Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 21 October 1825
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					My dear Son,
					New–York 21. October 1825

				We had a boisterous passage of 47 hours from Providence to this place—After reaching Newport in 2 hours and a quarter from the time when you left us, it blew so fresh a gale, and the aspect of the sky was so threatening that Captain Bunker concluded to remain the Night there.—We sailed again the next morning at 9 but   a strong and steady head wind slackened our progress so that we only arrived here yesterday at 2. P. M. There was no room at the City Hotel; and I came to Bunker’s; which I find a more comfortable House—I write to you, supposing that before this reaches you, your mother will be on her way to Washington—If not, say to her that when she passes through this City, I think she will be better accommodated at this House, than she could be at the City-Hotel.I intended to have proceeded on my journey this day; but as a token of respect to the Corporation of the City, have postponed my departure till to-morrow—I hope you will remember the subjects to which I requested you to give your attention; and write me oftener than once a month, even at the risque of not receiving a regular answer. on the morning of my leaving Quincy, Miss Ann Harrod requested me to write my name, to be inserted in her Album—I had written some lines in that of her Cousin, and would have done the same for her had time admitted.—But the Carriage was at the gate—While on board the Steam-boat the day before yesterday, I beguiled an hour of idleness, by writing a new Theory of Comets, in the form of a Sonnet to the Comet we saw together at Quincy; I enclose it herewith and request you to give it to Miss Ann Harrod, and tell her if she is willing to insert so strange a thing into her book she is welcome to it.I found Mrs De Wint in this City; and last Evening had the pain to see a Lady Ascend the skies in a balloon—She returned however to the Earth unhurtGive my duty to my father, and love to all friends / from your affectionate father

					J. Q. Adams

					Send me a copy of this Letter.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 1 November 1825
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Philadelphia 1 Novbr. 1825.

				In the course of my ride from New Brunswick yesterday my Dear George the wish you expressed for something like a translation or imitation of the Lines I wrote in french and I dictated to Elizabeth while she wrote the very indifferent lines which follow—One verse is added and I beg you to alter or correct as you please—I know they are not good but they in a great degree convey the ideas expressed in the french—We part alas! to meet no moreThe Bark awaits to waft thee homeWhen landed on that thy native shoreMidst pleasures ever new to roamThou’lt think of us againEncircled by thy happy friendsWho fondly list to hear the taleOf Blessings which a Nation sendsAnd joys that every each grateful heart shall hailThou’lt think of us again—The Warriors fame in battle wonFirst prov’d thy great and valued worthColumbia claims thee for her SonTho’ Gallia proudly owns thy birthThou’lt think of us againO may thy children long to succeedTo all the honours of thy nameAnd like their Sires by noblest deedAdd lustre to historic fameAnd think of us againWhen rock’d in ages dreamy sleepFancy shall dwell upon the pastMem’ry shall still in visions keepThe love we bear thee, to the lastThou’lt think of us again—We are all well and propose to leave this for Baltimore the day after tomorrow—I saw Mrs. de Wint who is extremely proud of her Son Present my love to all and believe me as ever / Your affectionate Mother

					L C A—

					As I have not got the original I cannot say that this is the same as I do not recollect some of the lines—


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 8 November 1825
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					My dear Son.
					Washington 8. November 1825

				I enclose herewith a Certificate of two Shares, N. 657. 658. in the Middlesex Canal, transferred to you in consideration of which, I expect you will pay some attention, to the direction of that Corporation and to the management of its concerns. I received your Letter announcing the departure of your mother, and her attendants from Quincy; they arrived here on the 18th. instt. all well except herself; and her health being somewhat improved.I wrote you from New–York, to which Letter, I have yet received no answer—I will thank you to forward to me, Dr Abbots’ Bill, against T. J. Hellen, receipted. I have directed the residue of the books intended for you to be packed and forwarded, by the earliest opportunity / Your affectionate father

					J. Q. Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 8 November 1825
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

					My dear Sir
					Washington 8 Novr. 1825—

				I fulfil my promise to inform you of my safe arrival here, rather tardily, but it affords me the opportunity of announcing that of my family—the health of Mrs Adams is improved and will I hope be restoredI have confirmed myself in the opinion that the portrait should be painted in plain black pantaloons and boots under them—A round hat should be also introduced, whether in one hand or on a table is immaterial.I enclose herewith an engraved print of the device which I mentioned to you at Princetown and an explanation of its emblematical purportWith my kind respects to Mrs Boylston I remain / Dear Sir, ever faithfully yours—


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 13 November 1825
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

					My dear Grandfather.
					Washington. November 13th 1825.

				Time has slipped by most unaccountably during my resolutions constantly expressed of writing to you. And I can give little or no account of it. The arrival of the family safe and sound at home again was matter of so much gratification after my anxieties that I have scarcely been sufficiently composed since to do any thing. And each day has closed with the consciousness on my part of much left undone. I shall now again take up my resolution of addressing you on every other Sunday, my brother having agreed to write on the intervening ones, by this means giving you the weekly information concerning the family which you have appeared usually desirous to receive.There is  little of interest at present however to enliven a letter. The Duke of Saxe Weimar astonished us for a few days, while here on passing through. The foreign minister gave grand State dinners and my father entertained him, which gave us an opportunity of seeing all the state dresses. The Duke is in my opinion a very ugly man although he is six feet, three inches and a half. His sashes, ribbons & orders consequently had much less effect than usual. They are pretty appendages as ornaments to a handsome man but are very trifling in every other point of view. The contrast was very striking between the gorgeous uniforms of the English and French, compared with the Mexican black suit, I admired the latter much more, probably because the representative who stood before me was an exquisitely handsome man and by this means overbalanced the difference in glitter. That I am not dazzled by external appearances it certainly would be foolish to deny assert, so this was I allow, certainly the motive of my preference of the Mexican.You have seen the Duke himself, so that ornaments upon him are superfluous, he has displayed some desire of acquiring information, and a great deal of good sense in conforming to our ideas, so that I am far from wishing to criticize such  rare qualities among the nobility of the continent of Europe.The session of Congress is coming and the worlds fashionable and as well as political again moves to Washington. The first will not probably find so much to attract and fascinate as it did last Winter, the latter will again be employed either in friendship or enmity to the administration as each individual thinks fit. At all events, this city becomes the point of observation to the Union and of internal commotion. We here are sadly drawn from Laws by the insistant questions of who speaks to day? whose party to night? My father is so afraid of my becoming a Monk of La Trappe as we call it here or in other words a recluse from Society that attention must be paid to those sounds although unwillingly, by your / dutiful & affectionate GrandsonChas Fras Adams


Title: From Anonymous to Abigail Brown Brooks Adams, 20 November 1825
From: Anonymous
To: Adams, Abigail Brown Brooks

Boston 20 Novr 1825

Sonnet. to Miss Brooks by a friend
What shall I, maiden, to thee Say,
Thou Art, so full of life; so gay;
’Twere Sui, to check thy mirth;
By musty laws, or sermons long;
And yet, in spite of Mirth, or Song
Thou must, with all the sprightly throng;
Descend, to mother Earth.
Yet, let not this, your spirits chill;
All, must obey dame Nature’s Will;
 But whilst you still, have Youth;
Make choice, from out the flatt’ring crowd,
That will beseige you, long and loud,
Of One, who is with sense endowed;
Good humor; health; & truth.

—Graceful & beautiful & kind.
With sparkling thoughts, & bright’ning mind—
With sweet affection’s native glow
Gushing from feelings overflow.—
With radiant looks from artless eyes
Which men of merit always prize—
Expressions forceful, accents clear
Which all her hearers love to hear.
With ready wit within controul
And manners indicating soul—
On bounteous nature’s ample page
This is eighteens raptu’rous age—
Happy—her lover—if he strike her—
This is Brooks, pray how d’ye like her?
—To Miss Heard & Miss Brooks
By green Tea, inspired;
As you have desired,
I sit down to write
(Past eleven at night,)
The lines, herewith sent
With friendly intent;
Which when you peruse;
I hope, may amuse.
This is all that I ask
As reward for my task.
So, I now must have done,
For the clock, hath Struck "One".
That being the case, it bids me take warning,
To wish you, good night; or rather good morning.
—
An Impromptu. from the Journal of a Traveller who had spent a very pleasant Evening in Boston
20 Novr. 1825. 1/2 past 11. P.M.
Two pretty girls, this night, I’ve seen;
Enchanting, fair, and just Eighteen;
And so bewitching, both;
That if I were, obliged to choose,
Which one to take, and which to lose,
I’d puzzled be, on oath.
One, is so still, so Soft, so Sly;
With such a modest beaming Eye;
’Twould make a Hermit glad.
The other, full of joy and mirth;—
But; both so equal, in their worth,
To part them, would be sad.
Then, since ’tis so; dear Damsels fair;
Let me, think of you, as a pair
Of Sister’s, lov’d full well:
If Heard were Brooks; or Brooks were Heard;
Which of the two, might, be preferred,
Is more than I, can tell.


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 27 November 1825
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

					My dear Grandfather.
					Washington. November 27th 1825.

				In the present dearth of news, and of every thing to make a letter interesting, I am afraid I shall only be very stupid in my attempt to amuse. But since it is the day on which I am bound to write and you expect it from me, I hope this will be sufficient apology for any want of animation which you may perceive. The monotonous course of life so very secluded as the one in which I now live gives me no opportunities to entertain. I study law, and that in itself forms some excuse for want of brightness. It is no doubt an exceedingly useful study and as utility is the standard of our age it behoves us to pursue it with diligence but in my mind, it tends at the same time to make us mere machines. In studying law taken in the strictest confined definition of the term, I see no necessity for ideas. Acting upon this Sentiment I take pains to expel them as much as possible and am in consequence as you will experience very unfit to write a letter. A publication lately from the Baltimore press may probably have met your attention.  It purports to be a Statement of the case of Captain Phillips dismissed from the Navy for Cowardice during your Administration. He applied for readmission but was refused. It is generally thought here that he has not at all Succeeded in proving his Courage by this pamphlet. And his account of consulting a lawyer as to whether he should fight or not has amused every body. In such case, I think every public vessel should be supplied with one a circumstance which might perhaps please some of the starving brotherhood although I imagine that the fighting advice would be but scarce. Indeed I think the Peace Societies all over the world would advance their cause more by advocating such a measure than they have by every thing (they have) hitherto done.A gentleman who was here told a good story about this same Captain Phillips. After having suffered his men to be taken from him to the other vessel and being about to separate on their different destinations, he suddenly took a speaking trumpet and thus hailed the British Captain.“Captain Loring, Captain Loring, do pray send me back my Steward, or at any rate the keys of my liquor case.”I regretted to hear that you was about to “submit” to a bust maker. He was so very severe upon Mr Jefferson that I am apprehensive of much inconvenience to you, I hope that he will not have been suffered to proceed although it is now too late to make any representations from here. I mean the man who was here and took both my father & my self. I imagine it is the same. His method is disagreeable & dangerousYour affectionate Grandson

					Charles Francis Adams.


Title: John Quincy Adams, Receipt, 29 November 1825
From:
To: Adams, John Quincy

					Boston Novr 29h 1825

				Recd on board the schooner Velocity Luther Hammond master for Washington City. a Boston directed His Excellency President Adams, which I promise to deliver him on his order  freight being paid here by shipper Ward Nichs Boylston$1.00

					A. C. Lombardfor Capt Hammond

					A C Lombard Recd for a Box of Raspberry Candiece Sent. President Adams—29’ Novr 1825—$1


Title: From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 3 December 1825
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Charles Francis

my dear Charles.
Quincy December 3d. 1825.

I thank you for your two letters—and I wish you would continue to write to me twice a week—my dear Charles Mathematicks and Law are the two rocks on which a Man of business may surely found his reputation, as well as his capacity for doing good, to himself, his friends, his country, as well as to mankind. Study my dear Charles makes the man. It is not novels or Poetry It is neither Scott or Lord Byron who make useful men—
We go on here—tomorrow, and tomorrow, creep on from day to day—You have heard of the losses, and changes that have happened in our Town of Quincy the last year—Shaw and George make me a visit once a week and entertain me rationally and comfort me much—
I should be glad to see the graven Images that Browere has sett of your Father and yourself—he did not tare my face to pieces though I sometimes thought he would have beat my brains out with his hammer—but the old head has come out as good as it was before, and not worth much after all—my love to Father and mother John Mary and Elizabeth—
I am your affectionate / Grand Father
John Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 18 December 1825
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Washington 18 Decb. 1825

				As you are determined not to write to your Mother or in any way to continue an intercourse always yielding her so much pleasure I shall only send you some very indifferent lines written to accompany the portrait now in the hands of Stewart—We are all well and only want your company to make us quite happy—Charles say’s you are the fortunate one of the family all the rest will be ruined—Accept the assurance of your Mothers love under all circumstances

					L. C. A.

					To my Sons with my Portrait—by StewartGo flatter’d imags tell the taleOf years long past away;Of faded youth; of sorrows wail,Of time’s too sure decay—When Mem’ry ling’ring shall retraceThose days for ever flown;When in a Mothers fond embraceYour purest joys were Known;When with maternal watchful careOer the sad couch of pain;She breath’d to heaven the whisper’d prayer,Nor breath’d that prayer in vain:When with delight she caught the smileFull bright’ning in thine eye,Joy’d in the sportive gambols, toil,Or mingled “sigh for sigh”—
				When care assail’d to you she clungAnd press’d you to her breast,That fount of life on which you hungTo taste the sweets of rest—With bliss she watch’d each opening rayThe germ of sense to trace;The beaming smile, the artless play,Each varying new born grace—When age maturer pleasures taughtShe listen’d to the tale,Of youthful games for ever sought,And school-boys rude assail.—Of little sorrows, trifling cares,Of irritation strong;Of lesson’s missed, neglected prayers,Of College pranks; and wrong.To train each scion ere the budCorruption should attain,To stem the storm of passions floodAnd warn you to refrain;While life and pleasures gay careerInsensibly display’d,Allur’d your hearts without a fearTill pleasures self betray’d—In manhood still she lov’d to dwellWith all a Mothers pride,To magnify! yes! e’en to swellThe talent she descried;To cultivate those blossoms brightExpanding into view,To urge the sanguine mind arightTo yield its fruit when due—Oh! this the charm of life does proveAnd e’en in death shall cheer,The Spirit of Maternal loveIn heaven’s celestial sphere—When in the sleep of death those eyes,That heart shall cease to move,The Mother blest in yonder skiesShall guard thee from above—L C AdamsTo all together and individually—P. H. Decb 18. 1825.


Title: From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 19 December 1825
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Charles Francis

Dear Charles
Quincy 19th. December. 1825

Knowing as I do the whirlwind of business, ceremony, Levee’s Drawing rooms Dinners, Parties, with which you are hurried away, I acknowledge it a great favour for you to write a letter to me—and when I receive one, it is so much the more pleasure—
As to the Message a Father says, that a more meritorious state paper has never appeared on the American Annals; And I think it gives as universal satisfaction, as any Message can do, from any American President, but the spirit of evil will show a little malignity, for he will always have some dominion in this world
I like your refflections upon Poetry very well, your Father laid his foundation strong in science, and in Classical literature, and the world has seen the effects of it; And the world will always see the effects of such foundations—Charles there is one line in Juvenal of more value that many Folio volumes, It is “Studium sine Callamo somnium” study this phrase Charls, as an Ox ruminates his Cud—arouse your courage be determined to be something in this world—you have a fine capacity Charles—you have a fine Capacity my dear Boy, if you will but exert it—You are responsible to God and Man for a fine Genius a talent which is not to be buried in the Earth
We are all pretty well here—George did not come to see me Saturday he staid in Boston to hear Dr. Channing—I wish him to Cultivate an acquaintance and Friendship with Mr. Channing and, Frothingham for they are eminent Characters meaning however no refflections upon any others of the Clergy in Boston—my love to all the family— / And am your affection / Grand Father
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Henry Clay, 21 December 1825
From: Adams, John
To: Clay, Henry

					My dear Sir
					21 Decr 1825—

				The President requests that all resolutions from either House of Congress, as soon as acted upon by the Departments may be returned to him. Will you send me that which I sent to the Department confirming the appointment of Mr Conkling of N–Y—Your’s &c

					J. Adams Junr.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 22 December 1825
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

				N. 18—
					My dear Son.
					Washington 22 December 1825

				I enclose herewith the Policy of Insurance upon the house in Court Street and also that upon the House in Hancock Street—Both of which you will safely keep: and remember to have them renewed at the proper time.I am greatly concerned to learn, that you were suffering with the toothache, and inflamation of the face; but hope that it has before this subsided.I propose to seize upon the first moment of leisure, to reply to two Letters from you, preceding the last—but know not when it will come. We are all well—Your affectionate father

					J. Q. Adams—


Title: From Ward Nicholas Boylston to John Quincy Adams, 22 December 1825
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John Quincy

My Dear Sir,
Roxbury Decr. 22d. 1825

I am honor’d with your Letter of 8th of Novr with the devise & explanation, when which is truely beautifull & interesting. I shew’d to Mr Stuart with your wishes, he expressd great pleasure in Complying with them, but I regret to add, that in defiance of every persuasion of mine, & many of his Friends, Mrs Adam’s and your portraits, are as you last saw them.
My first visit to Boston, after our return from Princeton, was to see them, I spent an hour of Admiration, in examineing them, and really think Mr Stuart never has, in any thing, I’ve yet seen, equal’d this splendid spirit of his great talents.—but alas! I have an uphill labour to induce him to go on; he says his Room is not large enough to finish items, but that he has an expectation, Mr Alston will oblige him by giveing up his large Room for that purpose; when that will be obtain’d is impossible for me to say:—I have however some hopes, that in these hard & money pressing times, I shall starve him into action—I set out with informing him through his Fd. Davis, that not a Dollar should be paid in advance—but the whole sum, wh had been 3 months before been deposited to be paid the hour he should say it was ready for delivery—In the meantime I shall beset him with other tongues—and surely he will not be proof against such a Combination.
The Pantaloons, however, appear to meet universal Dissapprobation in Boston, and likewise in the Circle at Quincy, particularly by my ever–beloved Friend your Father, who declares War against them, insomuch he says if he can procure a painters brush, & he lives to see it finished, in the manner you have directed, he will deface them and desires me to give you his opinion.
Mrs. Boylston, my Nephew, & self made him an afternoon visit this day week, he appeard to have suffer’d from the extreme Cold day of the 13th Instant—tho’ convalescing, but on the whole I thought him feebler, than I ever had seen him last. I mean to repeat my visits as often as my health & weather will allow me, and to offer him any feeble means I possess of contributeing to his satisfaction.
I have lately received a Long Letter from my old Friend Dr Nicholls, extracts on political topics, I will give you when my sight is a little stronger than it is at this moment: (In reply to your polite message to him in your letter to me at Princeton)—he says "the expressions of your Friend the President of the American Congress are very flattering to me, I never did desire them, and I am now a worn Out man.—Mr Adams’s present situation, is perhaps more important to the Happiness of Millions than that of any other Individual—the same opinion is express’d in other Letters I have rec’d from England.
I difer’d doing myself the honor of writing you, till now, in expectation of receiveing for you what I was promised from Nova Scotia, which has not yet arrived, when received will immediately forward
On the 29th ultimo I sent by the Schooner Velocity—(Hammond Master,) bound to the City adddress’d to you a Box containing a Dozen of Raspberry Cordial, and have at length procured 20 lb. of that Mocha Coffee of the best kind; which I have been as many years seeking but till now without success—& this thro’ the favor of a Friend; and if acceptable to you and Mrs Adams will much overpay all the trouble and cost I have had in procuring—fearfull that the Poutomac may be  closed, I have sent it wth the Bill of Lading to the Postmaster at Baltimore, requesting him to forward by the earliest Conveyance.—
I am much obliged by your kind attention in sending me your printed message to Congress, which I intend to inclose to Dr Nicholls, presumeing that the entire message may not find room in the London papers—I know it will be extremely gratifying to him—If Mr I Adams will be so kind as to forward me the annual documents that accompanid your message, or any others that are publishd, it would greatly oblige me, as I feel much Interested in every thing that relates to the affairs of Government under you able administration.—
Should the Bankrupt Bill pass I beg leave to renew my solicitations I (made when the subject was formerly under disscussion of Congress,) in behalf of Mr Lynde Walter, who is a distant relative of yours & mine, and once a Merchant of Considerable Bussiness, who through repeated losses became Insolvent, but without the least blemish of his Moral Character he has since been Occupied in a Concern that has  indeed given him a liveing, but nothing more than a scanty one, he has since, & for many years has been a member of the Legislature of this state & was a  Member from Boston of last state Convention, he is an excellent accountant, & every way qualified for the Duties of such an appointment, (if you should see fit to nominate him as one of the Boston Board
This will be presented you by my nephew Lt Elmeley, who has been passing the last two months with us at this place, and now intends to go to Charleston to pass the residue of the tranters, takeing Washington in his way to pay his respects to you & Mrs Adams & family, if during his short visit you could honor him with any a  notice you will do him great service to you and add to the Interest he feels in being introduced to you—at the same time confer a great favor on / Your affectionate Cousin / And obliged Friend

Ward Nichs Boylston

PS Mrs Boylston desires her best respects to you, & unites with me, in the most affectionate Regards to Mrs Adams, whose health we are gratified in hearing, has been much improved since she arrived in Washington we beg also to be remember’d wth regard to Mr J, & C, Adams—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 23 December 1825
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

Washington Decbr. 23d 1825

I am so much concerned my Dear George to learn from your last letter what a state of suffering you were in that I have been anxiously looking for a second letter to assure us of your recovery—We learn from the newspapers that the cold has been intense and I fear you do not take precautions to guard against its extreme severity—
We are here in the midst of the busy bustling scene of a session of Congress with a number of Ladies in addition to the throng that usually press upon us at this Season. Hitherto all is gaiety harmony and good humour and the recent confirmation of appointments in the Senate indicate a much more quiet and agreable winter than was at first apprehended—I wish you were or could come among us though I do not think you like Washington or the society which you meet here—
It is to be here a strange compound of all that is good and indifferent and bad but like the harmony produced by the most discordant sounds in the russian national and popular music melody is frequently elicited by tones which strictly analized would for the whole nervous system and as it is vulgarly but naturally set ones teeth on edge—It is not the harmony of the spheres but nevertheless on the whole makes good musick—to the most science is always discovered in the good arrangement of discordant sounds.
Mrs. Randolph your old acquaintance has just left me and enquired very particularly after her favorite George, and desired I would tell you that she has not forgotten you and that she wishes the you the handsomest and best Wife in America. What say you to that my son? If she were but younger you might have made a conquest, it is said of one who was the most beautiful woman in America—and there I stop and further deponent sayeth not!!! With two law students in the house it is no wonder I should put up a little of the jargon—
Now what can be the reason you will not write to me? I insist upon it that you sit down to your table forget every thing but your Mother and chat with her as you used to do when a boy without even remembering that there is such a thing as stile or elegant writing or literature in the world—Let the thought escape as it rises and like beauty it will prove "when unadorned the most" and meet its welcome on the paper.—A heart so affectionate as yours will ever prove a good prompter to the understanding and inspire only such sentiments as will yield happiness and pleasure to a Mother who ever views her children with the eyes of affection almost always insuring approbation.—Real talent is always modest and dubious of its own strength—but it is that very doubt which gives it eclat as it ensures its chasteness and purity—
Do not laugh at my absurdity for you know that that absurdity is the charm par excellence of your Mother

L. C. Adams


Title: From Christopher van de Venter to John Adams, 24 December 1825
From: Venter, Christopher van de
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					War Dept Dec 24 ‘25

				I have recd your letter of to day covering the Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 23d Inst.Truly yours

					C Van de Venter


Title: From George Washington Louis Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 28 December 1825
From: Lafayette, George Washington Louis Gilbert du Motier de
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					La Grange ce 28. Décembre 1825.

				C’est avec une bien vive reconnoissance Madame, que j’ai reçu la lettre que vous avez eue la bonté de m’écrire, et les vers qu’elle renfermoit. il est bien précieux pour moi de les tenir de vous même, et j’acquère par là le droit d’en devenir le dépositaire.—j’ose espérer madame, que vous voulez bien me pardonner d’avoir été si longtems sans vous adresser mes remerciemens. depuis six semaines, j’ai été constamment occupé à soigner jour et nuit le fils de mon plus ancien ami, qui a perdu trois doigts par suite d’un accident à la chasse, et ma troisième fille que j’ai cru voir expirer plusieurs fois pendant une maladie terrible dont elle est dieu merci en convalescence maintenant. C’est là mon excuse pour une négligence qui seroit impardonable, si des devoirs du premier ordre n’en avoient pas été cause. nous nous entretenons souvent en famille, des heureux momens passés sous le toit du président des états-unis, et nos souvenirs américains nous tiendront toujours bonne et fidèle compagnie.Monsieur de Tracy mon beau frère, et moi madame vous prions de vouloir faire agréer à monsieur Adams, et recevoir vous même avec bonté l’hommage de notre profond respect, et de notre reconnoissance.

					G. W. Lafayette

					mesdemoiselles vos nièces me permettront-elles de me rapeller a leur bon souvenir; je me recommande à celui de messieurs vos fils.


Title: From John Adams to Daniel Brent, 1825
From: Adams, John
To: Brent, Daniel

					My dear Sir
					1825

				The President directs me to request of you to procure as soon as possible from the Printer some Copies of the Proclamation as he is very anxious to send them to Congress to dayYours &c

					John Adams—


Title: From John Adams to Peter Force, 1825
From: Adams, John
To: Force, Peter

					Mr Force
					Tuesday Morng—1825

				Will you be good enough to have fifty copies of the enclosed invitation printed for me before the evening. If you can you will much oblige / Yours &c

					J. Adams Jr.


Title: From John C. Calhoun to John Quincy Adams, 1825 to 1828
From: Calhoun, John C.
To: Adams, John Quincy

					ca. 1825-1828

				9th Decr. Mr Calhoun accepts with pleasure the invitation of Mr. & Mrs Adams for thursday next
				29th Decr. Mr & Mrs Calhoun regret that a previous engagement of Mr Calhoun for friday prevents them from accepting the invitation of Mr & Mrs Adams for that day.


Title: From John Adams to Peter Force, 1825 to 1829
From: Adams, John
To: Force, Peter

					1825 to 1829

				What is the News? Please send me some Copies of the Message if ready—Yrs &c—

					J. Adams—


Title: From John Adams to Peter Force, 1825 to 1829
From: Adams, John
To: Force, Peter

					My dear Sir
					Tuesday Morng—

				Mr Elliot has sent to ask permission to have a copy of the Message, so as to put it in his evenings paper.  The President directs me to say that he has no objection to gratifying Mr Elliott—Yrs in great haste—

					John Adams Junr.


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Bailey, 8 January 1826
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Bailey, John

					Dear Sir
					Quincy 8th: January 1826

				You was kind enough to send me a Copy of the Message, for which I thank you. By an arrangement made with my Nephew, Mr J Adams, I receive the documents and Mr Hobart has forwarded a set to my Father. I do not remember ever to have read abler state papers from each department.As you are well acquainted with the forms of Office, I wish to call your attention to an application I made to the War-department, some four or five years past, as Atty to Mr: Charles Newcomb, late of Quincy; a Soldier of the Revolution, whose name was on the list in the Massachusetts line at the close of the War. I handed to Mr Eustis, the former Representative of Norfolk district all the papers and vouchers to substantiate a claim for bounty land, which was sold to Newcomb, just after the Army was disbanded, by one Peter Ellino, a Frenchman who served in the same Company with Newcomb, and was also in the Army at the close of the war. This  Peter Ellino, finding himself destitute of the means of living in Boston and unable to pay his board, applied to his old comrad Newcomb for pecuniary aid, and offered to give him, by an Instrument called a Witt and power, all his right, title and claim to any bounty lands, which might fall to him, by virtue of his enlistment and service in the Army during the War. A bargain was made; such a Writing was drawn up and executed, at Boston, before a Justice of the peace, whose name was Gardner. This paper is on file, at the War department, and is all the foundation we have for the claim, except the fact that Ellino immediately left this Country & went to Nova Scotia, after the sale of this claim, and has not been heard of since. But I contend that even if he were still living, neither he nor his descendants could claim against his own deed, which the Writing he gave was equivalent to; but as no land was ever assigned him he could only give a Release of his title, which I think he has done in favour of my late Client, Mr Newcomb—The obstacles thrown in the way of our claim, by Mr Nathl Cutting, a Clerk or Auditor, on my first application to the department, were that Peter Ellino might be living, or, if dead, he might have left heirs, who, at a future day, might come forward to claim the bounty land, in behalf of their Ancestor. By such subterfuges as these, no wonder much unclaimed land has accumulated to the U.S.I wish the Records to be searched and precedents of similar stamp to be found, of which I have no doubt there are many; else how did the land  jobbers obtain so many of the Soldiers rights? We wish for no favour, because our claim is lawful, as we think and we demand a land Warrant for One hundred acres of Land, being a bounty granted by Congress for the encouragement of enlistments, during the War.I think among the papers you will find a certificate from our Secy of State’s Office, of Peter Ellino as belonging to the Massachusetts line of the Army at the close of the War. Mr Newcomb was living when the claim was first exhibited and he has left heirs Male capable of inheriting, and if any further evidence be wanting, it can be suppliedI shall be much obliged by any information you may obtain in this investigation and if all the papers in the Case can be found, I have little doubt of obtaining my object.The Message of Govr Lincoln, at the opening of the Winter Session of our Genl Court is a very masterly production. His views appear to be liberal expansive and harmonious with those of the National Government. I heartily wish his Excellency may meet a Correspondent and sympathetic feeling in both branches of the Legislature; but there is not a leading man in either house, that I am acquainted with. Mr Baylies of the Senate has talents, but he is not in his element. The times may, in another year, produce a leading member; but the labour of doing all is immense, and for Two dollars per diem, nobody can afford to fight.I regret that the Governor did not recommend the appointment of an additional Justice of the Supreme Court. It was “penny wise and pound foolish” policy to reduce the number to four, as an odd number is often wanting to supply casualties.Your friend Marston and family are well; and the health of my aged Father is as usual at this Season.With my best compliments to Mrs Bayley & her Mother I am, very respectfully, Your Obedt Servt

					Thomas B Adams.

					PS. I should have written to Mr Hobart on the subject of the Claim, but as it originated in your District, I thought it most proper to address you.


Title: To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 10 January 1826
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir.
					Washington 10. January 1826.

				The enclosed papers numbered 1. and 2. are copies1 Of a Letter from Mr Bassett, Chairman of a Committee of the House of Representatives of the United States to me.2 Of a Letter from Mr G. W. P. Custis to him, enclosed by him in his own Letter to me, and referred to in it.I am to request you to have the goodness to state, whether your recollection coincides with that of Mr Custis, with reference to the circumstances to which he alludes.I am, Dear Sir, ever affectionately and dutifully your’s

					John Quincy Adams.


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 15 January 1826
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

					My dear Grandfather.
					Washington—January 15th: 1826.

				An unaccountable fit of dullness and inability to do any thing, prevented my writing to you on last Sunday, the weather is of such a nature as to create languor to an astonishing degree. It is very warm and humid which produces colds almost universally. Our family has not escaped for my brother and Elizabeth have both been affected and I although free from cold, have not been in a State to entertain even myself, much less others. We have a great deal of sickness in the city among the Members and in the fashionable world, especially among the ladies, but I am a little inclined to suspect that with the last, “Ennui” has had its influence as Washington is voted (this Winter) decidedly dull.I believe, I have not yet acknowledged the receipt of your last letter, which gave me a great deal of pleasure. Flattered as I am by the hopes which my friends generally and you, Sir, in particular have formed of me, I cannot but be aware that I have so much the more to do. My own exertions may at some future time avail much, but at present my only duty is to prepare myself to meet the future. I am so little aware as yet of my future course, that my residence after I go from here is not decided, my future prospects are consequently enveloped in obscurity and it is only a fruitless task for me at present to attempt to penetrate it. We are all in a great meausre dependents upon Providence and must consequently trust more to it than to our self acquired Wisdom, in which, after all, there is much Vanity.But this moralizing strain  upon a most tiresome subject to all but one’s self is somewhat out of the usual course of letter writing. Egotism is perhaps the least satisfactory portion of a Letter to the person who receives it, although the most fruitful subject to the writer.The political world gets along very smoothly at present and although there seems to be an inclination to which a little steam, in some quarters, yet the surface of things seems quiet. Congress appear to be much inclined to debate two or three hours in the morning and to dine out in the evening so as to avoid rust. And generally speaking there is much more good humour than I was led to expect.I have been almost a recluse from the gay scenes of the city, not having as yet attended a single evening party since the Session commenced. We have so much at home that one is hardly tempted to go out. I have dined out three or four times which together with one or two dinners a week at home and a Drawing Room each alternate Week is quite as much as will satisfy Your affectionate & dutiful /   Grandson

					Charles Francis Adams.


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 January 1826
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

my Dear Son.
Quincy 18th. January 1826

I have received your letter inclosing the letters from Mr Basset and Mr. Custis Congress had resolved, but I believe not passed into a law, to erect a monument to President Washington; but they passed resolutions requesting the then President to write a letter to Mrs. Washington soliciting her consent to have her remains removed, to be entombed with those of her Husband in the City of Washington; I accordingly wrote a letter to that Lady inclosing an account of the resolutions of Congress, and requesting her answer, & sent it by my then private secretary William S. Shaw by express to Mount Vernon.—Mr. Shaw brought me back a beautiful letter full of affection tenderness and grief. but consenting to the proposal of Congress, & but I believe were recorded in the Journals of Congress, but I will not be certain, for my memory is too weak
I am confident they were published in the Newspapers of that time, And Mrs Washingtons letter was very much admired and celebrated. This may be considered as an implyed contract in honour on the part of the United States to fulfill it—And in my opinion the honour of the nation is still concerned in performing it—When I see Mr Shaw I will get him to write a letter to you upon the subject—
I am as ever, your affectionate / Father
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 18 January 1826
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

					my Dear Son.
					Quincy. 18th:—January 1826

				I have received your letter inclosing the letters from Mr Basset and Mr. Custis Congress had resolved,—but I believe not passed int a law, to erect a monument to President Washington,—but they passed resolutions requesting the then President to write a letter to Mrs. Washington, soliciting her consent to have her remains removed, to be entombed with those of her Husband in the City of Washington; I accordingly wrote a letter to that Lady inclosing an account of the resolutions of Congress, and requesting her answer, & sent it by my then private secretary William S. Shaw by express to Mount Vernon.—Mr. Shaw brought me back a beautiful letter full of affection tenderness and grief, but consenting to the proposal of Congress, & I believe were recorded in the Journals of Congress, but I will not be certain for my  memory is too weak—I am confident they were published in the Newspapers of that time. And Mrs Washingtons letter was very much admired and celebrated. This may be considered as an implyed contract in honour on the part of the United States to fulfill it. And in my opinion the honour of the Nation is still concerned in performing it—When I see Mr Shaw I will get him to write a letter to you upon the subject—I am as ever, your affectionate / Father

					John Adams—


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 19 January 1826
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My Dear Cousin
					Hermitage Jam plain 19’. Jany 1826 Thursday Mn

				It has been a great mortification to me, that in every attempt in every direction I have sought, I did not untill yesterday, succeed, in procureing the two Barrels of Cyder now sent—its declared to me, to be three years old, its perfectly clear & fit for immediate use. I wish you to taste it, & let me know if the quality that suits your palate—I have also sent half a Dozen pints of the same Madeira as the last—both of wh I beg you will kindly receive as the offerings of the affectionate regard of your cousin

					Ward Nichs Boylston

					PS—Mrs: Boylston desires her affectionate respects to you and unites in my regards to Judge & Mrs Adams Mrs Clarke & miss Smith—I beg also to hear how you are in health...I hope all our Friends at Washington were well—when you last  heard from them—


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 29 January 1826
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

Washington 29 Jany 1826

It is some time my dear George since I wrote but much sickness and trouble have kept my mind in a state of anxiety which has prevented my answering your last which was most kind and affectionate—Our pore coachman John Cook was found dead in his bed last week and left us a prey to surmizes and conjectures as to the causes of his decease which can never be satisfied—
I had got thus far when your olla podrida of last Sunday was brought with which I was much pleased. Nothing in this world is so great an object with me at present as to see you happily settled and I hail the glimmerings which I think I can discern of what you call a slip of Republicanism. A man is the best Republican who lives in every respect according to the station in which he happens by circumstances to be placed but if he steps out of it it must be to ascend in the scale of creation as descent is always considered degradation—life is or should be a perpetual ascent towards perfection we ought always therefore to look up rather than down. The greatest blessing I have now to look forward to in life is that of living again in the children of my children and my heart is yet young enough to delight in the thought that I may yet perhaps soon welcome the day—A prudent and happy marriage for you must of course be ardently desired both by your father and myself and the only difficulty in the selection of your future spouse is that you will think only of the joys of the present while they your parents will be anxiously looking forward to the permanent happiness of the future—To look up is for you impossible to look down but too easy and temptation is ever in your path—as however you have passed that boyish period of life when passion is seldom checked by discretion you need no other guide than your own sound understanding to show you that your kindred if you wish to be happy with them should move in the same sphere as yourself—
It is no wonder that your spirits should be so elevated while cupids arrows are doing such mischief around you and Hymens torch burns so brightly but I perfectly agree with you that to make the flame durable there is no objection to the arrow’s being topp’d with gold for although the poet has assured us that beauty unadorn’d is adorn’d the most’ if it is a very difficult theory to teach to our belles and I have never yet seen any who were willing to practice it however amiable and virtuous—A woman hangs on her good looks as the only medium of love and constancy in man and if she errs it is their fault who deem beauty so superior to every moral excellence—
Do not my Dear Son receive this epistle as a lecture but accept it merely as the prompting of a heart deeply interested in your welfare and be assure that married or single you will ever be dear to the heart of your mother

L. C. Adams

I am most happy to learn that you intend to write to me regularly and shall always rejoice in your Letters whether they contain scraps or what is more pleasing your own thoughts—warm from the heart and without reserve—


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 29 January 1826
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

					My dear Grandfather
					Washington—January 29th 1826.

				Since my last letter the whole family have been suffering from violent colds. I did not escape lightly, on the contrary, I was two days in greater trouble than was ever occasioned me by any cold before. My father has also been attacked and indeed every member of our family in regular order. To make the assertion more general, I might say that the whole City had been under the influence of this cold. The Senate have at times been unable to form a quorum to do business and although we have had a great deal of smart debating in the House, I imagine that this epidemic has had very considerable influence upon the length of the discussions. The gentlemen who are the most knowing in political matters say, that this is a very smart but a very talking Congress and that the President has cut out so much work for them that there is but little probability of any adjournment until the latter part of May or June. This matters but little however, as they are in very good humour generally and they enliven the place. To be sure there are some exceptions to this observation, but only enough to give some zest to the Session.So much for politics, and what is to be said for fashion Why, literally nothing. I have secluded myself almost entirely from the world and consequently have but little to report. The Corps Diplomatique being large, have mere influence this Winter than usual, and as they entertain handsomely it is no mere than their due. My own studies and some duties which my father has lately imposed upon me, leave me scarcely any time even for exercise, and days slip away without number and find me a continual resident in the house without having breathed the external air.This will not do and so I say to myself, but much of my time is spent in forming resolutions for the future and time passes constantly without having put them into execution. I am now studying the Constitution of the United States, the very unsatisfactory Journal of the Federal Convention and the Federalist. This with a Review of Blackstone’s Commentaries employs my days and short as they are, leaves me but little time to do more than think of resolutions to walk—The weather here is execrably damp, to this we ascribe all the sickness. The case has been the same at Baltimore and Philadelphia; I sincerely hope that the clear cold of your climate has prevented indisposition among the population and even if it has not, that you Sir, have not suffered from it. The family however have been rather anxious about it however as they all know by experience in the inconveniences. of it—I remain / Your ever affectionate & dutiful / Grandson
					Charles Fras. Adams—


Title: From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 January 1826
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, John Quincy

					My Dear Son—
					Quincy January 30th. 1826

				I herewith inclose to you a letter addressed to me from Mr Shaw written at my request. I can only add that I entirely coincide with him in his opinionI am &ca. your affectionate / Father

					John Adams


Title: From Abigail Brown Brooks Adams to Charlotte Gray Brooks Everett, 5 February 1826
From: Adams, Abigail Brown Brooks
To: Everett, Charlotte Gray Brooks

					Dear Charlotte
					Sunday Feb 5th 1826

				I received your letter on Thursday and was delighted to find it so long, for you do not know how much pleasure it gives me to read one of your good long letters. I am glad you mentioned Sisters bonnet, and you shall have it as soon as possible, but we must consult together at home what is best for the Bell of Washington, for we hear she is the greatest lady there. You mention in your letter that father says I think you dull. I merely said you did not seem so gay as usual, and immediately after we heard that you was sick with a cold; so at once we supposed that was the reason, but I did not remember saying anything whatever to father about it, and as to the Cambric I do not know how he knew anything about that, for I was very careful not to say that you wanted any articles for fear he should ask too many questions, and those that I should not be willing to answer, but I begin to think he goes and gets my letters without my knowing it, and that is the way he finds out things. Now I think after all this stupid talk I should give you some news, I have a little for you, and such as I think is good, you of course suppose it is about babies, and so it is, for it is all the news we can find in Boston, we are so stupid. In the first place your friend Susan Prescott has a fine daughter, and is much better than she has been for several years, and her friends now hope that she will be quite well again, and I am sure She ought to be so for she has been sick long enough for any one. Mrs Vose has a son although she thought she never should have any more, and was kind enough to offer to assist her friends to the same blessing. She had asked Catherine to come and stay with her a few days as she had no nurse, or hers had not come. Mrs Vose was going to have Henry for her Doctor and Catherine did not like to go for fear she should get there at the wrong time, but Rebecca told her she was always sick two days so she would have time to go home when she wished to, but Mrs Vose was taken sudenly sick and before she could get any one but Henry, was confined, so that Catherine had to do the whole as the servant girl was only 15 and she could not call upon her, she was angry enough about it, and says they never will keep her so again. Mrs Warner has a daughter, but I have not heard any particulars about the lady. I usually contrive to, but no one seems to know any thing of her. I think Mr Warner soon forgot the promise he made when he married her, for I think her baby has come as soon as it well could, although I did not like Mr Sargent set down the day she was married. I shall I suppose tell you in the next letter which I write that Mrs Franklin Dexter had a nother child for she has been sick now three days and still remains very sick. I know of no more babies but this I know none of the ladies send for me; but I expect any day that you will send for me to go to Washington, for I presume you cannot yet clear anymore than the other ladies.  The colds which you speak of are very bad in Boston, mother had been and still is quite Sick with one of them. Mrs Wells who lived in Chesnut Street died of the same complaint, Mr. Theodore Lyman Jr, is very ill, and they fear she will not recover, and at first it was but a common cold. Mrs. Jonathan Phillips is at the point of death, and some others whom I have forgotten. Sister Eliza does not get down stairs yet although I beleive her complaints have left her in a degree; she looks truly sick, and appears quite dull. Susan is perfectly well, and she with Mrs. Heard’s family all desire to be remembered particularly to you, I fear I shall not be able to tell you much about Susan while you are away, at least at present there is no chance of it. Bridget still lives with Susan and she likes her very much, Suky is with her also and has been for some time, she did not wish to keep her but she happened to be with her at the time her chamber maid, was sick and; Susan thought she would take her until her girl returned but she was too sick to do that, and Suky tryed to do so well that she had no excuse whatever for turning her away, and I  beleive she finds her pretty good Help, Peter has not been to see  her but once and that was some time ago, so that I really fear that their knives and forks will become rusty before they are called into use. Mo keeps the same that she had before you left, but Roxy will leave her in the spring, we think it is because she is vey fond of Cyrus, and he feels no fondness for her, at any rate she will leave us before we go to Medford and Mother thinks she will be quite a loss. Two of the Phillip’s are staying at our house and if it be pleasant tomorrow we think of going to see Mr and Mrs. Barrett who are here now. You ask me about Mrs Thorndikes’ party I concluded I would not go but I heard all about it, and I will with pleasure tell you what I know. Madam recieved her company in Mrs W’s room they then went into her parlor to dance, and Gorham said there was not the least need of haveing the other house opened for they would all crowd into the dancing rooms, The supper was more Splendid than any ball that has been given this winter, and many say the most beautiful they have ever seen, and I trust from all accounts it must have been truly elegant. She had two tables set, and each time more than two hundred plates were laid. The china has been talked about ever since, as being almost too beautiful to be looked at, the peice in the middle of the table was splendid china, of a yard high, and the most beautiful colors, the rest corroborated, and Mrs Heard said she never had seen any thing so beautiful. There has been a great deal of talk about her dress, as being very handsome, but as I do not know exactly what it was I will not discribe it. Miss Fay from Cambridge Port is at Madam Candor’s, and also Gardner Green’s two daughters one of them is the one that wanted to marry Timmens, we have no others whom you know I believe. I might write a great deal more but I will not tire you; they all desire love, Give my love to your folks—and beleive me truly yours

					Abby


Title: From John Adams to Edward Everett, 11 February 1826
From: Adams, John
To: Everett, Edward

					Sir
					Washington 11 Feby 1826—

				In compliance with your request, I am directed by the President to return the enclosed letter.  As relates to the Letter of General Lafayette, it is his intention to address you as soon as a moment of leisure will permit.Your’s very respectfully

					J. Adams Junr.


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 12 February 1826
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

My dear Grandfather.
Washington. February 12th 1826.

A fortnight has passed over, since I last addressed you, and scarcely any thing of interest has happened. The City having considerably recovered from the severe epidemic which has been raging here, the gaity is becoming rather more extensive, and the number of Strangers who accompany the Supreme Court upon its Session here, have a tendency to enliven us. The town is always most full at this time of the year, which unfortunately happens to be the most disagreeable in weather, as damp and rain are  exceedingly predominant. We are not sufferers from cold however, as you have been, indeed I never knew the weather more delightfully mild than it has been here—
I am certainly at present one of those with whom "time gallops withal" and when I look back, it seems to me astonishing that I should have gone on doing so little as it seems and still to all appearance constantly engaged. I read Blackstone, the Federalist and parliamentary debates, write letters, copy for myself & my father attend the Supreme Court or the House of Representatives and go into society, but these things all crowd very much upon each other, and leave me but little time at my own disposal. And yet the most remarkable part of the matter is that although I am aware that I never pass a day without being employed upon some of these things yet I never am satisfied with myself.
But thus time goes, and when the regular term arrives to address myself to you, I look back upon the past with great astonishment and begin to reflect upon what I have done—and upon what has passed—As far as my recollection goes  since my last for the past—Imprimis there has been a smart debate in the House of Representatives on the subject of the proposed mission to Panama arising however out of a mere proposition to call upon the Executive for papers on the subject. The question excites some interest however as the Senate are still in debate upon the propriety of the mission and are likely to remain so for some time before they come to any decision upon the subject
Secondly. There have been six parties and two dinners in the mean time to enliven us young people—I have attended two of the former and the two latter were at home—
Thirdly The Corps Diplomatique has been somewhat disturbed at the news of the death of the Emperor Alexander, but not so much as might have been expected. Some say that the circumstance will have a great effect upon the affairs of Europe, others say not, the result will prove the truth of the one or other conjecture—
Fourthly. Mr Jefferson it appears has become so much embarassed in his circumstances it appears, as to be obliged to sell his Estate and in order to obtain it’s full value, but in the present depreciated state of property in the state, he has applied to the legislature for leave to sell it by lottery. This is somewhat remarkable News and hardly pleasant to hear as a person who has been so long exposed to the storms of this world surely might expect a comfortable repose in his old age—But such it appears seems is not his lot—
This is all worth noticing (if indeed some of this is) that has occurred since my last to you—the family have been all pretty well excepting my Mother who has suffered somewhat this past week but is now much better—They all join in their respects to you—
I remain Your dutiful & affectionate Grandson

Charles Francis Adams.


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 26 February 1826
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

My Dear Grandfather.
Washington. February 26th 1826.

Another fortnight has passed since I had the honour to address you, and the end of it has found me but little wiser than the beginning. It has in fact been spent in the lounging dissipated manner which Washington society so soon produces. My seceding from society produced so much dissatisfaction in the family, that I have again thrown myself into the middle of the stream and my law in consequence is in a bad way. My own judgment would have directed me to a contrary course, but as I have been in the habit of supposing that of my parents to be more correct, I have given way; not thereby forcing my inclinations at all, however—
The morning is spent therefore either in visiting, lounging at the House of Representatives in the Supreme Court, without any ability to attend to the arguments or course of Debate in either or moving down the Pennsylvania Avenue to look at the ladies, who are out always in numbers, particularly during the lovely weather which we have lately been enjoying. By the time that all this is done and you have recognized all your’s acquaintance it is due season to go home, and if there is time, take a short ride. It is by this time five o’clock and one dines, after which there is the usual party or ball to which you go and waste three hours so that at eleven, you reach home and retire to bed with the comfortable satisfaction of knowing that—you are in society.
If this is sufficient to balance the great waste of time which ensues, I am satisfied; They tell me that it is a great thing to get acquaintance, and to become known, I have no doubt of it, in it’s proper season, but a young man should be at least sufficiently perfect in the knowledge which he requires as a foundation to build upon, for to enter well on his future course, before he can waste time to advantage. This is certainly not the case with me, on the contrary, I scarcely feel as if I had got fully out of the shell of the University.
Mr. Storrs of New York has made a beautiful Speech in the subject of the Amendment to the Constitution which you will receive no doubt in a number of the National Journal. I really did hear him through with much satisfaction and judged my time well employed on that morning. Indeed this has led me to some few researches into the principles of our Constitution and to the examination of the Congressional history which has been of some advantage to me. But this is not law, it is politics, and God knows, I am little disposed to pass through the stormy, violent lives of my Father and yourself—The sacrifice is so great—that any young man should pause I think and consider deeply the corresponding advantage in prospect, before he abandons himself to the action and reaction of our political waves. The very worst quality of this sort of life is that when once entered into, Man loses his taste for all the other calmer and more quiet occupations in life which do in reality afford more pleasure although perhaps of not so intense a nature. He loses equability of mind which after all is perhaps the most perfect good in life—
These are the lucubrations of a young and inexperienced man as you will evidently perceive, I write them merely with the hope that they will excite in you a smile at the marvellous philosophy / of your dutiful and affectionate Grandson

Charles Francis Adams.


Title: From John Marshall to John Quincy Adams, 27 February 1826
From: Marshall, John
To: Adams, John Quincy,Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

					Feb 27th. 1826

				Mr. Marshall accepts with great pleasure the invitation of Mr and Mrs. Adams to dine with them on friday the 3d. of March at five


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Thomas J. Hellen, 4 March 1826
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Hellen, Thomas J.

Washington 4th March 1826

Your letter has this moment been put into my hand and as a proof of how happy it makes me to hear from you I hasten to answer it immediately—
Shut up as I now am in this great house, I have few opportunities of mixing with society and my health is so bad I almost lose the relish for parties which once gave a zeal to the enjoyment. I was however at the Ball on the 22d which was very handsome and where I was amused for about an hour—The ladies as usual looked very handsome and the supper produced some exhilaration among the Gentlemen who staid to partake of it.—The young Ladies return’d at eleven oclock but John and Charles made a frolick of it.—
Since that time I have again been quite unwell tho’ yesterday I was able to dine with a large company the Judges of the Supreme Court Lawyers Sic.—The weather is so gloomy and the influenza still hangs so heavily in our atmosphere we are not so gay at our meetings as we in general are wont to be and we hear of nothing but sickness from all quarters—
I am sorry my dear Son that you should feel this forlorn. You must however remember that you have many friends who love you as much as if they were more nearly allied to you and whose anxiety for your stile urges the necessity of your not relinquishing the advantages which your present situation affords you in the acquirement of an education which will yield I trust a permanent good.—The present moments of isolation will soon pass away and you will return to your friends with more pleasure in consequence of having learnt by experience to appreciate the value of their attentions—
As summer approaches you will be enabled to exercise more freely but I would not have you unnecessarily expose your health until you have quite recovered from your indisposition
I make great allowance for your want of punctuality in writing as I know that your avocations are too numerous to admit of your employing such as your lane in this way but three or four would suffice to let us know how you are and those I expect from you occasionally—Charles wrote you a long Letter sometime ago which I hope you received—you must constantly make enquiries of the Post Office as I understand Letters are there frequently mislaid.
Johnson is with us and better than he has been Mary and Elizabeth are very well but poor Mr Cook is very bad and I fear not long for this world—
Be assured my dear Thomas that as long as I live you can never want a parent who will take the warmest interest in your concerns and the only reason I have not written to you is that I thought my prosy letters would not be acceptable—
Let me advise you to pay attention to orthography ere you get a habit of writing carelessly and believe me your affect aunt

L.C. Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 March 1826
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					N. 19My dear Son.
					Washington 12 March 1826.

				I have received your Letter of the 1st. instt. numbered 1. and written in execution of your promise when I was last with you—I trust you will continue to write me from time to time, and will answer your Letters whenever time shall be indulged me for the purpose.We have had the Influenza here as prevalent as it has been with you, though not in general so severely—I was anxious to hear from you after learning that you were suffering with it, and hope it has entirely left you—I rejoice at the information that Mr Boylston is recovering from his Indisposition, and wish you to remember me most kindly to him.The misunderstanding and controversy between Governor Lincoln, and Mr George Sullivan has given me great pain, and the more so, because I cannot perceive in the Correspondence so far as I have seen it the cause or occasion of their disagreement—I have not seen the last reply of Mr Sullivan to which you allude—He himself passed great part of the Winter here, and is now in New–York with the intention, of settling himself there in the practice of the Law.I lately received a Letter from Messrs. T. H. Perkins, M. Sullivan, and Horace Gray, on the subject of the projected Rail–way at Quincy—They appear to have been advised that I was the owner of Stone quarries adjoining those from which Stones are to be drawn for the Bunker Hill Monument, which I believe is a mistake—And they enquire whether I am willing to become one of the Proprietors of the Railway—I have answered them that I should authorize you to confer with them on the subject; which I accordingly hereby do—I am not prepared without further information to become a proprietor of the Railway and that information I desire you to obtain and communicate to me—They estimate the cost of the Railway from the Quarries to tide–water at Twenty–five thousand dollars; but they do not give an estimate of what profit or income it may be expected to yield—Concerning the observatory I may perhaps write you hereafter—perhaps not.You are it seems a Director of the Middlesex Canal; which I am well satisfied to learn—and you will give time and attention to it—I did not observe in your last account any notice of the annual dividend—was there none? I shall be glad to know what are its present condition and prospects—whether there is any of the Stock in Market, and at what price?I was sincerely rejoiced at the information that your Law–Books had been saved from the fire, and am not less so at the assurance that  you are making the proper use of them—If I may judge of your experience by my own, there will be no period of your life so important, with reference to the employment of time and the study of books, as that through which you are now passing—From July 1790 to June 1794. I was at Boston, in precisely the same situation as you have been in since October 1824—In that time I read, wrote and meditated much and practiced very little—I often repined at the abundance of leisure that I enjoyed; and was sometimes desponding of my own prospects of the future—A gracious Providence disposed of Events more in kindness to me than I could have done myself, and if I now regret any thing of that leisure which weighed on my Time and Spirits, it is that I did not occupy it all to profitable purpose; nor always remember that Plenty can afford no apology for waste. I wish you may never have occasion for such regret, and that you may always have reason to be satisfied with your employment of your own Time—I have not your last Account current before me; but expecting that soon after you received this Letter, you will be making up the Account of the present Quarter, I shall reserve my observations upon the whole at once–When I was last at Quincy, my father mentioned that it might be necessary for his convenience that he should dispose of some of his woodland, and he enquired if I was willing to purchase it—I was then somewhat straitened for my own current expenditures; but you may now ask him, whether he still wishes to sell the land, and if so enquire where it is, the quantity and quality of it, and at what price he would hold it—My own wish would be to do every thing in my power for his accommodation—But until you have conversed with him, and forwarded to me his answer, say nothing of it to any one else.We are here all well—Mr Everett has made a Speech of promise that his Eloquence of Deliberation, will not fall short of his Pulpit Oratory.Your Affectionate Father

					J. Q. Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 12 March 1826
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

Washington 12 March 1826

As I have not received a Letter from you I cannot pretend to answer one but I will write notwithstanding altho’ I have nothing to say no not even nonsence. a great art by the by I believe infinitely more difficult than to write mere prosy common sense.—
To tell you how we go on here would be almost impossible. more especially in the great Councils of the Nation Whisper’d rumours however breathe strange sounds and state that it is fortunate that the late mists have prevented the publick from seeing too much of our old favourite Punch who has chosen his scene of action on a stage which though liable to exhibit tricks never before had a master who so thoroughly understood how to play his puppets and to lengthen the performance of the arch fiend so as to make it so long endurable. The last act is not yet over as there are still some singeries expected which is to crown this climax of folly in the last residence of Minerva who it is apprehended finding her most sacred temple invaded is inclined to take herself and her Owl to other regions and perhaps to steer her course to the newly discover’d eliptical bason into which Mr Cleves Symms appears to be so inclin’d to take a dip. As after his arrival he may find it useful to introduce more of his Species I think it would be a great advantage if one of our leading wise acres in the aforesaid house could be prevail’d upon to accompany them as it is probable from the situation of this new world their love of dark dealings would be quite the fashion.—One would think from the stir it makes here that Panama was Pandemonium and I am sure that it has produced or brought into action many fierce and untameable spirits.
They had a debate in the house the day before yesterday in the H.R. upon the subject of giving some dollars to a poor Clerk for additional work Charles who was there laugh’d most heartily when he came home at the impatient agony express’d by one of the M——s to be permitted to speak which burst out into exclamations of “let me speak” several times powerfully vociferated. I was so amused with the description that I wrote the following impromptu
No light had beam’d for days on yonder hall
The Councils in the dark would nought bestow
One little beam of day at last did fall
And Chanticleer determined he would Crow.—
Of News I have but little a faux pas down the stairs has releas’d the lovely Jane from her burthen two Months before it was expected but she is doing well and no fears are entertain’d for the life of the little avant courier notwithstanding his hurry to arrive in this turbulent world—It will probably prove a great convenience to our Commissioner of the lead office should his Son grow up to have one to whom dispatch will be familiar in the way of business—
Adieu I teaze you with another of my fugitive pieces which is the original composition and I cannot copy it—It is as trifling as this letter from your affectionate mother

L. C. Adams.

love to HarietTell Hariet the rug will not suit and I am not anxious to obtain any at present. It was only the opportunity that caused the inducement—you perceive I have got your letter As to young ladies choose well when you choose at all but of all things beware of your cough.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 26 March 1826
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: De Windt, Caroline Amelia Smith

					My dear Niece
					Washington 26 March 1826—

				I return the enclosed letter according to your desire, painfully regretting, that I can not consistently with my sense of my duties, comply with the wish of the writer; and yours in his behalf. The reasons of this I cannot fully explain to you, but I trust you will be assured they are not incompatible with that ardent and sincere affection to which you so forcibly appeal, & the power of which I acknowledge in every pulse of the heart—I am Affectionately Yours—


Title: From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 27 March 1826
From: Adams, John
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

My ever dear Cousin
March 27th. 1826.

My anxiety for you is greater than, that for myself, I long to know the state of your Health, and I cannot longer forbare to send and enquire after it. my love to Mrs. Boylston, and Prayers for your health, and comfort—from your affectionate friend / and Cousin

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 27 March 1826
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My ever Dear & beloved Cousin
					27th March 1826—

				Your kind concern for me, fills me with deep feelings of gratitude—I am as yet confined to my Room, where I been suffering varieties of pain & debility in so much that in various stages, I began to consider I shd never have the happiness of seeing you again—but after a hard conflict the violent inflamation in my lungs, yielded to a constant blistering of more than five weeks—& would have been continued had or not other symptoms been produced by them, as made it necessary to discontinue them.—I am thanks to a mercifull Providence & a good, (original Constitution) and the unremiting & untireing attention of my Dr Wife am so far I hope on the Road to renovatid Health that I intend in the course of the present week if the weather will admit to take the air in a close carriage as far as my strength will admit, & sincerely hope that in the course of 15 or 20 days to be enabled to reach QuincyIn the meantime I avail myself of the opportunity by the return of Thomas, wch I entended doing this week by a special  messenger, of sending 6 Bottles of the same wine you last was so kind as to accept & approve—I am sorry the quanity is not greater but its all I have of that kind and it will do me greater good than it possibly,  can me, if acceptable to you.—I am prohibited the use of wine & when I do I find Portwine best agrees with me—of wch. I have such large a supply—(and can assure its of the best I ever drank) if you could but say it will be acceptable I will send you a dozen Bottles, at the sametime I shall send a Barrell of the same Cyder you are now useing (3 years old) and was the last Drop I was able to procure—I am never more happy than when able to obtain any any thing that may exhilerate yr comforts or evince the perfect affection of  / yr. Devoted Cousin

					Ward Nichs Boylston

					PS Mrs Boylston disires her most respectfull regards to you, & unites with me in kindest remembrances to every part of the family—Mrs B went to Boston this morng to make enquiries of our Father respectg you & them & returned wth a favorable accot.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 10 April 1826
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

					Dear George
					April 10, 1826

				I enclose you some lines I wrote if you like you may publish them but do not say whose they are and sign them L. We are all well but I am to lazy to write Tell Mrs. Adams I think if she could find an opportunity to send Abby on here it would do her good and give me pleasure—I like your lines on Mrs Marston very much The prize excellent—Yours ever

					L C A—


Title: From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 13 April 1826
From: Adams, John
To: Boylston, Ward Nicholas

Quincy 13 Ap 1826

A thousand thanks  to my ever dear Cousin, for his unbounded benevolence to me. The barrel of cider will last three of my lives, & the wine I presume is excellent for your wine is always Superlative.
I am rejoiced that you and Mrs B are convalescent. George has done his duty in waiting upon you, and I hope he will do so as long as you live—Your kind and thankful friend

John AdamsMiss Smith sends her compliments, & thanks you & Mrs B for your kind remembrance—


Title: From John Quincy Adams to George Washington Adams, 13 April 1826
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, George Washington

					My dear Son.
					Washington 13. April 1826.

				I have received your Letter of the 1st. instt. and am expecting another with your quarterly account—From your account of the projected Railway in Quincy, I shall follow Mr Cruft’s advice, and take no part in it—of which you will at proper time notify the Gentleman who wrote to me on the subject.With respect to the woodland you must obtain more direct and precise information—both as to the quantity, and value—I am informed by Mr Samuel Williams of London that he has received from the Assignees of Bird, Savage and Bird £ 58..5..1.  being the 4th Dividend of four pence in the pound, on the debt due me—And he has authorised me to draw on him for £ 57..12 the net amount after deduction of his Commission and charges—I shall draw accordingly.This money is payable to your Grandfather; and I now remit to you for that purpose an order upon the U.S. Branch Bank Boston payable to your order, which you will receive and pay over to him taking his receipt for so much, being for a dividend, paid by the Assignees of Bird Savage and Bird in London—The order is for 276 dollars and 48 cents, being £ 57..12 Sterling at the Exchange of 8 per Cent above par.I would write you longer Letters but for want of Time—I hope you are spending yours profitably—By which I mean in the process of Self-improvement—We remembered the day yesterday, and trust it was not overlooked by you—Let me know without delay your receipt of this Letter, and its enclosure—All well.  your affectionate father

					J. Q. Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 16 April 1826
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

Washington 16 April 1826

I am so uneasy about your state of health my dear George that I beg and entreat you to write me very particularly what is the matter with you—Is it the cough that still affects you if it is I entreat you to come on to me immediately here and stay one Month as it would certainly be advantageous to you to quit Boston at this season which is the worst in the year—I am very serious and shall be perfectly miserable if you do not obey me—This illness has been hanging on you so long it is absolutely necessary to take some means to check it as it may eventually settle on your lungs and terminate in decline—I therefore desire that you will come here immediately after the receipt of this and stay until June and I again repeat if you do not I shall wretched—
It is said that Congress will adjourn the 22d of May and the parties are already nearly over—
You have probably heard all the news as Charles is a regular correspondent—Johnson Hellen has come to live with us and the family get on very well—
Now my dear Son do not refuse me if you do I shall come on to Boston and again endanger my own health which is apparently mending and any great anxiety of mind will I assure you be very prejudicial to me at present—Charles does not enjoy good health and is frequently indisposed—
I have been amusing myself in translating a french Poem called the death of Socrates—It is an abbreviation of the Phedon and I was so much pleased with it have that I have translated it into bad Rhyme—It is now nearly completed and you shall see it when you come—
Spring is advancing very slowly but by the time you arrive it will be in its splendour and our pure and mild atmosphere will do you more good than all the Doctors staff in the world.—
My life here is perfectly retired therefore I cannot amuse you with the tattle of the day—We have no marriages to interest us and no love affairs and the fiery spirits in Congress appear to be cool’d at least for awhile—
Mr Webster made a most superb speech the day before yesterday—They say it was made for statesmen not for the people—As the people have been enlighten’d by the speeches of all their Constituents this winter it is high time that some one should undertake to enlighten their Representatives some of whom appear to be cruelly in the dark and seem to be blessed with an opacity of intellect which can only be illumin’d by a flash of vivid and unexpected light—These lights sometimes have a very durable effect and produce a spiritual reformation by deadening the corporeal faculties which makes a material difference in the end—God bless you and believe me ever your affectionate Mother

L C A—


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 22 April 1826
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My ever Dear Cousin
					Saturday Evg: 22d: Apr 1826—

				I have from day, to day, for the last fortnight flatter’d myself with an improvement, so far as to enable me to take the air, but in this I have been sadly disappointed. The utmost I have been able to do has been to walk from one Room to another, & even that with pain—my feet and ancles, being so much enlarged, tho’ I conclude in some measure from long confinement, & in some degree from the effects of my disease, that I am at loss to promise myself any thing from that encouraged my hopes a fortnight ago, that I should have The Happiness of seeing you at Quincy. Part of my Baggage has already gone to Princeton, & we must follow in a day or two; after adjusting some concerns that I am to  an agency to carry into effect, and attempt as fast as I am able to advance to the same place; but  I shall sustain the fatigue I know not—but if able will let you hear from me, as soon as I can use a penIn the intermediate accept I beseech you my fervent wishes for the continuance of yr. comforts of advanced life to which I wish I had any thing in my power to contribute—Mrs Boylston’s  affectionate  respectfull regards ever awaits you—With our kind respects to Judge & Mrs Adams /  and Miss Smith—I am in Life & Death your / ever faithful & affect Cousin

					Ward Nich’ Boylston

					My sight fails me Greatly & I can hardy see to write


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 23 April 1826
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

My dear Grandfather.
Washington City. April 23d 1826.

My last letter I believe, evinced a degree of excitement very uncommon for me. But the transactions of that week were of a nature to act upon the blood of persons less impetuous even than myself. And the feeling was shared by almost all persons in the city. You are probably aware of what took place the day before I wrote although at that time I was ignorant of it myself. Persons will praise or condemn the act according to the views they hold of the abstract principle of duelling. Mr Clay will be condemned I suppose according as one travels East, and will be supported according to the distance in the opposite direction I think the sentiment in Congress is rather for than against him.
 Be that as it will, the circumstance had the effect of a thunderstorm upon an overheated atmosphere, it brought the air down to a moderate temperature. And it prevented two or more duels which would probably have been of a more serious cast.
There is no probability, I think, of there being much more exciting matter this Session, the Panama question has been settled in the House of Representatives, and that without much violence owing to the judicious management of it’s partisans. Had they commenced with a great noise, the fate of the bill would have been more doubtful. Many gentlemen express some dislike to return to their constituents, as they will have to answer for the long time spent upon abstract questions without attending to practical legislation. But whose fault is it? Certainly not that of the friends of the administration. Upon the whole, the questions which have been discussed, have rather strengthened the administration as nobody sees any occasion in the present quiet state of the country for so much violence and noise. It would be rather an amusing thing to a foreigner I should think to compare the extreme quiet of the people in almost every section of country, and with the ferocious turbulence of the political leaders and representatives of that people.
But a political life is after all a very disagreeable one. In quiet times there is little room for distinction, and the profession sinks, in violent times, all the zest of life is sacrificed. Our kind of warfare in this country spares nothing. Private character and public conduct are held equally subject to an enemy’s mercy. A family is a dangerous thing, for it may be dragged into the political arena to be vilified and overthrown, it is every instant exposed to the risk of losing it’s head. And what’s all this for? A name. And what sort of a name? Exactly that which it may please those personally friendly or hostile to give you. It is a fact now that here in this city, Eloquence is only called so when it meets the views of a party, argument is only argument when a man is predisposed to agree to it. One of the most beautiful passages which I recollect ever to have heard, pronounced by Mr Webster has been called weak and tame by no small portion of the opposition gentlemen. And this is the sort of fame for which a man must sacrifice every thing else. Fame which depends upon the breath of parties, and which is established or destroyed according to their ascendancy or depression.
But mine is tedious moralizing. The Spring is very backward here, I hope that you find no such inconvenience with you, Sir
I remain Your dutiful and affectionate Grandson

Charles Francis Adams.


Title: To John Adams from Ward Nicholas Boylston, 29 April 1826
From: Boylston, Ward Nicholas
To: Adams, John

					My ever Dear Cousin
					Princeton Apr 29th 1826

				I wrote before I left Roxbury expressing as I really felt my deep regret that I could not see you before I set out for this place—for the first since the 28’ of Jany I tried my strengh on Sunday last, but a ride of a mile wch I endured with wch  the hope I should be able in the course of the week to have reachd Quincy, but the next day Tho’ Alken injured his hand so much as to render him incapable of hoilding his Horses—I therefore was obliged to remain within Doors till Thursday last when I commenced our Jouney to Princeton where thro great fatigue we reach’d at 7 oClock in the evening if that day,—so much exhausted as to do nothing more than read a newspaper, or give directions to others—The weather since has been very unfavorable to my feelings, and have no expectation of finding any improvement to my Health untill I am able to take exercise in a carriage the only means I have left, as my feet & ancles continue so much swollen that I cannot use a Boot or shoe—Mrs Boylston took some cold before we left Roxbury wch has not left her tho’ she appears to day to have less cough—This I hope we will meet your hands, in the same good health & spirits as  we was told you was in on Monday last—wch cheers me with a prospect that we may renew our visit and congratuation on the 30’ of Octr next—I however think your chance is as good as mine—I hope when you last heard from Washington All there, we love, were well when you cause a Letter to be dictated by you pray make my kindest regards to them—I heard the day before I set out, that your Nephew Mr Shaw, died the day previous—poor man his prospects of continued Life were not encouraging to himself & he perhaps had no strong inducements to wish a prolongation of it—We are likely to have a very backward spring—but if, the harvest should be abundant the Labourers are few, canals, stone Quarries, and Manufactory’s, are employing so many as to increase wages 25 p-cent over last year, notwithstanding the great scarcity of money throughout the country—Mrs Boylston desires her affectionate respects to you, & unites with me in our kindest remembrances to Judge & Mrs Adams & their family. & also to Miss Smith—and also to Mr G W Adams, Who I have seen at Roxbury only once, since he was here with his father last autumn, he does not follow the hint I gave him from the second author, “thine own friend, & thy Fathers friend forget not”—he seems to have left me out almost entirely, tho’ I do not cease to remember him with sincere regards—With my fervent prayers for your comforts in every thing that life can procure to you / I am my ever Dr Cousin / most truely your affectionate

					Ward Nichs Boylston


Title: To John Adams from Charles Francis Adams, 7 May 1826
From: Adams, Charles Francis
To: Adams, John

					My dear Grandfather.
					Washington City. May 7th 1826.

				The warm season has come again and delightful as it is to me, is no doubt also very acceptable to you, Sir. The prevailing rule I believe, is a moderate heat, and one which is perhaps better adapted to afford ease to you than extremes either way. My attachment to warm weather excludes any idea of a medium or rather of what is commonly called so. And it is for this reason that I prefer the Spring season to that of Autumn. In the first, we have brought to our minds every day the prospect of a continuance and increase of warmth, by the development of vegetation while in the other we observe all things retreating into torpidity. But perhaps this Season has more charms to us of the city of Washington than others, by the prospect it gives us of a release from stormy politics, and a satiety of dissipation.The Panama question is put to rest at last. This is a great point gained for the nation. I should think every man in it would cry Hold! after the third Speech at farthest. Many and among the number may be considered myself, thought that the question might have stopped with the reports of the Committees. Much talent has been elicited however, On the one side, the whole weight of the House and on the other that of the Senate. Few people  hesitate however, as to the idea of which has gained the victory. It is reported that Randolph upon returning home from the Senate at three o’clock in the morning of the day when after the question had been decided in the Senate there, turned round to his man John, (whom he prefers, he says, to every body else on earth and who always follows him), and said, “Never mind, John, says he, if they did out vote us, we had at any rate the best of the argument.” I suppose by this he meant the greatest portion of the debate, for of argument as we understand it, Nobody will accuse John Randolph of having any idea. But in that sense of the term he has certainly had the best of every argument during the session. This eccentric character has prepared to retire at last, to England after having disgraced the Senate and the Nation, in a manner never before suffered, even during the bitterest violence of party rancor.The City is now exceedingly tranquil. The birds of fashion are all flown, and the House of Representatives is too busy in making up for lost time, to afford any interesting subjects for conversation. I am very busily engaged myself in reading law which I have found hitherto more interesting than I had anticipated. As nothing now exists to take off my attention, I am gaining ground more rapidly than heretofore. But after all, Blackstone appears to me to be the foundation of all the law now in use. At least his exposition of the old principles of the English system supersedes all the old books and gives room only now to the study of application of his principles in cases already adjudged. To this I have of late devoted my attention. But not satisfied with this, I believe I shall soon go back to the study of the laws of Nations.I remain— / Your dutiful and affectionate Grandson

					Charles Francis Adams.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to George Washington Adams, 14 May 1826
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, George Washington

Washington 14 May 1826.

I am very glad my Dear George find by your Letter which is just received that you are better and if possible still more pleased to learn that you are likely to become very busy as I believe this is the only means to keep you in health—I regret very much not to see you as any journey to the North appears very doubtful this Summer and I am sorry to see your account of your Grandfathers state—It is impossible for us to flatter ourselves that his life can be much extended and you are right to pay him every possible attention and soothe his last hours to peace.
Your prospects begin to look very bright and I most sincerely hope they will continue so. Should you not be successful in your present enterprize it will be of no consequence and will have the good effect of making you known and futhering future views Our young Ladies make no conquests altho’ as you say they have both fine eyes.
Baron Stakelberg announces that he has a piece of business which he must put into the hands of his old friend in Boston and enquired particularly if you had begun to practice and told you—perhaps you may hear from him and it will be Government pay—
Johns flames are so fierce they burn to a cinder too quick to be very injurious and he comes out fresher I think from every attack—
I have written a Melo drama and perhaps I may send you a rough Copy to laugh at—
Do pray call on Mrs. Otis and say every thing kind for me on the death of Harriet whose fate I sincerely deplore she was a charming benevolent kind hearted woman and must be a very heavy loss to her family—Who is it that you are to be groomsman to? I dont like your always leaving us in the dark at the end of your Letters—you say just enough to make us wish for more—two weddings indeed—
I send you some lines by your Uncle Tom whom I have made a very pretty poet—that I say it as I shouldent say it—But never mind remember me to all who love (precious few) and me and believe me as ever your affectionate Mother

L. C. Adams.

Johnson was admitted at the Bar here yesterday—Adieu to Rockville—