between Utrecht and Amsterdam—He had much of my frend Sam. Eliot—rich—generous independent in his youth he learnd Latin—and every where in his gardens were appropriate inscriptions from Cato’s distichs—from Virgil—and Horace, and every day, the whole year through, was head-Lattuce—on his table from his own gardens—and hot beds. If your De wind be of that familÿ—at least—if his head is as well organised and his heart as well placed—and without this Amelia would not have Surrendered—and your Ladÿ would not have applauded her choice. She then deserves a complement, and I ardently praÿ, that God will bless her.
You See my Dear Frend—though I and others may wish to hurry from the crowd—our farce being ended—you may not do So—If it pleases God, you ought to tarrÿ to welcome the third generation on the Scene. Be it So. you cannot Scare me with your horriblle Holbein drawing of deseases—enough for half a dozen—fear was not my greatest fault—and I candidly confess—this black catalogue made not half Such a gloomy impression as the two lines of your Ladÿ—when alarmed with the apprehensions of loosing you—She informed Me, that you was recovered—although not in Strenght—and you writ as well on that host of enemies—which treacherously attacked you as Horace—when he was past danger of being crushed by a tree.
Your cenobitical diet is, no doubt, very proper for you—but—now and then, I would not advice—to pour some wine in your water—a glass of generous wine would be in mÿ opinion beneficial. It would be So for me—could I afford the expence; I hear a voice—man you had it in your youth—and So it is—when I might have left it to others—without any loss or injury to my health. The Bark—is invaluable—thrice I recovered by it from the brink of the grave—
When you are once more at leisure you will See, that Swift—did not allude to N.E. paper-currencÿ—wood must have had some concerns with that Colonÿ, before he meddaled with his brass-pence—
I Suspect—that your learned Virginian Antagonist—has must likeness to a clergÿman—of whom a frend of me, give his opinion—in the words of the text on which he heard that man argue “you hear his noise, but know not, from where he comes, or whither he goes” I have no curiosity to See it—Next—to See mÿ theorÿ—after all the French ingenuity had been exhausted—in political experiments by a host of Political Empyricks—adopted by that Nation as the basis of their Constitution—nothing would more flatter my pride, then to be placed by a John Luzac—next Locke and Montesquieu—This is Saÿ—makes the Great Triumverate—and the last of the Triumverate demonstrated—at which the others guessed—If you See me once more at Quincÿ—I Shall read there Taylor’s book—before you can raise to work in your garden.
Had I in this followed your Example—I would have had a Lecture from my daughter about Such an excess of fatigue—as I know can not escape her remonstrances—and—duty often imperiously compels me to work; when I Should have wished for rest. Thus—have I been this week employ’d in making haÿ—been mÿ boÿ being unwell—doing nothing Since four weeks—and I—whereas in Holland Soldiers after Sixty years were pensioned—must do his task But your Secretarÿ is now tired, I expect with reading—and you want not my assurance—that I am—your high obliged friend. Permit me then—to employ the remainder of this paper in addressing you
Madam!
Accept my thanks for the Seeds—but more yet for the communicated passage—which however has nothing verÿ striking in it. Similar men as your Letter-writer See things before hand, and develope from embryo Seeds—at which the vulgar Stands gaping—were Some of our rulers endowed with Similar gifts—theÿ would not grope in darkness and have the appearance of delighting in it. I know—you will plead their cause—that they have not been blessed with a Similar education—that theÿ have not enjoy’d the privilege of being So long under guided by a Mentor and initiated in the mysteries of the European Cabinets—all this and more you maÿ Saÿ, Madam! but reallÿ—before an impartial tribunal—even this plea tends to their disadvantage, as you will not pretend—that a Crawford, who must have heard or Seen Something—being at the Seat of the Oracle, that a John Quincÿ—if the other was deficient—did not even give a hint to his august masters—and if he did—and they mocked his Sagacity, then—even charity could not but lament And confess, that they had Sealed their condemnation.
a world of truth is in these few lines—and his just apprehensions—must have been agreably allaÿd—if the Paris reports—till 14 Maÿ are—correct. The union of France and Gr. Brittain—if lasting—consolidates the peace of Europe. Both Nations Shall be, comparatively, greater—and more formidable—at the expence of the Small States—who were infatuated—to risk their all in that whirlpool—than theÿ were before 1789.—
Letters from Holland—from a warm french partizan—contains So manÿ proofs of the excesses of that Despotism—that it exceeds nearly belief—The Nation was literally driven to Despair—unarmed peasants Stormed batteries—and got possession of them—the Stones from the Streets would have Served us for cannon balls—we were resolved—to risk all—and hail now the tyding, that at Amsterdam the Sovereignity is offered to Orange, tho we know not the terms, as nothing worse can befall us, than what we have experienced.—This Letter was written 20 Dec. 1813—with impatience I am waiting for Letters from there and France—
Was I in your neighbourhood—then Caroline Should not dare to pass my bÿ—in Sending—a few bottles of her bridal-tears—adorned with American and Dutch colours—we would then endeavour to laugh these awaÿ—your Lady-Ship—will now in mÿ place, preach comfort to the Lambkin, and instruct her in the duties of Obeisance to her Liege Lord—Whom I hope, that Shall prove himself So amiable and virtuous a Consort—that to love and respect him is a delight.
I remain with high respect—Madam—your high obliged St

Fr. Adr. v. d. Kemp


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 14 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

My Dear John
St Petersburg 14 July 1814

You cannot think what a disappointment your not writing occasion’d me! I have been weighing and reflecting upon every thing which might have  caused your silence and have only been able to attribute it to that of sickness, which fills my heart with uneasiness
Your Aunt Smith, being about to return to America, I take the opportunity of sending you a Watch, which I request you will use in the same manner which I have recommended to George. I am delighted with the account which your good Grand Mama gives of you; I only wish you to check as much as possible, the natural warmth of your disposition, which however good your intentions may be and however correct your ideas, I can assure you from experience, produces us great sorrow, and uneasiness.
During your Father’s absence, I have taken a house at a little distance from Petersburg, situated on the Banks of the River Newa, to give your Brother Charles the advantage of recovering, and if possible laying in a stock of health, of which he has long been very destitute, before we return to town to pass another long and gloomy Winter. he is at home for the vacation which is of three Weeks, he intends writing you if possible before the departure of his Aunt.
Adieu my beloved Son. Love me ever, and believe me most affectionately, Your Mother
L. C. Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 15 July 1814
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw

Quincy, July, 15. 1814.

My Dear Sister:—I took a ride to Weymouth on Tuesday, and carried the letter received from Atkinson to the Dr., in return he gave me the one encolsed. I found him in better health and spirits than for some time past; but old age gallops upon us with rapid strides, and a small indisposition takes us down without the youthful powers of renovation, we are soon laid prostrate. This I see in my dear partner and feel in myself. Heaven grant that we may so number our days as to apply our hearts to wisdom. By a friendly invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Dexter, to take a family dinner with them in Boston, we were prevailed upon to go to town and dine with them. The President has not been in town before for six months, he last year resigned his office as President of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Agricultural Society, and all other public offices. I had formerly objected, when he talked of it, but now I did not, for I think it a mark of wisdom to retire from the world before you are wish’t out of it, it is greatly wise to know our own infirmities, and submit with dignity to them before we are only tolerated. I bless Heaven for the few faculties we yet retain, one of which is our hearing, and our delight in social pleasures, to which you would contribute if you could make it convenient to visit us this season.Your Affectionate / Sister,Abigail Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 15 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 18.
My dear wife.
Ghent 15. July 1814.

The stream of high and mighty travellers from London, through this place has been incessant since the passage of the Emperor Alexander—The two Sons of the king of Prussia, and his brothers the Princes Henry and William; the second Son of the Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands, Count Nesselrode, and lastly Field-Marshal Prince Blucher, have all been successively here—Most of them have stopp’d, either to dine or to pass the Night, at the House where we lodge, but I have not had the Fortune to see any one of them.—The king of Prussia and the Duchess of Oldenburg went directly from Calais to Paris—The Prince of Orange, who was to have married the Princess Charlotte of Wales, landed at Helvoet-sluys, and went on immediately to the Hague—The Marriage, you know, is broken off, and according to the Newspapers the Prince was treated in England with very little respect—The rupture however is ascribed principally to the Lady herself, who is said to have been so averse to going out of the kingdom that she insisted upon making an Article of the Contract of Marriage that she should not—And the Prince having consented to this, she then required that he should also subject himself to the same interdiction. It is probable that she was resolved to raise obstacles more perseveringly than he was prepared to remove them—And there were other considerations of a political Nature, which might contribute to the separation of these royal lovers.—The project of uniting this Country with Holland, under the authority of the Sovereign Prince was perhaps connected with that of the Marriage, and is likely to be dissolved with it—In the new combinations of European Politics arising from the Restoration of the Bourbons, and the dismemberment of France, England is apparently tending to the policy of a close Alliance with Austria, and will eventually restore this Country to her.—The late Allies are understood to be not very cordially affected towards one another, and there is much talk of a new War, but I believe it to be without foundation.
We have London Papers of the 8th: of this Month, on which day a Mail had arrived from Halifax with news from that place to the 5th: of June—Nothing of importance—On the 30th: of March General Wilkinson, from Plattsburg had made an attack upon the British near Lake Champlain, and after fighting the whole day was defeated, and retired in disgrace—So says the Courier—The Preparations on both sides upon Lake Ontario, were very great—The British had eight vessels, one a ship of 60 and one of 42 Guns—They had laid down a three-decker to be ready in July—The Americans had 15 sail, but not of so heavy metal—Commodore Rodgers was at Sacketts Harbour, and I suppose must of course have superseded Chauncey in the command—God grant that whoever commands may do his duty!—But my expectations from Lake Ontario are—nay—sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.
There is a French Theatre in this City, at which I have been once in the course of the three weeks since I arrived. The performers are very indifferent—During the last fortnight there has been a second company—Monsieur and Madame Saqui, who announce themselves, and I believe with reason, as the first Funambules of France or of Europe—A Funambule, translated into the vulgar Language means a Rope-dancer—They are without exception the most extraordinary performers on the tight-rope that I ever saw—They were at Antwerp when we passed through that City, and there it was that I saw them. It is the very superiority of their performances that has prevented me from going again to see them here—They are constantly attempting to do more than they can accomplish—They actually fall from the Rope four or five times every Evening; and they are in continual danger of breaking their Necks—It is said that among the Amusements of the Antient Romans, there was nothing that gave the People so much delight as to see a Gladiator die—My nerves are not strung to the Roman standard—The very risk that these People run, of giving such a Spectacle pains me more than their wonderful agility pleases—I had enough of Monsieur and Madame Saqui at Antwerp.
Before you recieve this Letter, the time will arrive for the payment of the yearly Interest, on the Obligations that I left with you.—Supposing that you will have received it, I shall thank you to write me how, and in what manner it is paid and what the amount of the sum received is—I will also trouble you whenever you write me to minute from the German St: Petersburg Gazette, the last rate of Exchange upon London, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Paris, the Agio upon Silver Rubles; and the Value of Ducats—And as often as you can conveniently get the information, the current price of the Obligations, in the Market.—My motive is, that if we finally conclude to break up our Establishment at St: Petersburg, and you come to me, I shall wish to dispose of the Obligations, and to place the proceeds in Amsterdam, Paris or London as Circumstances may render most expedient; and to enable me to judge of the most advisable disposal of them this information will be essentially useful to me.
There are two Societies here, one of which is called the commercial and the other the literary Society—They both have reading Rooms, where they take a number of newspapers and other periodical Publications. We have all received invitations to frequent them whenever we find it convenient and agreeable—I have been once for about an hour to the literary Society, which is next door to the house where we lodge—My fondness for Newspapers, and my eagerness for news, remains much as it was before I left St: Petersburg.
There is a Botanical and Agricultural Society, of which we have also been invited to consider ourselves as honorary members—They have two annual exhibitions of flowers; one in February, and the other the last week in June—On St: Peter’s day, the 29th: of that Month, they have a public Meeting, and a distribution of prizes—Medals of Gold and Silver for the best cultivated and rarest exotic flowers and for the best herbary, or collection of dried plants of the Country, with descriptions of them, under the Linnean denominations, and notes indicating where they are found—Our invitation was not untill the day after the annual meeting, which we had therefore not the opportunity of attending—But we saw the exhibition of the flowers, and the collection of dried plants for which the gold medal had been given. They shewed us a number of flowers as American, which they supposed would be quite familiar to us, but with which they were much better acquainted than any of us—My Botany and Agriculture as you know have been asleep ever since our Summers of 1805 and 1806 at Quincy.
We have been indebted for these and many other civilities to a Mr: Meulemeester van Aken, a Gentleman of large Fortune, to whom I believe some one person of the Mission had a Letter, but whose attentions have been very obliging to us all—We are invited to dine with him to-morrow; and last Evening we all went out to his Country-Seat, about 3 miles from the gates of the City. The Garden is spacious, laid out in a manner partaking both of the Dutch and English Styles, with a Green-house, and a fine display of plants and flowers—His Lady is a woman of pleasing manners, and lively conversation, and as great a botanist as Linnaeus.
On our return to the City, I was informed that the British Commissioners had arrived. I hope therefore not to be kept much longer in suspense, with regard to the probable term of my abode here; and that by the next Post you will hear further, concerning it. from your ever affectionate friend.
With Love as usual to Charles.
A.
P.S.—The British Commissioners are not arrived.—The report of their arrival was premature.


Title: From Charles Francis Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 July 1814
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John Quincy

No. 4
Dear Papa
St. Petersburg July 15/3 1814

Mama presented me your kind Letter of the 20th. of June, No 2, which I read with great pleasure, particularly that part of it which tells of the dress, of the Boys and Girls; in Holland. I laughed very much at the large breeches, and Umbrella petticoats, and wished very much I could be with you, to see all these droll things.
I have come home for a Vacation of three weeks, but Mr Fishwick has given me so many Lessons to Learn, that I cannot possibly bear it
Once the Dahlers told Dicky, that they would take him to their House, for a couple of weeks, Dicky gave each of them a red colour to take him for three weeks, which they accepted.—Saturday came poor Dicky did not go! Dahlers wanted to take me too, but Mama would not permit me to go. I am always highly rejoiced to recieves your Letters and hope to have one soon from Ghent
I am dear Papa / Your dutiful and affecte:
Charles Fr Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No. 16
My best Friend.
St Petersburg July 15/3 1814

The heartfelt delight I experienced at the reception of your last favour No. 11 is not to be expressed. there is always a sort of heavy anxiety attending the knowledge of our friends being at Sea, that neither reason or Wisdom can entirely subdue, and the news of a safe arrival, produces feelings of Joy, and gratitude, which is difficult to describe. how keen these feelings must be, when the object of our anxious solicitude, is our dearest and nearest friend, on whom hangs all our prospect of happiness in this life you can judge.
Mr Hull wrote me from Gottenburg according to his promise, and I had flatter’d myself that you would have had a very short and agreeable passage from his account of the winds, at all events you were very fortunate in meeting with so polite a reception in Holland. Charles was much diverted with your description of the Dutch Children, but the effect of your letter was very singular, he threw it down, and said to me with a great sigh, “Papa can never read the Nonsense I write upon my slate” and this idea appear’d to affect him so much that I was obliged to flatter him a little, by persuading him that he would in time write as well as you, before I could prevail on him to write. this however put him into a good humour with himself, and I send you a letter which has undergone little or no correction. he is so ambitious of excelling, that he compares his letters with yours, and soon discovers his faults I am very much diverted with his love of high sounding words, he generally discovers when his letters are finished, that such and such words would have been more suitable, his contempt for Georges writing is excessive, he saw a letter addressed to him on my table, and he desired to know directly, if I had not told George how ashamed I was of such bad writing, and if I had not desired him to take pains and make haste to do better. as the latter part of his letter to you is very badly written, I took the opportunity to give him a lesson, to lower his arrogance which did not please him at all.
Your journey from Holland to Ghent will I have no doubt be delightful, the Country I am told is beautiful, though the City is old Fashion’d I am inform’d that your stay is likely to be prolonged, I wish I could assertain this fact correctly, I should be induced to change my abode, for a much smaller residence, as mine will be dreadfully gloomy this Winter. it is too painful to feed the mind continually on sorrowful recollections; and this Winter I shall have little else to do but to think “even to madness.” to you Mon Ami this will appear nonsense but remember that few possess your strength of mind, and I may almost venture to say, none your resources. were I so fortunate, I should be the paragon of my Sex, to which alas! I have neither claim nor pretention.—
Much dissatisfaction has been produced here by the Tarif, within four or five days it is publicly declared that no change is to take place, excepting that the prohibitions are to be more strict than ever. After such fetés! such cajoling! and such flattery, how is this possible? all this wont do, and it is discover’d that some people have a firmness of character, which will give way to nothing
All the late Letters from England, assure us there is to be no accomodation between the two Countries this Year; of the truth of this you probably know better than the writers, should you ever meet all your Colleagues this is a question which must sooner or later be decided.
Mr Hurd left Petersburg last evening for Gottenburg and intends if he cannot procure a passage to America to proceed to England. he inform’d me that there is news from America to the 20th. of May, but could not tell what it was more, than the great effect which was produced by the change in the french affairs, which had set the federalists to writing with all their might—
Mr. &. Mrs Smith are not yet gone, and I see no prospect of their speedy departure: the Emperor it is said will not return untill St Alexander Nevski, and I hear nothing of Mr Harris—Keep up your spirits and meet all the disagreeables which threaten you, with as much fortitude as your affectionate Wife
L C. Adams


Title: From Charles Francis Adams to George Washington Adams, 16 July 1814
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, George Washington

Dear Brother
St: Petersburg July 16th: 1814

There have been two grand illuminations, the first was for the taking of Paris, the second was for the general Peace in Europe, and there is to be another much finer for the Emperors return. They have also built a superb Triumphat Arch, which he is to pass through on his way to Petersburg.
I hope you will be satisfied with the Watch Mama sends you, She says she tried to get them both alike, but it was not possible.
Mr: Quinzard who was Papa’s Cook, fell sick, and died. In return for Papa’s great kindness while he was ill, he left me his Watch for a Legacy.
We have been a part of the Summer in the Country. Mama thinks I am in much better health, and growing fat.
I am quite impatient to return to Boston, and see Grandpapa, Grandma, and Uncle, give my duty to them all, and believe me dear George, your affectionate Brother

Charles Francis Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 19 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 19.
My beloved friend.
Ghent 19. July 1814.

The false alarm, that I gave you in my last Letter, of the arrival of the British Commissioners, came to us from no less a personage than the Mayor of the City—It was occasioned by the real arrival of two British General Officers, who the next Morning proceeded on their way to Ostend—Letters have since been received from England, by which it appears that we may expect the Commissioners in the course of the present week—Perhaps they will not be here untill the next.
We have contracted to take a house, where the five Members of the Mission, and the Secretary, Mr Hughes will all reside together—We engage it for one Month, and it is to be furnished, ready for us to go into, next Saturday. This has been a Negotiation of some delicacy, for although as I wrote you we had all agreed as it were par acclamation to live together, yet when it came to the arrangement of details, we soon found, that one had one thing to which he attached a particular interest, and another, another, and it was not so easy to find a contractor who would accommodate himself to five distinct and separate humours.—It is one of your french universalists, who has finally undertaken to provide for us—He keeps a shop of perfumery, and of millenary, and of Prints, and drawings; and he has on hand a stock of handsome second hand furniture. But then he was brought up a Cook, and he is to supply our table to our satisfaction; and he is a marchand de Vin, and will serve us with the best Liquors that are to be found in the City—This was the Article that stuck hardest in the passage; for one of us, and I know you will suspect it was me, was afraid that he would pass off upon us bad wine, and make us pay for it as if it was the best—The bargain was very nearly broken off, upon the question whether we should be obliged to take wine from him, or if he we supply ourselves from elsewhere, to pay him one franc a bottle, for drawing the Cork—We finally came to a compromise, and are to begin by taking wines from him— But they must be at his peril such as we shall relish; for if not, we shall look further, and draw the Corks without paying him any tax or tribute for it, at-all.
Last Friday Night, Mr Connell returned from Paris, and Mr Carroll came with him—Mr Todd stays there a little longer—He finds his knowledge of French not sufficiently perfect, and he has taken a Maitresse de Langue, to give him the last polish—A very virtuous and beautiful young woman; who teaches the Language to Gentlemen, without scandal; her reputation being perfectly unimpeachable—
We receive the English Newspapers almost every day, and have a number of slips from American Papers down to the 6th. or 7th. of June—That is precisely the date of your last Letter that I have received, so that here the intelligence can come from Boston, almost as soon as from St: Petersburg.
Congress adjourned on the 18th: of April to the last Monday in October. Two days before the adjournment, the Secretary of State made a Report to the President, upon two Resolutions of the Senate, asking for information respecting the Prisoners taken by the British in America, and sent to England for trial; and respecting the measures of retaliation resorted to on both sides in consequence of that measure: also respecting the usual conduct of Great Britain, and other European Nations towards their native subjects taken in arms against them—and finally respecting the grounds upon which the British Government has refused to deliver up impressed American Seamen, and its treatment of American Seamen in general since the War.—This Report is well written, and places the conduct of the British on all the points referred to in a very flagrant light.
On the 16th: of April there was a general exchange of all the prisoners taken on both sides in America, excepting of those, which had been placed in close confinement by way of retaliation—
We have General Andrew Jackson’s official Report of his Victory over the Creek Indians on the 27th. of March.—He took their intrenchments by storm, and says “the history of warfare, I think furnishes few instances of a more brilliant attack”—Their number was about 1000—of which 557 were left dead on the field, and a great number were killed in attempting to cross the river—250 prisoners, all women and children except two or three—Not more than ten of them he believes escaped—Our loss was 106 wounded and 26 killed.—A Letter from an Officer in the same army dated 18 April says the Indian War in that quarter is brought to a close. Propositions of Peace, upon unconditional terms had been received from the Indians.
We have some hopes that the account lately published in England of the capture of the Essex Frigate is not well founded—The statement as I wrote you before was that she was taken, on the 29th. of March off Valparaiso, which is on the Western side of the Continent of South-America. A Boston Paper announces the arrival there on the 20th: of May of a Spanish Vessel from Brazil with the Account that on the 29th: of March the Essex had just sailed upon a cruize, after taking in provisions at Pernambuco, which is on the Eastern Coast of South America, and four thousand miles distant by Sea, from Valparaiso—The story told of the capture, from Buenos Ayres was with so many particulars, and with such appearances of probability, that we cannot yet be entirely confident of her safety; but we hope it is the good news that will be confirmed.
The British were determined to strike some great blow in the heart of the United-States—Admiral Cochrane was assembling his forces in Chesapeake Bay—A vessel, arrived in England from Halifax, met about the first of June a Convoy with 35 Transports, having six thousand men, from Bordeaux bound to the Chesapeake—It seems to be supposed that an attack upon Washington itself, or upon Baltimore is intended.
The loan of ten Millions of Dollars was filled without difficulty, and more money was offered than was wanted—The terms were the same as those of the preceding loan.
It appears to be not true that Commodore Rogers was at Sacket’s Harbour—On the 29th: of May Sir James Yeo had appeared off there with his fleet, and Chauncey was not ready.—My question is why he was not ready as soon as his enemy, for at the close of the last campaign he had the command of the Lake—My Countrymen here all say that Chauncey is a brave and excellent Officer; but he has done Nothing to any purpose.—When he has done as much as Perry, he shall be named with him—
The new American Sloop of War Wasp, has been sometime taking prizes in the Irish Channel and off the Coast of England—On the 28th: of last Month she took His Britannic Majesty’s armed Brig Rein-Deer of 16 Guns, and mounting 20.—We have only the English Accounts, and have ample experience how false they always are.—They are not official.—They state the English vessel to have had eighteen Guns, and the American 22. the difference in the weight of metal, number of men, and Tonnage still more on the side of the American—The Captain of the English Brig, Manners, was killed; and she had 70 men killed and wounded—her whole number being 105. They say the Wasp, Captain Blakely, lost nearly as many men as the Rein-deer; that she was so excessively damaged, she will be obliged to go to Norway to refit, and that the day after the action the Rein-Deer was burnt—the English made two attempts to take the Wasp by boarding, in the second of which Captain manners was killed. The whole action lasted only 25 Minutes.
I am hoping to hear daily of the arrival of Mr Smith and his family at Amsterdam—The John Adams will certainly not sail before the first of next Month—We have not yet her Passport—Give my Love to Charles, and remember me kindly to our friends Lewis and Slade
Always affectionately your’s
A.
P.S.—Your’s of 20. May—of 10. and of 13 June, are just come to hand. With my Dear Charles’s Letter of 11. June.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 19 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 16
St Petersburg July 19/7 1814

I write you again my best friend; although I have nothing from you, since your Letter from Amsterdam; to inform you of the arrival of Mr Harris; he left London the 24 of June, and sailed from Harwich the 26, and reached this City on Sunday Morning at 4 o’clock; a journey of 20 days. He looks fat and well, and is very sanguine as it regards our affairs.
The Emperor it is said is at Pawloski, and intends coming to Petersburg in the Night, to avoid the famous Triumphal Arch on the Peterhof Road: he remains here a fortnight, and then proceeds to Vienna. I understand that he has no taste for an English Mob. it is said there are great dissatisfactions somewhere, and that War is likely to be the consequence; Austria is too Ambitious; and must be checked before she becomes too strong. you know my means of information, therefore must take it as you did me, “for better for worse”.
News is arrived in town by the Gottenburg Mail, of the capture of the Epervier, of 18 Guns, by the American Brigg, the Peacock: the action is said to have lasted 40 Minutes, 2. Men wounded on Board our Ship, and so little damaged that she was able to continue her Cruize; the Epervier had arrived at Savannah, I hope this news is true: but you have taught me to doubt every thing like good news.
We have also a good story here of the Officers of the Corvette in Amsterdam, they dont like it seems the music of “Rule Britania and Damn the Yankees” which was order’d to be played at the Theatre, but these blustering Englishmen it seems on this occasion, prefer’d peace to War, and very modestly refused the proposed challenges from our Hotspurs.
Mr: Harris is highly delighted with the reception he met with from his Majesty, who expressed himself in very friendly terms towards the United States. Mr Galatin will of course inform you all the particulars. It is said Count R. will not be Chancellor on account of some changes in the form of the Administration: but that he will hold a high office in privy Council—
Mr Strougotshikoff has inform’d me to day that in consequence of the great price of every thing in Petersburg, that he is under the necessity of raising the rent, a thousand Rubles, and that he thinks on reflection, he shall not find that sufficient. I am at a loss what to do, but think I shall give him notice to quit. he says should you enter upon the Month of September before you have given him notice, he shall charge at that rate.
Capt Bates writes that he never saw you so fat, and in such good spirits, since he has known you. I most herartily thank God for it. You have put it in my power to feel what I say most truely, for what being on Earth is so wretched as a Woman without her Husband, more especially in a foreign Country, without knowing the Languages of those who surround her; at first it was dreadful, I am now becoming more reconciled to it, and perhaps in time I shall like it. I have no faith in what you say of separations; on the contrary from accustoming each party to independance, they are more apt to engender indifference. at our time of life this is not to be apprehended, but to young people I would never recommend it.
Charles is very well, and enjoys himself prodigiously: I have done many many things which I fear you will disapprove, but mostly from necessity. you must however reserve all your disapprobation, untill you return, as it will not do to express it on paper.
Adieu do not measure your affection by my merits, and believe me ever your most devoted Wife
L C A


Title: From Maria Pavlovna to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 20 July 1814
From: Pavlovna, Maria
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

Lundi ce 20 Juillet 1814.

Le Grand Maître des Cérémonies a l’honneur deprévenir Madame d’Adams, que le 22. de ce mois pour celebrer la fête de Sa Majesté L’Impératrice Mère et celle de Son Altesse Impériale Madame la Grande Duchesse Marie Pavlovna il y aura au Palais  de Peterhoff Bal masqué, Souper et Illumination.
Madame d’Adams est invitée à venir descendre & diner dans le Pavillon destiné à reçevoir le Corps Diplomatique.
Monsieur de Narischkin prie en méme tems Madame d’Adams de reçevoir l’Assurance de Sa Considération très distinguée.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 22 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Charles Francis

N. 3.
My Dear Charles.
Ghent 22. July 1814.

Your third Letter, dated 11. June, came to me the day before yesterday Morning, and gave me so much pleasure that I take care to answer it immediately. I see that you tried very much to write it without making any mistakes, and although you did not entirely succeed, yet there were not many; and if you always take as much care, I dare say, you will before long be able to write a Letter without making any at all.
I will tell you of two of the mistakes in spelling—one is the word received, which you write recieved; and the other is to sow which you write to sew—A button-hole or a handkerchief may be sewed, but Garden seeds must be sown.
I am very glad that you have a Garden to amuse yourself in, and that you have a Spade, a Rake and a wheelbarrow, to teach you gardening and give you wholesome exercise—And by the time you receive this Letter, I hope your seeds will have come up, and shewn you the process of vegetation.
Young Mr Russell, when his father and I came from Amsterdam, stayed there as I wrote you, to go to school with Mr Bourne’s sons—But he soon became tired of the school, and his father has permitted him to come here; intending to send him to another school in France; where he hopes he will be more contented and may learn the French language.
I wish very much it were possible for me to walk with you in the Bezborodko, and Moltchanoff Gardens; and I wish still more that you could be here to walk with me in all the beautiful walks in the neighbourhood of this City—I walk every evening about two hours, from seven o’clock untill nine, and as none of the other Gentlemen here like to walk at that time, I generally am alone, and should be very glad to have your Company.—There are Nine Gates to the City, and pleasant walks outside of almost every one of them—I go every Evening out at a different gate, and walk two or three miles, under beautiful rows of trees, or along the pleasant Banks of Rivers and Canals.—But the days are already beginning to shorten so much that I shall soon be obliged to shorten my walks or to take them at a different time of the day.
The weather is now very warm, and when I walk I see the Fishermen catching fish, and the boys bathing themselves, and learning to swim, which I should also be very glad to have you do. I see besides the meadows covered with the linen that is bleaching, because this is a country where there are great linen Manufactures.
Continue to write to me, Dear Charles, and always take care to write as well as you can—I hope you still keep your Journal, and that you copy into your Letter book, all the Letters that you write.—I suppose you will still be at Mr Fishwick’s when you receive this Letter, and, you must if so, not forget to present my Compliments to him.
I am, your ever affectionate Father
John Quincy Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 26 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 21.
My dearest wife.
Ghent 26. July 1814.

There was a rose-bud, of your own drawing, enclosed in one of your last Letters—whether you sent it to me purposely, or whether it slipped by inadvertence into the folds of the Paper, as you was closing the Letter I do not know— If an accident, it was a lucky one; for I have it now before me, and take pleasure in looking at it— If you sent it on purpose I suppose it was to hint to me that you continue to amuse yourself with drawing, and perhaps to intimate, what you so singularly conjecture I should be displeased to be told in express terms—that you wish to see me— If a bunch of flowers may pass in Persia for a message of love, why may not a Rose just-blooming, be taken in Russia for a token of affection, and its image be received by me as an emblem of your’s?—You see how strongly I incline to consider your present as intended, and how ready my imagination is to invent a purpose for that which was perhaps but the effect of chance.
You enquire whether it be true that the Crown Prince of Sweden has abdicated, in favour of the late king’s Son? He has not—A Report that such was his intention has by some means found its way into certain Gazettes, published in Switzerland—But it has been formally and authentically contradicted in the Paris Papers—There are indeed several Gazetteers, in various parts of Europe who have of late ventured to circulate other Reports, disadvantageous to the Crown-Prince; some of which have been thought important enough for an official disavowal, and denial by the Swedish Ambassador at Paris—and there are many other rumours widely circulated, but which have not yet appeared in print, and which of course have not been thus denied—Among other things it is said, that he is no longer a favourite in England, but very much the contrary—that he is at least as obnoxious to Prussia—That of all the late Allies the Emperor Alexander is the only one that yet remains friendly to him—That he and his Swedes never did any thing, for the common Cause—that he took to himself the credit of the Battle of Dennewitz, to which he had no sort of title—That in the Winter Campaign he kept himself aloof at the most critical time, and sent one of his Aid de Camps to negotiate separately, with Buonaparte—That he not only entertained the Ambition of getting into the place of Napoleon, but betrayed or disclosed it in a manner which disgusted all the allies; and especially the English—His project upon Norway is not favoured by the popular Sentiment in any part of Europe—The Norwegians hitherto have manifested a steady and resolute determination not to submit to the Swedish Yoke—They have chosen themselves a king, and are armed to resist the invasion of their Territories—English Commissioners are now gone, it is said to perswade the king to resign, and the People to become Swedes, and so far as the Gazettes may be credited they have a prospect of success. It is not to be expected that Norway can alone resist the combination arrayed against them, but when the Crown-Prince becomes Master of the Country he will probably find it an uneasy and precarious possession.
We have received from Mr Beasley, a Copy of the Passport from the British Admiralty for the John Adams to return to America—“provided she has neither Cargo nor Passengers on board.” We expect Mr Irving here with the passport itself—He was to leave London last Friday—But unless an alteration of this Passport can be obtained, Mr and Mrs: Smith will not be able to go in her, even if they arrive at the Texel in time.—Mr Dallas intended also to return in her, and was to have been the bearer of our Dispatches—Why this proviso was introduced into the passport we do not know—there was none such in that lately given for the Neptune—I shall write immediately to Mr Beasley, to make application for a Passport, for Mr and Mrs Smith, their child and Martha, to go, either in the John Adams, or in any other Vessel.—As we shall at the same time ask for another Passport omitting the proviso, and as we must wait for the answer, the departure of the Vessel will be delayed a fortnight or three weeks longer—This will give Mr Smith a longer time to reach Amsterdam, if he has found Passage thither.—You tell me that I am blessed with a character which can mould itself almost without a struggle to the different circumstances which are perpetually occurring—but I assure you I am not conscious of enjoying any such a blessing—So far from it, that my natural disposition is of an over-anxious cast, and my struggles to accommodate myself to Circumstances which I cannot controul, have given my Constitution in less than fifty years, the wear and tear of seventy. I do indeed think it my duty to keep the greater part of these struggles, and I ought perhaps to keep them all within my own bosom—I distress my friends as little as I can with complaint—It is enough for “the heart to know its own bitterness”—The disease, with which you remember I was afflicted a few weeks before I left you, seldom befalls persons remarkable either for indifference or apathy—I have surely for the last two years had enough to weigh upon my Spirits; in regard to my own health, to the Events which have occurred in my family, and above all to the prospects of my Country—Mr Smith and his wife as you well know have had no small share in these trials of temper—The necessity of their return to America is fully understood by you as well as by them—Of that Necessity I was not the Cause—No person has more reason to regret it than I have—When I left you, the only prospect of its practicability, was, to sail from Gothenburg—The removal to Ghent, and Cochrane’s Blockade, took away entirely that prospect—The chance from Amsterdam by the John Adams was the next—and now comes and English Passport, as if purposely made to take away that—I shall make another trial for a Passport from the British Admiralty, and if that should fail, we must bethink ourselves what to do next—The chance by the Neptune will remain, and she probably will go not long after the John Adams.
No appearance yet, of the British Commissioners—The delay of their departure from London, has given rise to many rumours there some of which we know to be false, and none of which we know to be true—It is not without question whether the British Government intends they shall ever come—We hear among other things that they are waiting for the answer to some Communications which Admiral Cochrane was ordered to make to our Government—The Opinion in England is universal that there will be no Peace.
The last news from America is of a small advantage on our side—A detachment from Sir James Yeo’s Squadron, landed near Sacket’s Harbour, and after taking a Cable and two pieces of Cannon, proceeding further into the Country, were surprized by an ambuscade and after losing 19 men killed and about 50 wounded the rest, overpowered by superior numbers were compelled to surrender—Among them were two Captains of the Navy—The whole number according to the British Account was 200 men—The American Account states them at more than 300. By Accounts from Boston of 22 June, it is said that Chauncey was out, and Sir James had gone in to Kingston—Expect nothing good from that quarter.
We have not yet got into our house—The furnishing and preparations take more time than had been expected—We shall however probably enter, in the course of this week—Mr Thorndike and Mr Austen are gone to England—Mr: Blanchard, the same who was at St: Petersburg, and a Mr: Eliot of Boston have been here, and go this morning for Amsterdam—Mr Bentizon has also paid us a visit, and departed this morning for Paris.—Our friend Mr de Tracy arrived at Paris a day or two before Mr Gallatin left it. He dined with him at his fathers—The Wasp is not in Norway, but at L’Orient. It is said the British Dictators will have her ordered away.
Love to Charles, my Rosebud, and to the full-blown Rose which must be yourself—To me you will ever be the Queen of Flowers, and at the same time the most precious of Fruits—
A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 17.My best and dearest friendSt: Petersburg July 26 1814
Your two last No 12 & 13 were delivered to me at the same time I presume the first had been detained at the Post Office and closely inspected and even the second was also examined but not detain’d
As to Day was our Wedding day and the day on which the Emperor’s return to us Capital was celebrated I went to the Te Deum and spent my morning in praying for the success of your Mission. when I return’d I found an order from the Captain of the Vessel for Mr Smith to go to Cronstadt immediately they are to set off tomorrow Morning, which has given such a damp to my spirits I can scarsely write you one word The Emperor has such a dislike to Mobs that every thing here goes on as if nothing had happen’d in the world more than Common in the first instance all the illuminations were order’d to be Knocked down but to day new orders are given and it is to be general The  Emperor looks remarkably well but I do not think he is so fat as he was.
Mr Harris is here and according to him we are going on finely, but he does not expect you will be at home for some time longer than you appear to think probable: he says untill you see Mr: Gallatin you can have no correct information, and that you will probably change your opinions on many points as soon as you have conversed with him this you have done I suppose by this time and I shall expect soon to hear what may be the result
I am so tired I cannot write any more and can only inform you that Charles is quite well and grows fat and that I am as ever your most affectionate Wife

L C Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

27 July 1814I enclose you two Letters which I received for you some time since one of which I mentioned before Mr. Smith will give them to Willink should you not be in Amsterdam and he will forward them to you the last I read and did not think worth the Postage it having already cost 5 R. 61 C.
It is two o’clock in the Morning and I have just return’d from Oraniumbaum I am so tired I can scarcely hold the Pen.
God Bless you.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear Mother.
Ghent 28 July 1814.

I had the good fortune of sending a single letter from this place to England, in time to go by the Saratoga, a Cartel which sailed about the middle of this Month for New–York, and that letter was my last go to you. I hope it will reach you safely for it is the only opportunity by which I can expect that you will have heard from me, almost since the beginning of this Year—For the letters which in my last I told you I had left in Sweden to go by a Swedish Vessel then about to sail from Gothenburg to Boston, were returned to me, the day before yesterday—That Vessel was stopped after she had actually sailed, in consequence of information of the Blockade, declared by Admiral Cochrane in April.—I shall also send this letter to England, that if any new chance of conveying it to America should occur there, the opportunity may not be lost.—I suppose the John Adams will sail in the course of the next Month, and by that ship it is my intention of to write you again.
I mentioned in my last that all my Colleagues, excepting Mr Gallatin were here—He arrived on the 6th: of this Month, since which we have been waiting only for the arrival of the British Commissioners—Some notice has been taken in the House of Commons of the delay of their departure—The Report of it as published in the English Newspapers is so confused that it is not easy to collect even the substance of what was said on the occasion—It appears only that in answer to some remarks of Mr Whitbread, Lord Castlereagh stated there was no unwillingness on the part of the British Government to enter upon this Negotiation—That it was intended their Commissioners should arrive here when the whole American Mission here should be assembled; and that by his last advices from Paris, Mr Gallatin was still there— This debate was on the 20th of this Month—Mr Gallatin has been here from the 6th: and his arrival had been mentioned in all the English Public Prints.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer in the same debate said that the War with America was not likely soon to terminate, and might lead to a considerable scale of expence—The same opinion appears to be universal in England.
I wrote you from Reval the circumstances in which I left my family at St. Petersburg, and the intention of Mr. Smith to embark with his family for Gothenburg as soon as the Navigation should open, with the view of returning to America by the first opportunity from that place—I then supposed he might reach Gothenburg in time to return by the vessel which should bring out Mr Clay and Mr Russell—or if not, by some neutral Vessel fitted out from Sweden, of which  there had been several the last Season.—In consequence of the removal of the Negotiation to this place, the John Adams came to the Texel, and in consequence of the new Blockade of the American Coast, the fitting out of neutral Vessels from Sweden for the United States was stopped—I therefore wrote from Gothenburg, advising that Mr Smith should come, not there, but to the Texel.—My letters were received, but  I know not whether Mr Smith found it possible to procure a passage to the Texel. I have hoped he would arrive there in time to go by the John Adams, and she will probably not sail before the 20th: of next Month—I am still not without hopes that he will be able to go by that Vessel, or by the Neptune, now at Antwerp.
The last Letter I have from my wife is dated 24. June—She had removed into the Country near St: Petersburg, by the advice of the Physician, who considered it absolutely necessary for Charles’s health. I have written to her, requesting her to procure half a dozen bottles of the Riga Balsam if it is to be obtained. It is singular however, that having been myself much afflicted with the Rhumatism almost every Winter since I have been in Russia, the Riga Balsam has never been recommended to me, and I never heard of the medicine untill I found it mentioned in your Letter.—My health during the latter part of the last Winter was very bad, and I had a slight attack of the Jaundice—My Journey has in this respect been serviceable to me, and my health is now very good.
The sudden tranquility produced by the general Peace in Europe, contrasts remarkably with the convulsive state of this quarter of the Globe during the last twenty five Years—We now know what was meant by the generosity and Magnanimity of the Allies towards France—The Emperor Alexander alone, has forfeited none of the pledges he had given to the world; his moderation and Magnanimity have been real, and are universally acknowledged.—The state of Europe is still unsettled, and an expectation of new Dissensions, and even Wars is entertained by many very well informed Persons on this Continent—But Lord Castlereagh has promised Europe, a long, profound, unsuspicious Peace, and although that is saying more than I believe the Event will warrant, I do not think there is any immediate prospect of a new European War—The Peace between France and the allies was concluded on the 30th: of May, and then a Congress was to assemble in two Months from that time at Vienna, to settle what was still to be arranged—Since then the meeting of the Congress has been postponed untill the 20th 21st of October—In the mean time the four great Powers keep their forces on the War Establishment—It appears that the Congress will not meet untill they have agreed upon the Basis of the new Balance which this Congress is to give to Europe. It has been said that this Basis was already agreed upon, but that is doubtful. The desire and the necessity for Peace are however universal, and as Great Britain will be the Umpire of all the pretenions of all the Allies, and as she has not neither interest nor motive for making a War between them, there is no real prospect that any War will arrive—Without England, none of them is in a situation to carry on a War—
The projected marriage between the Hereditary Prince of Orange, and the Princess Charlotte of Wales, you know has been broken off—The Princess herself is said to have been lately placed in a state of restraint if not of confinement, and denied even the use of pens, ink and paper—This affair and that of Lord Cochrane, are now almost the only things that engage the attention of the People of England , a Nephew of the Admiral now commanding on the American Station, son of a Peer of the Realm, member of Parliament for the City of Westminster, and a knight of the Bath, has been convicted of swindling, sentenced to the Pillory, and expelled from the House of Commons. The Electors of Westminster have, without opposition, returned again the same Lord Cochrane, to represent them in Parliament; on their full and undoubting conviction of his Innocence—The question is whether this whole Transaction redounds most to the honour of the British Courts of Justice, of their Peerage, of their knighthoods, of their Parliament, or of their popular Elections?
I am ever affectionately your’s.
A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 28 July 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 18
My Dearest Friend
St: Petersburg 28th July 1814

Your No 14 is just put into my hands and the hope it gives me of your return has come most opportunely to restore me to something like happiness my spirits were so much depressed at the parting with my Sister and her Dear Babe and the house is so dull and gloomy without them that I roam about like a spirit without knowing what to do with myself or on what to fix my attention Charles is almost distracted by the illuminations and other rejoicings and can do nothing untill they are over which is not likely to happen for some days you have often said you thought he had little sensibility you would much surprized to see how much he is affected by my tears and I am almost astonished myself to see the painful effect they produce in him; he leaves no means untried to soothe me, and his little heart seems swelling with feelings too big for expression—he is affectionate kind and attentive, but at the same time highly resentful to those who he imagines have been the cause of my sorrow.
The Emperor has just passed from Mrs Krehmer’s, where he had been to make a morning visit, in the old style on a Droschka alone, he looks remarkably well and very handsome and I see no alteration in him whatever Nothing can be said too much in praise of the conduct of his Majesty throughout this War and he has convinced the World how possible it is to combine the good and great He shines so far superior to all his Allies, that they must feel humbled to the dust by the comparison. such feelings often produce disagreeable consequences, but he has gone through the last War so ably and hitherto so happily, I trust he is reserved to teach all of them to put some limits upon their arrogant pretentions.
We are to have a Splendid fête at Peterhoff to which I presume I shall go, and another at Pavloski. I wish you were at home I dont like this jaunting out by myself should I go, I intend to fasten myself on the Dutchess as I did before, the Congress at Vienna is put off and the Duke goes with the Emperor in September.
I am looking out for a young Woman to come and stay with me. I am so much alone and in this place it attracts so much attention for a Lady to live by herself I have thought you would not be displeased at it especially now that there is so much to do with the court I am not very young nor very beautiful but my sittuation is singular and that is sufficient to excite curiosity
I have executed the commission you gave me and shall send the Balsam to Cronstadt tomorrow I believe it will be better to send it to England as the opportunities will now probably be much more frequent. I am very sorry your Mother requires it but much pleased at being able to procure it so immediately—
Charles desires his Duty and I am as ever most affectionately yours.

L C AdamsI was so fearful of committing a fault in the execution of the business you left with Ball I gave it to Mr. Monreal I have not yet hear’d from him.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 29 July 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 22.
My Dear Wife
Ghent 29. July 1814.

The day before Yesterday, I received the first of your Letters numbered by yourself—The number, 13, was exact, as you will see by my acknowledgments of the receipt of the twelve that preceded it; but in the date, 24 June, I apprehend there is a mistake—for your preceding Letter, number 12, which I received last Week was also dated 24. June; and then you had received neither of mine from Gothenburg—In this number 13 you acknowledge having received my No: 9 and 10. the last of which, being dated 11. June, could not I think have reached St: Petersburg by the course of the Mail, so soon as the 24th: Now as the Letters by the Swedish Mail are regularly delivered at St: Petersburg on Sundays, and as you, being in the Country received my N: 10 at 10 O’Clock in the Morning, my supposition is that it was on Monday 27 June, and that this should have been the date of your Letter.
That Letter of your’s which I had acknowledged as dated 27. May, bore in truth three dates—the first was 25. May, as it stands upon your list; but at the third page it is dated the 26th: and then on the 27th. after having closed it, you opened it to acknowledge the intervening receipt of Mr Rodde’s Letter, informing you of my departure from Reval—I acknowledged it by the latest of the dates.
Mr Hall promised me that he would give you the same notice of our sailing from Gothenburg, and as I have no doubt he was as good as his word, I calculate that you received that notice on the 1st: of this Month.—My Letter from Amsterdam, I suppose came to your hands on the 11th: instt: and my first from this place on the 18th:—Since then I hope you have received one every Post-day; for according to your Rule, you owe me eight
Mr Irving, (not Mr Erving) has been here from London, with a Mr Creighton of New-York and they are already gone for Paris. Mr Emlin is also here.—Mr Irving brought the Passport, from the Lords of the Admiralty, for the John Adams with the Condition I told you of, that the ship should take neither Cargo, nor Passengers. We have sent it back, to ask for one without the Condition, and I have written to Mr Beasley desiring him to apply for a Passport for Mr: and Mrs Smith, their Child, and Martha—It is now nearly certain that the John Adams will not sail sooner than the 20th: of next Month, by which time if Mr Smith has been able to procure a passage for the Texel, they may easily be there.—It seems to me ridiculous, that any objection should be made to taking Americans from Cronstadt to Gothenburg or Amsterdam—There was no sort of difficulty for Americans to get passage from Gothenburg to America untill the blockade of all the American Ports, and since then the difficulty is only because no vessels go.—The English have not molested American Passengers in neutral vessels.—After my Letter to you from Gothenburg, I can as little conceive that Mr Smith should have had any embarrassment by the failure of an opportunity to go there—I expressly advised that he should not; but if possible to Amsterdam, or any Port of Holland—My Letter to you of the 5th: of this Month was still more urgent—I have not written to him because I have concluded he would be gone before my Letter could reach him—But even if he should be still at St: Petersburg when this comes to your hands, and can get an immediate Passage to any place in this neighbourhood, he will I am perswaded be in time to go by the Neptune.
There was last week, on the 20th: a Debate in the House of Commons, in which notice was taken of the delays of the British Government relating to the Negotiation with America. Mr Whitbread asked Lord Castlereagh, “whether the persons sent to Gothenburg from the American Government were quite forgotten by his Majesty’s Ministers, or whether any one had been appointed to treat with them?”  His Lordship answered that persons had been appointed to treat with them—The Report of the rest of the Debate on the subject, whether purposely or by the blunders of the Reporter, is so expressed that it is impossible to make sense of it—The substance however is; that Mr Whitbread stated as the general impression in public that there was not that alacrity in the British Government to meet the overtures from America, which he thought it important should be manifested—Lord Castlereagh answered that there was no disposition on the part of England to delay the negotiations with America—That the departure of the British Commissioners had been regulated so that they might find the American Mission all assembled here—But that by his last advices from Paris, Mr Gallatin was still there—Now, my dear friend, we have the most substantial reason for knowing that besides all the London Newspapers which had announced Mr Gallatin’s departure from Paris the 4th: of this Month, Lord Castlereagh had special and precise information that he had been here at Ghent, a full fortnight, on the day of that debate—So much for Lord Castlereagh’s candour—But the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Vansittart, in the same debate was more ingenuous—for he said “that the war with America was not likely to terminate speedily, and might lead to a considerable scale of Expence”—Mr Canning some time before in another debate had enjoined upon the Ministry not to make Peace without depriving America of her right to the fisheries; and one of the Lords of the Admiralty is reported to have said in the same House of Commons, that the War with America would now be continued to accomplish the Deposition of Mr Madison. An Article in the Courier, the Ministerial Paper, of the 22d. countenances the same idea—It states that the Federalists in America are about taking a high tone—That they will address Congress for the removal of Mr Madison, preparatory to his Impeachment; on the ground that England will never make Peace with him.
Mr Irving brought likewise a number of American Newspapers down to 29. May—Although they have been three days here, I have not found an hour of time to look into them—For with all the leisure which you would conclude I must have, I never in my life was so constantly occupied with writing. I have been this whole month answering the Letters from America that I received in Sweden, and have not yet got through the file—The same cause has to this day prevented me from reading the pamphlet containing the Correspondence between the Secretary of War and our Military Heroes which has so much amused you—The Accounts from America which these Papers contain, are by no means of the same complection as the Courier’s News—The federal Majorities at the annual Elections of Massachusetts and New–Hampshire, were not so large this year as they had been the last. Mr Dexter was the Candidate of the Republican party in Massachusetts, and Mr Gray for Lieutenant Governor—They did not succeed, but have good hopes for the next year—The New-York Election has terminated entirely in favour of the Administration—Of the 27 Members chosen for the House of Representatives in Congress, 22 are said to be Madisonian Republicans—This does not look like removal or Impeachment.
Old Mr Otis, the Secretary of the Senate, and Mr Gilman the Senator from New-Hampshire are dead—On the Coast there are continual alarms, and among other places, Boston has been menaced with an attack—Part of the reinforcements from England had arrived in the river St: Lawrence—Sir James Yeo was actually building a 100 gun ship upon Lake Ontario—I told you to expect nothing good from thence—The Capture of the Essex Frigate is, alas! officially confirmed.
Mr Clay and Coll: Milligan are gone upon an excursion to Bruxelles—Our house is not yet quite ready for us— Love to Charles; from your faithful friend and husband.

A.


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Ann Frances Harrod Adams, July 1814
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Ann Frances Harrod

My dear Daughter
Sunday morg Quincy July 1814

I Sit down to thank you for your Letter yesterday received by the post, and to Say that I was much rejoiced to find you and my Son, in improved health & Spirits, and at the Same time to Say to you that, your Children are well. Thomas my particular Charge is very well and as good a Boy as I wish— gives me no trouble—Hull is finely—I have heard from him every day, and been twice to See him, and expect the pleasure of his Company to pass the day with me this week. I inclose a Letter from mr Bass which will be particular. Abigail has not been quite so fortunate. She was taken with a Soar throat & Stiff neck, on twesday. I went to see her. She had some fever, but with Aunt Marthas nursing—and  a little medicine, She was yesterday much better, and at peny—ily were very anxious about her, and wanted me to send for r. but when I went to see her, I did not think it necessary, unless w worse, which She did not—you can rest assured that no care and attention is wanting where she is. I only had to request that they would not do too much—
Your Father is better, but weak and feeble—and much brought down with his ill turn. the rest of the Family in usual health
we have had a week of company. mrs Cushing past it with me—and Friends from Boston have visited us. I regreeted you were not at home to have joined us.
we expect you will Sit your face homeward on Saturday I hear mrs Syms Says She Shall go again to you—I hope you will be provided with Some one—Mr Smith preaches for us to day—and mr Eaton at Church. my best Regards to your Father and Mother / From your affectionate /  Mother
A Adams—
PS Love to Son go to Atkinson


Title: From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, July 1814
From: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

Atkinson July 1814

I was very much gratified to find that it was not the Presidents, your own, or your family’s Sickness which prevented your writing, & that the delay was owing only to much company, & that in the Circle was your excellent worthy Friend Mrs Cushing—I know both the President, & my Sister highly enjoy her society, & rank her among the faithful of the Earth, for she is one with whom you can realize the full, free converse of the Friend, & the Christian—
It did us all good to have a visit from Mr & Mrs. Adams, though it was not half long enough, it was better than none—I never saw her look handsomer, or in finer health in my life—They had been a very pleasant journey, & were favoured with charming Weather—I hope he finds his health greatly recovered by the Exceersion—It is a melancholly thing for the head of a family to be so frequently taken from his business—but when it is their lot, they must not repine—but consider who it is that corrects—It is few who have so good Parents to comfort, & assist them—Thus do they see mercies blended to soften their afflictions—
I have not my Sister felt so well this Season as usual—& ever since your Children were here, I have been severely attacked by what is called the fall disorder— has been sick too with the like, & have both lost what little flesh we had—I am now not able to write much so you will excuse all inaccuricies—Mr Peabody will write to our Friend Dr Tufts, acknowledge the receapt of the Bill he sent, as soon as he can go to Haverhill—
Present me respectful, & most tender regards to my dear  who I am glad to hear is in a great measure restored to his usual health, & our love to our connections—from  / your affectionate sister
Eliza. Peabody


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 23. Mrs: Louisa C. Adams–St: Petersburg.
My Dear Wife.
Ghent 1. August 1814.

Yesterday was the day of our removal, from the Hotel des Pays-Bas, on the Place d’Armes, to our own House in the Rue des Champs—Among the important consequences of this Revolution, it has produced that of a state of Separation between the primary members of the Mission, and the attachés—Those Gentleman found they could accommodate themselves with lodgings more to their taste, and as the principle of their attachment is independence, they have followed their humour without any interference or dissatisfaction on our part.—We should have been gratified to have had Mr. Hughes with us, but his inclination did not precisely correspond with ours; or rather, after a choice of Apartments, to accommodate five principals, the chambers that were left, were not so inviting, as others that were to be found in the City.—I regret the loss of his Society; for he is lively and good-humoured—smart at a repartee, and a thorough punster, theory and practice.—He has not forgiven us, and I have the most to answer for in the offences for calling him before he thinks it was necessary from Paris, and he has a project of making another excursion, while there is not much to do.—He tells me that his brother in Law, our old friend I. S. Smith is to be married this Summer to Miss Nicholas.
Mr Dallas intended to have gone in the John Adams, and still so intends if another Passport is obtained—Mr Gallatin is very anxious that Mr Todd should also return by the same vessel; but Todd likes Paris, perhaps as much as Mr Hughes, and feels no obligation to yield obedience to the summons of departure from it—Hughes (and it is a good sample of his wit) always calls him Monsieur Toad.)
Mr Hughes has this day a Letter from Mr Beasley mentioning that the departure of the British Commissioners would probably be postponed untill after the great fête, which takes place on this day—If we were but sure they would come then, we should not have much longer to wait—They are making and circulating all sorts of Reports, to account for these delays—Among the rest they pretend that we ourselves had proposed that further time should be taken, that we might receive new Instructions from our Government—This is not true.
I believe I have suggested the true course of their waiting—They have taken measures to strike a great blow in America, and they wish to have the advantage of the panic which they suppose it will excite—Among the rumours of the time, I have heard that they intended not to treat with us, untill the Congress which is to meet at Vienna. That, you know, was to have been on this day, and was afterwards postponed to the first of October—Lord Castlereagh lately promised the English Nation a long, profound, unsuspicious Peace in Europe—which is certainly more than will be realized—The Peace will be neither profound nor unsuspicious, but it may very possibly be long; that is, it may last for several years—As to the talk of a new War in October, I hold it to be perfectly absurd. The Congress at Vienna will prevent a War, if there is now a prospect of one; and the policy of England now and then will be to use all her influence to prevent it.
Tuesday 2. August
We were present yesterday at two solemn processions, and two distributions of prize medals Heard six Orations delivered, and one hymn à la Reconnoissance, sung by the Society of St: Cecilia. had a serenade at our own door, by the same Society, and finally attended a Ball given by the President and Directors of the Society of the Fine Arts.
The first procession was at 10 O’Clock in the morning. It consisted of the five Fraternities, and the Society of St: Cecilia, who preceded by the City guards, marched to the Hotel de Ville, which in ages past was the Imperial Palace of Charles 5.—One Hall of it is appropriated to these exhibitions, has a stage erected at one end of it—Rows of Benches and Galleries for Spectators, and the images of Apollo and the Muses, painted around the Walls—The distribution of prizes, was of Medallions of gold and silver, to the Adjoint or Deputy Mayor, to the chiefs of the five Fraternities and to the Society of St: Cecilia, to which a stand of Colours was added—A sword to the Commander of the City foot-guard, and a Sabre to the Commander of the Horse-Guard. These were all given by the municipal Council of the City, to reward the services of the several persons and Societies thus distinguished, in maintaining the tranquility of the City and securing private property from any depredation at the critical period of the late Revolution, when the French Authorities were dissolved, and the present temporary administration was formed.—The Mayor read a speech, announcing the object of this distribution of prizes, which was then made by the Intendant of the Department and by him—The hymn to Gratitude was sung by an Officer of the Horse-guard, and if you wish to know the estimation in which the worthies of Ghent hold themselves you may find it in the following lines—
Gand, comme Rome, comme Athènes
Compte parmi ses nourrissons
Des Praxitéles, des Mecénes,
Des Horaces, des Cicérons.
In another place the hymn says, “Gand trouva dans le dernier trouble, Dans tout Gantois un Décius—So you see we cannot complain of any lack of Great Men.
To this civic solemnity we were not invited—I attended it merely from curiosity. But the second distribution of prizes was to the pupils of the Academy of Painting and Drawing—to which we had received formal Cards of Invitation—It began at 3 in the afternoon, and was not finished untill 6. Discourses were read by the Intendant, the Mayor, the President of the Academy, a Gentleman of the Law, and one of the Pupils who had obtained a prize—They were gold and silver Medals, given for the best works of Painting, drawing and Architecture now exhibited at the Saloon—We were seated on the Stage next to the Intendant and Mayor, and at their invitation delivered each of us one of the prizes to the Victors—We also each of us accompanied one of them in a Carriage to his home; and presented our Congratulations to his Parents. The streets in the neighborhood of each one of the successful Candidates were ornamented with evergreens and flowers in blossom, and in the Evening were illuminated.—There was much uniformity in the tenour of the several Speeches—Much patriotic exultation at the antient glories of the Flemish School—Complaints that the French had carried off their finest pictures, and loud calls upon the French Government to restore them—Here and there a sally of invective against the Tyrant, mingled with rejoycings at the Peace, and at the deliverance from Conscription; with promises of unbounded loyalty to their future sovereign, whoever he may be—The Intendant spoke of the former Austrian Government, as if he was individually inclined to the restoration of that.—A wish which it is not believed will not be realized—It is said that that English are still determined that this Country shall be annexed to Holland—I know not why, unless as an apology to themselves for keeping the Dutch Colonies.
The Ball in the Evening was not so splendid as that given on the day when the Emperor Alexander passed—It began at 10 O’Clock, and I was there about an hour—This day we are to go and see the exposition of the pictures at the Saloon.
Love to Charles—I am beginning to expect answers to my Letters to you and to him from Amsterdam—In the meantime I am as ever, faithfully yours. A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 2 August 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 19
My best Friend
St Petersburg August 2d 1814

I received your three last numbers they arrived nearly at the same time No. 14 on Friday and 15 & 16 on Saturday. I am much concern’d at the prospect of affairs with you, and am fearful that the English will put it out of your power to return home, as soon as you think as I understand there is positive information here, that you will be kept on in the same manner, and that no Ministers will be sent to treat, untill you get such powers as they have always demanded, which is nothing more or less, than that you must accept any terms, they may think proper to propose.
I am not the least surprized at the information you last letter contain’d, but I presume this is a question which must be decided hereafter if the other Gentlemen are placed in the same situation I much doubt their submitting to so quietly it is so glaring an injustice that I think some one or other during the next Session of Congress will recall the act of last Winter.
I have said nothing to Mr. Strongotchikoff regarding the House untill I hear from the raising the rent so much is universally said to be a great imposition I have permitted him to make the repairs which was desirous of stipulating that if you should keep the house you will have nothing to do with the expense he may incur and that it was only to render him service that I agreed to it. I have not seen any houses but as the Emperor is going away for the whole winter I do not suppose they will be difficult to find could you form any correct opinion as to the possibility of your passing part of the Winter at Ghent I would in the house in which I now live which is a good winter house and not so far from town as to be attended with any great inconvenience the rent is 900 R: it has double Windows and stoves throughout and it is plenty large enough for our family we see so little company that I do not think it is any great object to have a large house in town but this is as you think best I fear that for you it would not be proper Mr. Monreal told me he would look out and try to find something that would suit you
Many circumstances have occurrd since your departure that I have not mention’d to you because I knew they would give you pain. In the first place I was under the necessity of purchasing a new Carriage as mine broke all to pieces under me, the Coachmakers refused to mend it, and I had it mended by the blacksmith. I bought the Carriage of Mr: Cummings and he took the old one in part payment for 400 R. the sum amounted to 2500. R. The expences of the family have continued pretty much the same Mr. & Mrs Smith having sail’d only last Week. 28th. from Cronstadt in an English Vessel bound to Hull God knows if they will ever reach Holland he appears to have so little inclination to return home things did not go altogether as I wished.I was forced to advance money for Martha’s passage which amounted to three hundred Rubles—We yesterday received the News of the Capture of the Reindeer by the Wasp, said to be a most Gallant action in which both the Captains were killed. thank God Mon Ami for if we are really to have no Peace I hope he will support us in our distress and Connfound our Enemies that last Proclamation is too bad it makes one shudder what is the past in comparison with thisMr. Harris called here for the Cypher but I do not find it among your papers he wished to write you some circumstances of consequence he had better wait till after the fete tomorrow which is to be very splendid it is said that there has been a very interesting interview and that a friend of yours in whom I know you are much interested is to be restored to all his honors and dignities. the Krehmers are silent on this you know how he stands with them, for instance the Macariaf FairAdieu my best beloved friend my paper is full but I write you I never know when to stop God bless and speedily return you to your affectionate WifeL C AdamsCharles is not very well and not at Mr. Fishwicks