Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 September 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

N. 6 Mrs. A Adams—Quincy—
St. Petersburg 5/17 September 1810.

Mr. Jones arrived here from Gothenburg & Stockholm a few days since, and brought me your kind favour of 11. July—in two months time from its date—Indeed we Since our arrival here, you have been the most frequent and most constant of my Correspondents–I have no Letter from my brother later than Febuary; though I know that he has written at least one that I have not received.—Captain Bainbridge, by whom dispatches from Washington were sent to me, and with them also some letters from you, was taken by Danish privateers and carried into Copenhagen, where he is, I believe still detained. The Dispatches have been forwarded by an other vessel, which has arrived at Riga; but they have not yet come to hand.
I have written particularly to you, in Febuary, June, and July; and to my brother and my father by other opportunities, as well as several times to Mr. Gray.—During a great part of the months of March & April, I was confined to the house by sickness, but some of us have written by almost every opportunity of which we have heard.
Since the beginning of June a great number of American vessels have arrived at Cronstadt, and although few of them have brought letters for us, we have had no dearth of newspapers.
The political changes in New–England, were somewhat unexpected to me, and by a letter which I have from my father, dated in March, they seem to have been so to him—Where there is a division of parties so nearly equal, Circumstances of little comparative importance turn the scale; but the uniformity of the change in four of the New–England States, as well as in New–York and Maryland indicate the operation of some principle more powerful than a mere transient intrigue of factions—The Correspondence in the Patriot, I am fully persuaded has had an effect, about which little will be said by any Party; while much will be felt by both parties—I hope that those who have recovered their ascendancy in the Government of our State will maintain it by moderation and justice; virtues which in such factious times as ours it is so hard for any party to preserve, and which none of our parties hitherto have sufficiently respected—
By a passage in a letter from my brother’s wife to mine, it appears that he is inclined to take my boys into his family; which will be perfectly agreable to us, provided it be so to my Aunt Cranch. We are truly grateful to her for her affectionate care of them, and should unwillingly deprive them of it, unless it would be to suit the conveniences of her own family—There is a part of their education, which I have already specially recommended to my brother, before I know of his removal from you; and which they can acquire more safely from him than from any other person. George is now coming to an age, when he must learn much for which there are no schools, accademies or Colleges—I met the other day, in reading Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments a passage (Part VI. & 2 Ch: 1.) which smote me to the heart, in thinking of my own children—On reflection I tried to believe that the Doctor’s opinion was not correct, and I have so far succeeded as to persuade myself that it is exaggerated.—But as it has pleased Providence to make it impossible for me at present to superintend the education of my boys, it is a great consolation to me to have them intrusted to those who next to ourselves will feel the deepest interest and tenderest interest in their welfare.
The politics of Europe are still more variable than those of our own Country—The Emperor of France has repealed the Decrees of Berlin and of Milan, upon condition that England shall revoke the Orders of Council of Novr. 1807, and her new principles of blockade, or that we shall take measures to make her respect our neutrality. Nothwithstanding the repeated and solemn promises which the British Ministers have made to recede from her system of outrage upon neutral rights of France would set the example, it does not appear that they have now any disposition to keep their word, or rather the word of their king. We have no account that the orders in Council were revoked, and I have little expectation that they will be—For the present the French Emperor contents himself with following the example of the English, and pulls himself for trading with the Ports of France—At the same time he has laid such excessive duties upon the articles of importation, that they are nearly equivalent to a prohibition—I consider the Continental System, so far as it was in Britina a system to cut off all commercial Communication between G. Britain and the Continent as abandoned—But the System of levying contributions the most excessive upon Commerce has been gradually taking its place, and is another trial equally severe, through which I believe we have yet to pass—
In the mean time France is extending her power over the Continent of Europe, with a progress which Britain neither in Peace nor in War will be able to check or controul—Britain herself however is safe, and will continue to tyrranize upon the Ocean.—As the Dominion of both is a Dominion of force without Justice, it will probably not be of long duration—The oppressions of France are more immediately felt in Europe, and therefore more deeply and more universally detested; But the Spirit of Liberty, and especially that of national Independance is extinct on this Continent—The remnant of it, which has been kept alive in Spain and Portugal, by the aid of British Troops, and British Money, has produced nothing but a few obstinately defended Sieges, and can terminate in nothing but the subjection of those Countries to France, with the exception perhaps of half a dozen Gibralters instead of one—Holland is now a part of France, and the most distinguished men she has are at all as ready to prostrate themselves in adoration to the Master, as the most servile of his own country’s crown—Sweden has just chosen a French General as the Successor to the throne of Gustavus Vasa, and Gustavus Adolphus. I need give no more examples; but more will not be wanting—The natural close of the French Revolution is a Military Despotism ruling over Europe, and a Naval despotism ruling over the Seas—But, if as appears extremely probable another of its results should be the total emancipation of the new World from European thraldom, there is yet consolation and glory reserved for the future destinies of Mankind
I am, ever affectionately your’s


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 19 September 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Johnson, Catherine Nuth

my dear Madam
Quincy Septr 19th 18010

The Horace arrived last week after a passage of 85 days—I hope she brought Letters for you. as I learn the captain was charged with dispatches for the President. I inquired if there was any thing for you;  but could not find that there was, as vessels Saild at the same time for Baltimore. perhaps mrs Adams made use of that conveyance I have a Letter from her of 2d June, and one from him of the 6th—She says they had a Snow Storm the day before. the latter part of the winter was uncommonly Severe. it has brought upon mrs Adams a deafness—She writes in tolerable Spirits, and says they were just going to Housekeeping—She & Kitty had been at the Ball, given by the French Ambassador in honour of Napoleans late Marriage. the Emperor honourd them with his hand, and danced with them. Charles has been presented to the Emperor & Empress who caressed him, and Showed him some prints which she had. She is pasionately fond of children having lost one near Charles Age—Mr Adams’s thinks very highly of the Emperor—he has every reason to be pleased and gratified with his reception at Court, where he has even been shown, a marked respect and attention. he lives upon terms of cordiality with all the foreign Ministers. he has nothing to complain of but the Serverity of the climate and the expensive living, they mention other Letters which we have not received. the Danes Capture every thing so that we have little chance of getting even Letters—
it is some time since I have received a Letter from you. I hope indisposition has not been the cause—how is mr Hellens health? I am not a little anxious for him.
My old Friend judge Cushing is dead. he is happily released from infirmities which were increasing upon him, and which had deprived him of his public usefulness and personal comfort. he leaves behind him a fair and honorable Character—as an upright Man, a candid just and impartial judge unbiased by party animosity—always Steadfast to the interest and honour of his Country. those who knew him best, respected him most—so much, so intirely was mrs. Cushing devoted to him, that his death will be most sensibly felt by her—
I hope the President may find a successor equally worthy—I am sure it must be his wish mr Parsons and Dexter are both Spoken of here, as well as mr Story the two first being federal, some suppose will be objected to—the qualifications of the candidates will weigh more with the President, I presume, than political opinions—
your Grandsons are well and desire me to present their Duty to you—with a cordial remembrance to every branch of your family I am dear Madam /  your Friend

Abigail Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 22 September 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

my dear daughter
Quincy Sebr 22, 18010 1810

I am ready to join in the exclamation of Eloissa when she said
“Heaven first taught Letters, for some wretches aid”
For how very wretched should I be, but for the intercourse which Letters afford, to soften the pains of absence, and mitigate the pangs of seperation from near and dear Friend’s? how large a portion of these joys and sorrows have fallen to my lot, through Life, are known only to my own Bosom. I do not feel Less sensible to them, for having often experienced them. Age has not callousd them, or time blunted them. my Heart accordingly was much elated by the arrival of capt Beckford after a passage of 83 days, and of whose safety we began to doubt—my Spirits attaind their highest pitch of exihilaration, at the Receipt of Letters from you, and my dear son, after a lapse of 5 Months. mr Grays benevolent heart, God Bless him, would not delay a moment. at six in the Evening he received the Letters, and dispatchd a special Messenger with them. your son George was present, and enjoyed the feast with us—The date of your letter was June 9th of my sons the 6th
Since then, I have had the pleasure to receive one from you of the 9th July, and one from William of the 10th and duplicates of mr Adams’s Letters of the 6th and one of April 21 to his Brother. these last came by way of Baltimore by the ship Chesapeak
as we had before received the originals, valuable as they were in themselves: they seemed like a tale twice told, because they gave us a dissapointment.
I thank you my dear daughter, for all your communications. they afford us great entertainment, and could you but look in upon mrs Gray and your Mother, when they meet, after the receipt of Letters, I think you would enjoy the scene, to see us cordially reciprocate our congratulations, and mutually enjoy the pleasure of reading to each other all that interests us, and that is almost every part of our Letters.
I loved mr Gray, when his Mother read me that part of his Letter in which he requests her to be minute in relating every family occurence, assuring her that it would interest him more, than all the amusement he could afford her by the description of Magnificent Palaces, and splendid Balls. It was a demonstration of his domestick attachment, and a prooff of his fillial affection which shows his devotion to his Country and his fidelity to the household Gods.
I know and have experienced in their full extent, those feelings, which render us solitary in a foreign Country, in the midst of all the Gay Splendor, and pomp of Courts.
I am glad to find that the first articles you directed, reached you in safety. I should with pleasure, have executed your commission, or any other which you may have, but my Health at that time would not permit it, and I transferd the commission to your sister T B Adams, who cheerfully under took it, and executed it to the best of her ability. if any thanks were necessary, they were due to her. I hope capt Harrod will arrive safe, as he had the most valuable commission—
we have received the sheeting by Captain Beckford, but no Bill of the cost. I wish mr Adams to inclose one to me, or to his Brother, that I may pay it to him—the sheeting was such as we desired to have—mrs Gray advises me to send for some table cloths, which altho not fine; are very durable. I should like to have half a dozen 12 quarters long, and half a dozen 8, and to have them accompanied with a Bill of their price
An Equinoctial storm will prevent the sailing of the vessel, untill I can send my Letters to Town tomorrow. it was only just before I left Boston last Evening that I learnt of this opportunity. vessels sail often without my hearing of it, and not unfrequently change their destination. The commerce of our Country has become so desperate, that I am not without hopes that Government will protect it by its own force, which might easily be done in six Months.
I shall say little of politicks, but that all is tranquil in this State at present. The gov’r and Leiut Govenour very popular, even the Feds cannot find food for calumny which you will say, is passing strange in heads so prolific in creating.
I cannot close this Letter, without mentioning the death of President Webber. I have done so in a Letter to my son soon after it took place. dr  Strickland   appointed to fill his place also the death of my valuable and ancient Friend, judge Cushing Heaven kindly set him free from those increasing infirmities which unfitted him for public duties, and domestic enjoyments.
Your Children have both enjoyed their healths since your absence, much better than in any former period of their lives—John has brought me his certificates from Month to Month, and I am sure it will give you pleasure to receive them—
my tenderest Love to my dear son, and to Charles In writing to you, I write to you both, for are not you twain one? and I have not time for both. be assured of the maternal affection of
A A Enclosure

Quincy Saturday July 28th 1810

The Bearer John Adams is recommended to the attention of his friends and receives the thanks of his Instructor for his amiable conduct and good improvement at school.
  A. C.

 Enclosure

Quincy August 25th 1810

The Bearer John Adams is recommended to the Mention of his friends and receives the thanks of his Instructress for his amiable conduct and good improvement at school.
  A. C.


Title: From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 24 September 1810
From: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear Sister,
Atkinson Sep. 24 1810—

Through the protecting hand of a gracious Providence, I am rising from a bed of Sickness, where I have been confined for more than three weeks—Indeed, I did not keep about but a few days after my last letter to you—Lydia was evidently much better her Tongue cleared, & her fever had a proper turn & had got to eating Beef, & drinking wine, but still her Cough hung round, & kept her too weak to leave her Chamber, when she heard I was taken very ill, she dressed herself, & down she came, sat a few minutes, felt her own inability, burst into tears, & was obliged to retire to her Chamber—poor Soul—I pitied, & loved her—Where she was obliged to stay for two, or three days more—when She could come & set, & tell others what to do, it was a great satisfaction to both of us—And it was so warm weather it did not hurt her—I received your prophetic letter respecting her, & I thought I was literally experiencing, that she had been preserved for important purposes—& found she was capable of doing much good yet—
For the three first days of my lung Fever, I was in a dissagreeable Situation, no one round but Strangers, & they did not seem to know what was necessary to be done, for much more is dependant  upon good nursing, than upon any medicine—Byt Lydia, as Soon as She could come, & set with me, did all in her power, & I wanted no relief she could give—I am now able to set up, & if I have strength enough left, to bear the cough which I still have, I hope I shall soon get about—but with all my former ill health, I never was troubled with a cough before—& what may be the event of this Sickness, He, in whose hands my breath is, can only determine—
I sometimes felt uneasy at Abbys absence, but thought it perhaps, was best, for if she was here, she too, might take the same fever—so I comforted myself—for the want of her filial attentions—
She with Mrs Webster, arrived safe here last Friday to the great joy of both Parents, & Children—for my fever had formed a crissis, & I appeared on the recovery which was a great relief, & pleasure—
She had heard of Lydias sickness, but not of mine. When she got to the door, there was no Mamma to welcome her—where is Mamm—reechoed—where is Mamma—She found me upon the bed—I told her, she should always be fortified, against the Evils, & accidents which are daily taking place, & be grateful to heaven for spairing our lives, that we could again see each other. It was sometimes, more than I feared we should on Earth—But heaven has been gracious to us all, may the duties which still remain, be performed with additional fidelity—
I have been in hope that you would not hear I was sick—But I am. Gilman was here, & I suppose told my son—& you might through him hear, & be uneasy—So I write this scrawl in my Lap—
When I was sick, I could not but pity over again my dear Brother Cranch, whom I used to see with the asthma—wrong spelt—but you know what I mean—I breathed just as he did—I could not for six nights lie down—I am glad to hear his family is well, I would not say I am sorry Cousin is a going to enlarge the number of dependants on Him, who hears the young ravens when they cry—We see but in part—their Children; may be their greatest Blessing—
I was gratified to hear from your Sons family—Mrs Adams & Sister, must be vastly pleased by the honours conferred—
Mr Peabodys Cough is much better—He with my Daughter present respects, & love—Excuse this writing, from the trembling hand of your Sister
E Peapody—


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Hannah Phillips Cushing, September 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Cushing, Hannah Phillips

My dear Friend
ca. September 1810

Altho my Health would not permit me to personally to pay the last respect to my Ancient and valuable Friend. by attending his remains to the Tomb, through the whole of the melancholy Scene-and my mind dwelt upon you my much Loved Friend with every Sentiment of tenderness and Sympathy I longd to mingle with you the tears of affection bereaved affection and to recapitulate the virtues and amiable qualities of Your departed Friend whose character I cannot better draw than in the following Lines
Not in base Scandal’s arts he dealt
For truth was in his Breats
with grief he saw his Nighbours faults
And thought & hoped the best
what blessings bounteous heaven bestowed
He took with thankfull Heart
with temperence he received his food
And gave the poor a part
To Sect and party his large Soul
disdaind to be confined
The good he loved, of every name
And pray’d for all Mankind
Where shall be found a successor to fill his place I feel solisitiuous that one may be supplied who may Wear the mantle of Elijah—is he to be found with the Republicans? a judge like the wife of ceasar ought not to be Suspected, either of immorality or party animosities—Is he to be found with the Federalists? I have in my Eye—two possesst of great Legal knowledge and fair characters—and who I believe would do honour to the Bench—altho in some respects, they would not be a judge Cushing
but the appointment does not lie with me—I hope the President will deliberate and chuse judiciously unbiased by party
as soon as my health will permit I design to visit my Friend—in the mean time I bear you hourly in my heart and mind, and pray that you may be upheld by the consolations of Religion which are neither few nor small—the President /  unites with me in Sharing your loss and in assurances /  of Regard and Friendship

Abigail Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Caroline Amelia Smith De Windt, 8 October 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: De Windt, Caroline Amelia Smith

My dear Caroline
Quincy Oct 8th: 1810

I hope you received the letters safe which I inclosed to you from your brother. I wish I could gratify you with some more, but we must wait with patience, and put up with one less, for such we must have had by the capture of our vessels. The book you want I cannot get, without the whole set of 4 volumes, which come very high. I have sent you Walter Scotts, lady of the lake which I think will please you. Susan has been reading it to us, and I was so much pleased with it, that I have purchased it for you. You  have seen his  lay of the last Minstrel, and his Maemior. I think you wrote Susan. I wish to cultivate your taste for poetry, but do not neglect History, these poems of Scotts should lead you to read Robertsons History of Scotland. you would relish them, and understand them better by becoming acquainted with the History of the Country. Books will always be a source of amusement to you if well chosen. she who has no taste for books well written will often be at a loss, how to spend her time, and the consequences of such a state all too frequent not to be known, and too fatal not to be dreaded”, was the opinion of a learned man.
To books we are indebted for the enlargement of the understanding, by them the principles and duties of life, and manners are inculcated, to them we are indebted for the Knowledge of all useful arts and sciences through them we can trace the gradations of the human mind from Barbarism to refinement. the advantages to be derived from them, enter into every department of life, into every occupation. a letter cannot enumerate them, or a volume comprise them, and the life of man is too short to comprehend and fathom one half of what has already been written, but in one  is comprised your whole duty to your mother, to your neighbour, and to yourself—Read that with attention particularly the new testament, the 5th. chapture of Mathew contains a compleat system of Ethicks. My eyes failed me last Evening in writing, and I left my pen. This morning the 9th. I have been to weep with my neighbour and friend Mrs Black, over the remains of her husband, who expired about half after four this morning. although the stroke has been long anticipated yet when we can see the face no more, our hearts sink and our spirits fail. What a consolation then is that religion which teaches us to “look through nature, up to natures God,” in the firm belief that however afflictive the dispensation our heavenly Father will not lay more upon us than he will enable us to bear.
“Is resignations lesson hard
On trial we shall find
“It makes us give up nothing more”
“Than anguish of the mind”
I shall not apologize for these serious reflections, they are the result of the scene I have been witness to, and a scene which I, and those dearest to me must soon pass through. God grant that I may be prepared.
I am my dear Caroline / Your affectionate Grandmother


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 10 October 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw

my Dear Sister
Quincy October 10th 18010

We have lost an excellent Neighbour and Friend in the death of Mr Black, for more than a Year he has Sufferd great bodily disease but for the last Month, a fever in concequence of his other complaints Seizd upon him, and put a period to his days—he was patient and resignd, and like a good Man who has better hopes beyond the grave,  Cheerfull and pleasant to his last tour. Thus have two of my Friends within one Month been gatherd to the great congregation, Judge Cushing and Mr Black. The judge through infirmity and Age was much decayed; he had lived enough to himself, & to his Country—thus are all wise providence determined: and took him before he became burdensome to his family, who can mourn for him as a Friend, and companion when they reluctantly parted from fo, my Sister. it is sad thing to out live our usefullness, our faculties but hang like a dead branch upon a Tree.
“A time there is when like a thrice told tale
And that of no great moment, or delight
Long-riffled life of Sweet, can yeald no more
of Age the Glory is, to wish to die,
That wish is praise and promise; it applauds
Past Life; and promisses our future bliss”
yet it is lawfull to wish for Life Whilst we can Serve God, and our Generation? who but our heavenly Parent Shall Say when that period ends The lives of Some are prolonged to by the virtues of those around them, the fillial gratitude and affection of Children to those Parents whose tender Solicitude nurtured and cheerished them, when they hung upon the Breast, incapable of helping themselves, who laboured watchd and prayed for their welfare, untill they arrived at Maturity.
I have been very anxious for you my dear Sister and wished it had been in my power to have visited and relieved you during Your illness. I regreeted the absence of your Daughter whose kind care should have Soothed you—and whose Nursing was very necessary for you especially as good Lyda was not able to attend you. you had a kind partner who I know did all in his power, and thanks to a kind providence for your Restoration thus far—tho you have written but once, I have heard frequently—I long for you to get well enough to make us a visit, if your cough has left you and you are able to ride, might it not be of Service to you?
Brother and Sister Cranch are both as well as usual and I have had more health through the fall than has usually fallen to my Share. Mrs Norten is low—and very feeble—Mrs S Adams desires to be rememberd to you. Mrs T B A is well, but her little Eliza is Sick, but I hope not with a Setled fever—Susan is gone to Newburyport upon a visit to Hellen Tracy—My dear neice write to me and Let me know how your Mother is: and give me Some account of your visit to your Friends—and if you think it Safe, prevail with your Mother / to make a visit to her / affectionate Sister

Abigail Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Adams, 12 October 1810
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John

St Petersburg Octbr. 12 1810

I recieved your letter my dear Child only a few days since and am charmed to find that George and you are such good boys I am sure you are much obliged to Cousin Abby for your letters. and I you will soon learn to write them yourself I hope as they will afford me double pleasure George is now near ten years old and is I am sure too much of a man to play truant any more and I am sure you never will do so at all because you have seen how much your brother used to grieve us all when he did so—
Charles is very well and learns to read french very prettily you must beg Uncle Thomas to teach it to you or else both your brothers will know more than you and when you grow up to be a man you will be sorry for it you must however be very attentive should your Uncle be so good as to teach you as it will cost him a great deal of trouble Charles sends you a letter with this which Aunt Kitty wrote for him tell Grandmama how sorry I am to hear of her having been so sick and that I hope she is quite recover’d give my respectful love to Uncle and Aunt Cranch and thank them in my name for their great kindness to you both remember me affectionately to all the family Kiss George for me and believe me ever your most affectionate Mother
L C Adams


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 October 1810
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

St Petersburg Octbr. 13 1810

In the utmost haste my dear Mother I write you a few lines merely to assure you of the health of the family many thanks for your very kind letter of the 15 of May which however would have made us all very unhappy had it not fortunately been preceded by one of the 12 of July brought by Mr Jones who likewise assured us you were recovered many many years are yet I hope in store for you and I fondly anticipate the pleasure of returning home to reside near you in a quiet and retired way of life I did not need my second trip to a splendid court to convince me of the incompetence of such a life to afford happiness or real pleasure and had I ever been so weak as to have admired it my residence here would early have taught me how insufficient rank and splendor is to compensate for the loss of all that can attach and charm in the intercourse of social and family affection rely on it my dear Mother that no station however high can ever atone to me for the sacrifices I have made which nothing could have induced but the state of cruel anxiety and uneasiness in which Mr A. passed his life in America the causes of which I trust will be entirely removed e’re we return—
My time is so short I am obliged to conclude with best wishes for the health and happiness of all our friends love to my darling Boy & from your affectite.
L. C. Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 14 October 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

N. 7.
Mrs Abigail Adams . Quincy.
St: Petersburg 2-14 October. 1810.

Captain Smith, who was the bearer of your kind letter of 7. May, has met with the same misfortune which has befallen so many others of our Countrymen—On his passage to Gottenburg he was taken by a Danish Privateer and carried into Norway—From Christiansand he enclosed his letters for me to our Consul at Copenhagen, and he forwarded them to me by Captain Bainbridge, who came with a furlough in a merchant vessel from Philadelphia, and after a detention of several weeks at Copenhagen, at length arrived here a few days ago. We had received, a month since letters from you two months later than these; but the greediness of appetite which we have for letters from America, makes them always highly acceptable, however remote their dates.—I believe there are still intermediate letters from you, and from my brother which I have not received. As all mine, both to you and to him are numbered, you will always know whether there are any from me missing.
The opportunities for writing since the first of June have been so frequent, that it has not been possible to avail ourselves of them all. But the Season is now fast drawing to a close; and a flight of Snow, nearly a week ago, gave us notice sufficiently clear of what was coming. We hope to have opportunities of writing by direct conveyance about a month longer. And then we must expect again to be locked up six or seven months.
Your elections for the House of Representatives in Congress will now soon discover, whether the voice of the People, in New England continues to favour the general policy pursued by the National Government, or not. The measures of the last Session of Congress appear to have given some dissatisfaction to the friends of the Administration; but their effect in Europe has been good. Neither Mr. Macon’s bill as it went from the House of Representatives, nor the amended Bill, as pass’d by the Senate, would have produced a result so advantageous, on the measures of France and England, as the Law which actually pass’d both houses—Our Countrymen must remember that manifestation of Spirit is not always exertion of energy; and that to mistake the one for the other is a very dangerous error in politicks.
General Armstrong has left Paris to embark for America, and I presume is by this time far advanced on his passage home—He carries with him it is said some new modifications of the System of French Decrees, favourable to the Commerce of the United States. His letter of 10. March to the French Minister of foreign Affairs, is universally admired here, and has done great credit to our Country, by supporting its estimation and maintaining its dignity in the face of Europe as well as of America—But while France is holding to us now the language of friendship and concliation she is playing us all the Sly tricks in her power elsewhere.
I was very glad to receive the number of the Anthology containing the Critique upon my Lectures. I had more than once heard of it, and my curiosity had naturally been excited—The author may say what he will, about his political antipathy to me, I take him to have had even while he was disclaiming my friendship, a sneaking kindness for me—As a critic he would doubtless object to this expression as coarse, and in an “excessively bad taste.” But on the other hand it is the only word suited to the thing—He may take comfort that he is not alone—I had great numbers of these secret friends among my dear fellow-townsmen of Boston, who in defiance of their own Consciences were joining in the hue and cry, and making themselves the tools of my real Enemies—If the day should ever come when they shall think, there is any thing to be got by my friendship, I have no doubt they will all be as officious in boasting of their attachment to me as they have been and yet are in disavowing it—I have had so many of these amiable friends that I can almost say in the language of Shakespear “I have kept of them tame.”—It is not magnanimous, and certainly not wise, to quarrel with human Nature for being weak. That a man should be deserted by his friends in the time of trial, is so uniform an experience in the history of mankind, that I never had the folly to suppose, that my case would prove an exception to it. Admiral Berkley brought on my time of trial; the only real one that has yet happened to me in the course of  my life. And most completely was I deserted by my friends—I mean in Boston, and in the State Legislature. I can never be sufficiently grateful to Providence, that my father and my brother, did not join in this general desertion. There were exceptions in the town of Boston; which I trust I shall never forget. In the Legislature, not one. But as to political friends, the loss of one was the gain of another quite as trusty, and quite as honest—The Junto-men, whose pretended friendship had never been any thing but disguised hatred, I considered it fortunate to have strip’d of their masks, and at open enmity. But these half faced fellowships, these prudent politicians who would have been my friends if they had dared, but whose credits at the Banks—advertising Custom, or Corporation favour depended upon their disclaiming me, have made their friendship sit as easy upon me as it did upon themselves.
The principal fault which I have to find with the Anthology Critique, is for its excessive Praise. Heaven knows that I was not formed of materials insensible to the praise of my fellow-men; but I cannot relish praise from a quarter which I do not esteem, and I cannot esteem the man who can degrade himelf, by such Servile Sacrifices to popular prejudices, as the Anthology Critic has gone out of his way to make in reviewing a merely literary work—If he has no sympathy with my Politicks, it is at his own peril. If he believes what he says of my high character, great talents, and private virtues, what call was there upon him for his declaration of War against my Politicks?—“Was it to sooth the subscribers to the Anthology; and atone for the commendation of an heretic? yes! this motive is sufficiently discovered; and almost openly avowed—and in my scale of morality, it is a motive so despicable, that I would not give a straw for all the commendation that such a panegyrist will bestow.
His censure, having relation to the work is partly just and partly erroneous. For a book of Instruction the Lectures are in a style too oratorical, or if you please too declamatory—I purposely indulged myself, and my hearers in some excess of this kind, for the sake of riveting their attention to the subject, and because I knew that superfluous luxuriance might easily be pruned; and that barrenness could never be made to flourish— This was the very reason which mad me reluctant at the premature publication of the Lectures; for I knew that I must abide by the blame which they would bear for this original sin. My recollection of Cicero’s Oration for Archias, as he States, was inaccurate, and that was one of the passages which I should have altered, if I had had only time to read them over once after the call for publication and before they were published—Incorrect metaphors as he says, abound in every part of the book—I do not set so high a value upon perfect correctness in the use of figures as Dr: Blair or Mr Addison did, and their correctness is much more perfect in theory than in practice—Blair has shewn by minute analysis that Addison’s pleasures of the Imagination, and Swifts proposal for improving the English language, abound in every part of them in incorrect figures—And I think I have shewn, that Blair had no distinct idea of the difference between figurative and literal language—insomuch that he quotes two of the most figurative passages in all Virgil, as examples of pure simplicity without figures—Correctness is always cold, and tame—And although I never write incorrectly on purpose, I suffer a multitude of incorrectnesses to escape me, and sometimes let them pass even after detecting them myself.—These are crumbs for small critics to feed upon. The passage attempting to illustrate the different modes of reasoning by ratiocination and induction is perhaps as he objects still somewhat obscure—I think I understand it myself, but that Lecture was one of those with which I was most dissatisfied, and it is probably one of the worst in the Book—I could easily defend most of the other passages with which he finds fault; but as a whole the Work must defend itself, or fall—if it should ever go to a Second Edition, it can doubtless be made more correct; but it must live or die by the soundness or defects of its vital parts; and they mus stand the test of sterner judges than the Critic of the Anthology.
To return to my Politicks—I find that of all of the American Newspapers, the Boston Centinel is that, which most frequently gives me tokens of remembrance in my absence. Among other obliging notices I find the Editor has informed the world “how ill-calculated, our townsman is for the Splendid and intriguing Court of St. Petersburg.”—As a Commentary to Shew you how accurately his Correspondents have been acquainted with my condition here, and how justly they have represented it, I must give you in the original language, which my father or my brother will translate for you, an extract from a dispatch of the Chancellor of the Russian Empire, to Mr. Daschkoff, which that Gentleman has communicated to the President of the United States.
“L’accueil qu’a fait l’Empereur à Mr: Adams a du le convaincre que si sa destination étoit agréable à Sa Majesté, le choix de sa personne n’y contribuait pas moins. Recommandable par le nom qu’il porte, ainsi que par ses qualités personnelles ces titre ont été justement appreciés par sa Majesté Impériale. Je ne doute pas Monsieur que Son Excellence le Président des Etats-Unis n’en ressente une satisfaction personelle de l’attention de sa Majesté l’Empereur à son choix.”
I intreat you however that this may not go out of our own family—I see how ungraciously it comes from myself, and I should not have given it even to you, but for the compliment which it contains to my father, which he and you, ought to know, and which to my heart gives to the whole testimonial its most precious value. This despatch was dated 10-22 November 1809. just about the time when the Correspondent of the Centinel was making the discovery how “insignificant a figure” our townsman was making at St. Petersburg. From that day to this the Emperor has treated me with the same kindness and attention—And what us much more important he still gives a welcome reception to my Countrymen, while all his neighbours have excluded them from their Ports.
I remain ever affectionately yours

A


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Elizabeth Coombs Adams, 21 October 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Elizabeth Coombs

Quincy october 21 1810

My Grandaughter The present Mrs. Treadway availed herself of your kind invitation to make you a visit, and her Friend miss Tracy, Sensible of the advantage Young people derive from mixing with those whose example and Manners ornament and improve, whilst they delight and Churm Charm those Susceptable of improvement. I consented to Susan earnest desire of passing a little time from home. her Aunt Adams was kind enough to give her a Letter to you, and I pray you to  accept my thanks for the Friendly and hospitable reception you have given her. She is young, ardent and full of vivacity, tho I hope not indiscreet. She will receive gratefully any advise, or admonition you may give her, and I pray you to use the Same freedom with her: which under Similar circumstances you would wish might be extended to a Daughter of your own.
I have taken the Liberty of incloseing my Letters for her under cover to you. I pray you to make my Respects to mr Coombs, and Regards to the rest of your Family
From your Humble Servant
Abigail Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 23 October 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

N. 9
My Dear Brother,
St. Petersburg 11/23 October 1810.
It was a fortunate circumstance for us, that Mr. Jones had so prosperous and so expeditious a voyage and Journey—In sixty days after he went out to Quincy, to take my Mothers and your wifes letters for us, he delivered them into our hands—As they brought us the gratifying intelligence that all our friends were then well,  it gave us not only the pleasure which such tidings must always bring with them, but a great consolation, and relief from the anxiety, which letters of prior dates, but since received must have occasioned, had they been equally rapid in their conveyance—The letters which gave us information of my mother’s illness and yours in the Spring, and of that of several others of our friends at Washington, some weeks afterwards.
You will perceive by one or two of my last Letters, that I had been many months without receiving a line from you, and when Mr. Jone came with so short a passage, and directly from Quincy, still without a line from you, I could hardly listen to the suggestion which my reason naturally presented as an apology for you—to wit that when he went to Quincy for the letters; you was attending the Court at Dedham—And it is among the odd contingencies which this chance medley world produces, that this Gentleman should have come so quick without bringing a letter from you, and that not one of those to whom you actually did give letters, and which they intended to have delivered in person, has to this day reached St: Petersburg.
I believe however the stragglers have now all come in, though by your omission of the precaution to number them, I cannot precisely tell whether there are not some yet outstanding. I have heretofore informed you that we had received safely the box, by Mr. Harrod, although he himself came no farther than Konigsburg. About one fortnight since, yours of 7. May found its way to me from Christiansand, that hole of Norway, into which Mr. Smith, Mrs. C. Miller’s brother, had the misfortune, in common with so many of our countrymen to Stump—And yesterday morning I received from the Chancellor of the Russian Empire, Count Romanzoff yours of 27. March, with a packet containing a file of the Patriot, up, nearly to that time.—I have not learnt from the Count, how he received it; but I suppose it must have come with some ship’s Papers—I have not heard of Mr. De Wolf excepting by your letter, but you may be sure that he or any other Gentleman coming with a letter of introduction from you, will always be received with a most hearty welcome.
As both your letters were written in the midst of the hurly-burly of electioneering, I cannot but admire the moderation with which you speak of this triumph of sound Principles—I suppose you are this very moment in the agony of another struggle, for the House of Representatives of the next Congress. As the federalists since they have completely turned Tories have becomes as Zealous and intriguing as unprincipled factions always are—I suppose they will continue to start in every race, untill a permanent and steady issue of several successive elections shall bring them back to their senses—The Republican Victory of last Spring almost throughout New England, was quite unexpected to me—At present my expectations are that in Massachusetts the Republicans will gain two or perhaps three members on the Representation of the present Congress.—But at this distance both of time and place my expectations are more likely to be disappointed in the present instance than they were in the former—You do not tell me whether you have taken, or are in the intention of taking any part in the Elections
Our friend Shaw. did not send me one of those illustrious specimens of Statesmen; This called an Analysis of the Correspondence between Jackson and the Secretary of State—indeed I am sorry to say that I have not had a line from Shaw since I left home—But I know his multiplied and multifarious employments, and I do not ascribe his silence either to neglect, or to his sharing any of the political antipathy which his associates of the Anthology have thought propre to proclaim against me. I have nevertheless seen that stupendous monument of wisdom the Analyst, and have admired among other things in it, the profound penetration, with which it ferreted out of all its mystery the real object of the mission to Russia—It is well that “our writers” did not live in the hang witch times. With such a gift of second sight, and such an ungovernable volubility to tell its visions, they would certainly have been short lived—I have seen and perused also another of their splendid atchievements, of which even you have said nothing in your letters—I mean the Remarks upon the Review of Ames—I think it must have been a goodnatured and brotherly disposition to spare my blushes which must have prompted you to overlook this trophy of my Fame.
The Review of Ames was a parting kiss to “our writers”, to which it was but fair in them, to wing me a little of their sweet breath air of the Atlantic in return. I am so pleased to keep them in constant employment, that if I was now with you at home, I would breed as many pamphlets out of them, as the Sun raises maggots from a _____ barn door.
It was curious enough that within one week after my arrival at St: Petersburg, I added to all my former sins, which had provoked their doughty vengeance, that of discriminating between the American and the English manufactures of American Passports and Ship papers—I have not the time to tell you the story now; I told it to the Secretary of State in all its Circumstances at the time, although he did not receive untill the last of May my dispatches containing the narrative—But I will tell it in my next letter to you or to my Mother, and it will explain fully to you the true origin of all the flattering paragraphs with which the English Newspapers, and their Tory copyists in America have honoured me since my residence here.
I have always rejoiced at the mode which chance much more than design, gave me of a conveyance from America—but there is no escaping one’s destiny, and I have been abused in the newspapers both for putting the Nation to the enormous expence of a frigate to transport my precious carcass, across the ocean—and for landing at Cronstadt from a Merchant vessel loaded with sugar and coffee—How deeply venomous must be the feelings, and how scanty must be the food for them to subsist upon, which can feed upon such substances as those. Perhaps one half the Ministers of the United States, who have come to Europe, since the declaration of Independence have come on Frigates, and never a Syllable was lisped at the expence—The other half have come in merchant vessels, and no body ever heard how they landed, or of what the cargoes of the ships were composed—May such always be the reproaches of my enemies, and may they never have any thing worse to object against me!
True it is that while the insignificance of the American Minister’s appearance is the subject of Sarcasm, the theme is copious, and would be ludicrous in proportion to the details into which a person acquainted with his style of living here, and that of other Ministers, might inter—Compare him for instance with a French Ambassador who expends yearly three hundred thousand dollars, and you may judge how he must show—Compare him with the Ministers of petty principalities whose names are scarcely know to you, and the lowest of whose salaries are equivalent to twenty thousand dollars a year, and you may rely upon it he does not shine—He cannot associate upon terms of equality either with the other foreign Ministers—or with the Court Nobility of the Country; or even with the merchants who are making enormous Fortunes by American consignments of “Sugar and Coffee”—and to complete the picture it must be added that from all these three classes of Society he has received the most pointed and the most oppressive attentions—oppressive I call them, from the either impossibility with his means, of meeting them by the return which they so justly deserve—But he knows that to indulge but for a moment that honest pride which is uneasy untill it has reciprocated obligations of hospitality, would be total ruin to himself and his family—He therefore limits his expenditures to his allowance from his Country, shuns as much as he can those Circles of Society, with whose splendours he cannot vie, and lives almost entirely retired within the bosom of his own family—This you may say, is not very diplomatic—But it is absolutely necessary as you say, “to steer clear of the breakers”
With all this, we live in a manner to me very agreable, among ourselves and by no means unsocial. We form a considerable family, harmonizing very well together, and besides the Gentlemen who came with me, we have frequently the occasional Company of Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, Mr Harris our Consul, and other Americans of whom there have been no small numbers here continually since our arrival—We are treated with every mark of consideration which we could desire, and have been frequently noticed with peculiar distinction, by the Sovereign himself, the source of all distinction, and whose countenance of itself suffices to insure respect from all classes of the People. The worst that we have to endure is from the climate which you will not envy us, when I tell you that I have been all this morning writing you this letter with a snow-storm beating upon my windows
News I can give you none. Not even from the army in Turkey, nor from the new crown Prince of Sweden, General Bernadotte. As I have two letters of yours to answer, I mean soon to write you again, My love and blessing to my dear Boys, who I hope are with you, and to whom I will write again ere long. Tell them that Charles speaks French almost as well and German better than English. And that he often scrables over a piece of paper saying that he must write to Brother John. My duty and that of my wife to my father and Mother, and affectionate remembrance to your wife, and the other branches of the family
Ever most truly your’s.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 23 October 1810
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

St Petersburg Octbr. 23d
We are now my dear Mother enjoying the delights of a violent Snow storm and I presume this will be the last opportunity of writing by Vessels sailing from hence to America our intercourse for some months will I fear be much interrupted I hope however you will write by opportunities to Hamburg or England as often as possible—
Winter has returned and with it all the disagreeables of our situation the Climate does not agree with Mr A. so well as America and the horror he has of the expence which even with the utmost care he must live at preys upon his spirits and will I fear prove injurious to his constitution I have frequently expressed my desire to return home but he says unless the government recall him he will not return for three years it is perfectly unnecessary for me to say how little influence I have my residence in Europe at this time very fully evinces it and if any thing from me would be of any avail my I we should already have have had the pleasure of embracing you and my darling boys, it has however been an invariable rule with me as I had no fortune never to object or decline any thing which he thinks can tend to promote his ambition his fame or his ease and in one instance only have I ever fail’d to observe it that was the professorship which I firmly believe has been the cause of almost all his trouble since in his political career
I am so limited for time my dear Mother that I can only request you to present me most affectly. to the president to all the family and though last not least to our dear boys and believe me ever my dear Madam your very affectionate daughter
L C Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 25 October 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

No. 8
My dear Mother.
St: Petersburg 25. October 1810.

Although I wrote you about ten days ago, I cannot suffer Captain Leach to depart without taking a letter for you; especially as since the date of my last, I have received another letter from you—it is that of 28. May, which you sent on to come by Captain Bainbridge—It miss’d indeed that opportunity, but was sent with some despatches of the Department of State to France from whence it was brought by Prince Alexis Kurakin, just now returned from an Embassy Extraordinary to Paris, to compliment the Emperor Napoleon upon his Marriage.
Your letters are always so precious to me, that I make it a principle to return to every one of them that I receive a separate answer—This makes the sixth from you, of which I have acknowledged the receipt, besides four to my wife who has been I believe as punctual in her answers—I should have written you still more frequently, but that my public Correspondence, which I imagine the Secretary of State has found long, and frequent enough, takes up so much of my time, and my other private friends to whom I must likewise occassionally write, leave me not so much leisure to write you, as my inclinations would require.
You have quoted a paragraph which the Tory papers in America copied from their accomplices in England, accusing me of being a meddling Advocate for the exclusion of American vessels from the Russian Ports.—I shall not boast to you, how many American vessels have been by my exertions alone, admitted into the Russian Ports, and which but for me would have been excluded from them—There are documents public and private, upon this subject, which I need not display before youµThe Official papers have been and will be received at the Department of State, and there I willingly leave them—Neither is it necessary for me to tell you that not one American vessel has to my knowledge been excluded from a Russian Port since my arrival here—But I promised my brother in my last letter to him, to tell you the origin of these compliments paid me in the English and Anglo-American Newspapers.
Russia and England being at War, the commercial intercourse between them is of course forbidden; and neither English vessels nor English subjects are allowed to come into the Russian Territories—You already know that one of the expedients by which the English have attempted to evade these prohibitions, was by presenting themselves as Americans with forged Passports and Ships Papers.—The Russian Government admit universally every American recognized as such by the American Minister or Consul—This business since I have been here, continues as it was before to be transacted by Mr: Harris, the Consul who never fails however to consult me, and take my opinion, in every case susceptible of a question. I had not been here a week before I was asked to authenticate a paper, purporting to be a Passport of the Mayor of New York, and an eminent merchant of this City sent me in writing his guarantee that the man named in the Passport was a native citizen of the United States.—The Passport was forged in London, by a Jew named van Sander, who has kept there  a shop for neutral papers for several years; and the man named in it was a Liverpool trader who had never set his foot in the United States—You very naturally perceive that I not only refused the authentication desired of me, but that I did not entirely suppress a sentiment of indignation at the imposition that was attempted to be practised upon me in the guarantee.
Within a fortnight afterwards two ships entered with Registers, of the same Van Sander fabrication—They were detected by Mr: Harris who laid the papers before me, and who duly informed the Russian Government, that they were forged—The vessels with their Cargoes were confiscated, and their Papers delivered to Mr: Harris, who has sent them to the Department of State—In this he acted entirely with my Countenance and Approbation, which under a weight of mercantile influence existing here in favour of these frauds, was undoubtedly useful if not necessary to him—I certainly did let it be understood, by all the Merchants of St: Petersburg, and of the other Russian Ports, that forged papers, pretended to be American, should find neither connivence nor mercy from me; whenever they should come to my knowledge; and although this determination so explicitly manifested, did not recommend me to the favour of Englishmen in any part of the world, nor even to that of the merchants in St: Petersburg, I do sincerely believe that had it not been for it, the real American flag, would long before this have been excluded from the Ports of Russia, as it has been from those of Denmark and Prussia.
I have heard by an American Gentleman who was in London, at the time when the news of these disasters to the Americans of the Van Sander stamp arrived there, the consternation which they occasioned among the gang of Banditti who had been drawing that trade, and the bitterness of their gall against the meddling American Minister—But I have had no more forged Passports, with guarantees sent to me to be authenticated, and only two or three more of Mr: Van Sanders Registers have appeared in the Russian Ports, during the present year. They have not the same fate with their predecessors—But the Story that I examined all the Papers of vessels myself, or that I ever meddled with them, unless at the request of Mr: Harris, of the Russian Government, or of the persons to whom the papers belong, is a mere fabrication totally destitute of truth—
My real offence therefore has been, in contributing to the exclusion of persons,  vessels and cargoes, really English, but coming with the forged signatures and seals of the public officers of my Country.—And the Editors of American newspapers, who have copied from their English fellow-labourers columns of abuse for this conduct pretend that the charge of British influence over them is a calumny.
In speaking of the mercantile influence here, in favour of these frauds, it may be proper to explain myself further. The merchants of St. Petersburg are almost all foreigners—Great numbers of them are English, or connected with English houses—Their business is almost exclusively commission business—They universally detest this War with England, and long for the restoration of the commercial intercourse with that Country—They want the trade; and they care not under what flag or what papers it comes and goes—The American flag, and American papers, would have been the most convenient of all their shelters, and under the liberal confidence with which the Russian Government admitted every vessel and person coming from friendly Countries and recognized by the American Minister or Consul, as Americans, if our countenance could have been obtained, instead of fifty or sixty vessels from Teneriffe, which have come to Russia, for confiscation, under all sorts of papers, excepting American, we might have seen five-hundred direct from the London market both of merchandize and of papers—The inevitable and just consequence of which would have been that the true Americans would have been confounded with the false, and all of them involved in one general proscription.
Captain Leach and Captain Bainbridge, are now on the point of departure, with the two last American vessels remaining at Cronstadt for the present year—We have already daily falls of Snow; and in a fortnight or three weeks the river will be frozen over for another half-year—From this time forward therefore until the next midsummer, although we shall make as many opportunities to write you as we can, they will necessary be still more slow and indirect than they have been since last May—To live in the climate of St: Petersburg, seems to realize the fable of Castor and Pollux—For one half the year, if we enjoy the light of heaven, and a residence upon Earth, we have to descend during the other to regions of darkness, and realms of unrelenting frost. Nor is it among the smallest of its miseries that it cuts off almost the only remnant of our means for communicating with our friends.
To night, Master Charles is to go to the first children’s Ball at the French-Ambassador’s since his return from the Country—To-morrow is the Empress Mother’s birthday, and we are to attend morning and Evening at Court—These are the signals for the approaching dissipations of the Winter, which will not be so frequent as those of the last, and in which we shall take much less part.
With my duty to my father, love and blessing to my boys, and kind affection to all the family, I remain every faithfully yours.

A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 October 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

                        N 10.
                            My Dear Brother.
                            St: Petersburg 27. October 1810.

                        On the principle of returning a separate answer or reply to every letter that I receive from you, I remain yet one in arrears to you, since in my last I acknowledged the receipt of two—dated 27. March and 7. May.With the last dated but first received of these came the number of the Anthology containing the most learned Critique upon my Lectures—It reminded me of a famous Speech of which I have heard—said to have been delivered in the Massachusetts Convention, for deciding upon the federal Constitution—a Speech in which the Orator after enumerating the principal objections which were then made against that national compact, concluded by saying “for these Reasons“ Mr. President, I shall vote for the adoption of this Constitution”—But I have written to my mother my opinion of this notable performance, and that was taking quite as much notice of it, as it deserved. A thousand such Reviews will do my book neither good nor harm. But our giants of Literature are waiting to see what the English, and especially what the Scottish Reviewers will say, to know whether the work is good for anything or not—and that most unlucky episode about Lord Holland, which crept so unaccountably into the Silesian Letters, I Know will secure me another scratch from the titillating fingers of Edinburgh.—Lord Holland it seems, is himself one of the lashes of that Cat of nine tails the Edinburgh Review, and that Circumstance explains the vindictive rancour with which they scourged those Letters.Their fortune has certainly, far exceeded their pretensions—For besides the English edition of them they were dealt out again in driblets by half a dozen English Magazines, and they have had the honour of being translated into French and German, and in both those languages have been about as much abused as they were in the English—I presume that the Lectures will at least be spared in other languages than their own.Ever since I have been this time in Europe, Packets of Newspapers have come to me by almost every vessel that has arrived from Boston, made up and forwarded to me by Young and Minns, the Editors of the Palladium This obliging attention which has often furnished me the most recent intelligence from America, has been the more unexpected and indeed surprizing to me, as I find that in their own Paper, they spare me as little as before I left home; and like the other federal Prints readily circulate any scurrility upon me from what quarter  soever it may come. At any rate I am obliged to Messrs: Young & Minns for the trouble they have taken to send me the papers, and must ask you to thank them in my name for their kindness—I would send them some newspapers in return, if there were any Published here that they could read, or that could reach them in time, to give them any news—But I wish them to be assured that if I have no immediate opportunity to return their favour, I am not the less sensible to it.I wish you to procure and send to me a specimen of every one of the coins of the Mint of the United States—of Gold—Silver and Copper—viz—an Eagle, Half Eagle, Quarter Eagle—Dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar—ten Cent and five Cent piece—Cent & half Cent. As new as you can procure them, or at least perfect in execution, and undefaced—I want them for a collection—Perhaps by the friendship of Dr. Rush, you can procure them new, from the mint. And to save the trouble of forwarding them to you, perhaps he will be kind enough to   send them to me, by some Spring vessel from Philadelphia—You will transmit to him the amount of their value, and charge it account to me.—I am anxious to have something of particulars from you respecting my private affairs in your hands.—I had seen by the newspapers that two of my houses were to be leased.—This is a kind of Property, which requires a constant attention, and tenants in general are such bad debtors, that excepting the place in Court Street I almost wish the rest of my real Estate in Boston was turned into something at least  of more certain income—Apropos  of this place in Court Street—you have never mentioned it to me since the new building was to have been finished—Nor have you said a word about the Market shares—Mr. Jones who is the  Person latest arrived tells us that the Market is much frequented; and that is almost every thing, we have heard of it since we quitted its neighbourhood—I want to know what progress you make in the payment of my debts.We had yesterday the first Levee, or as they call it here Diplomatic Circle since the return of the Imperial family from their Summer Residence in the Country—I presented Mr. Jones at Court. It was the Empress Mother’s birthday and in the Evening there was a French Opera performed at the theatre of the Hermitage—All the Ministers of the Corps Diplomatique received tickets of admission to this performance, which was a thing without example in the present reign—Mrs Adams received also a ticket, and as there is now no other foreign Minister’s Lady at St: Petersburg, that she might not be alone, The Emperor expressly ordered that a ticket should also be sent to her Sister Catherine, although she has not been presented at Court—The Hermitage Theatre is in the Palace, which bears that name, and the French Company of Players occasionally perform there by the Emperors command—The tickets of admission are distributed as he directs, and are confined to his own Court, and to Ambassadors.—This was the only instance in which Ministers of the second order have ever received an invitation there. You are sufficiently acquainted with monarchical Governments to know, how every human being that surrounds a Sovereign, from a Prime Minister to a Scullion, catches the tone of the Master, in the treatment of persons, and while I and my family shall receive such marks of attention as these, trifling as they are in Themselves, you may make yourself quite easy about my qualifications for the splendid and intriguing court of Russia, and even about the figure which we made on our landing at Cronstadt—I have indeed in the course of the Summer received proofs far otherwise important than these of the Emperor’s friendly disposition towards the United States; and if I have not, as I certainly have not the means of turning to the greatest possible benifit of my Country, these favourable Sentiments both towards my Nation and myself, the fault is not mine—I have yet a trying Winter to go through, and I have reason to expect that the next Summer will prove no less so; but at this moment you may be assured that the only object of my concern is that circumstances which I cannot controul may occasion us to loose some of the favour in which we now stand—This may be unavoidable.—I had seen before the receipt of your letter the judgment of the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of Fletcher and Peck, which had given me great pleasure—I am so little used to hear anything like an acknowledgment from those whom I have served, that the gratification of my feelings, is the greater, when I find it given—I was therefore delighted to learn from you that Mr. Peck, attributes the success of that Cause, to my exertions at the preceding Session of the Court.—I do not make this general observation by way of complaint—I settled it as a principle at a very early period of my life, and expressed it in one of my preformances at an exhibition while in College, that we must serve our fellow men, from a nobler motive than the expectation of their gratitude in return, and that we must never take it as a disappointment, when we experience the failure of that gratitude. I hope I have always acted up to this principle and when I have met with grateful returns, I have always considered it as so much of my  positive enjoyment gained which was not  to have been expected.My dear boys, are never out of my thoughts—your account of John’s rapid improvement in learning to read, was a banquet to my Soul—There are so many things that I want them to learn, that I can hardly wait with Proper Patience, for the time, when they ought to be taught them. I presume they are now with you, and am sure that they will have all the kind care and attention both of yourself and of your wife—I have already express’d to you my anxiety with regard to George’s handwriting and his French—I wish him to begin immediately to write letters, and to be required to write them entirely from his own head; though he should have some assistance to correct the spelling. Letter writing is best learnt by practice, and upon every letter that he writes or receives you can lead him by a few short remarks, to discern the true characters of the epistolary style—But while he is made to pursue his sedentary studies, with all the assiduity which he can bestow upon them, I wish him also to be enured to bodily fatigues and even hardships. Let him have no effeminate indulgencies, no cockering; no  encouragement to the anticipations of a life of indolence and ease, & enjoyment Let his sports and amusements even be of the hardy Kind, which  partake as much of labour as of Pleasure—Teach him Courage and discretion blended together in the same lessons—How much I ask you to do for him—and how easy it is to ask! The best of all possible Education I know is but a Lottery, and without a corresponding disposition in the child, all that you can do for him is but labour lost—Let us do however all that we can, and leave the result to Providence—I am ever &c.


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to William Smith Shaw, October 1810
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Shaw, William Smith

Dear William
Quincy october 18010 1810

To know that your Mother has been Sick of a dangerous fever, and that She is Still in a low weaks State, and that you have not been to see her, gives me pain, and must Sensibly affect her. you that possess a Heart and mind Sensibly alive to every benevolent feeling cannot possibly be wanting in that fillial tenderness, and affection So justly due to one of the best of parents. Speedily manifest it, my dear Nephew by visiting her in her Sickness, and Solacing her in her weak and debilitated State and receive this admonition as it is meant. with Sincere Love and Regard from / Your affectionate Aunt

Abigail Adams—


Title: To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 9 November 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, John

My Dear Sir.
St: Petersburg 9. November 1810. N.S.

One hundred and twenty American vessels have sailed from the Port of Cronstadt for the United States during the present Season—The two last of them were Captain Bainbridge, for Philadelphia, and Captain Leach for Boston, in the American Hero a vessel belonging to Lieutt: Governor Gray.—They sailed on the first of this month and both of them carried letters from us.—They were the last vessels of our flag remaining, and there can be no more, before next May or June, as we are now in daily expectation of having the river and gulph frozen over—The only means therefore that we shall have for another half year of writing to our friends at home will be by occasional opportunities of sending letters under cover to be forwarded from England or France, or from Gothenburg in Sweden—Such an opportunity now presenting itself I avail myself of it to inform you that we are all well excepting my wife’s sister Catherine, who has been these two or three days confined with a troublesome indisposition common in this Country; and inflammation in the face, which usually passes off in a few days.
I have in the course of the summer written very frequently to my mother and brother, but I think not more than twice to you. Knowing that the letters to them would be communicated to you, I have perhaps not so often as I ought to have done written separately and distinctly to yourself—I have had the pleasure of receiving only one short letter from you; but as your pen has been employed in a manner so beneficial to others as well as to myself, I have the more cheerfully acquiesced in the privation which I should otherwise have felt very sensibly.
The North of Europe in the course of the present year has been the scene of some extraordinary and interesting Events; and prospects of the future have been opened to it still more important—I have mentioned some of the most striking occurrences in several of my private letters, but of what has come to my knowledge there is very little that can be trusted without a cypher to correspondence, which has a gauntlet of privateers, Men of War, Admiralty Courts and Post-Offices to run–through.
The late king of Sweden embarked about three weeks since at Riga, for England, on board of an English armed Brig; and the future king of Sweden about the same time was traveling from Paris to Stockholm, in consequence of his Election as Crown-Prince of Sweden—
Voltaire in one of his Tragedies says “Le premier qui fut Roi fut un Soldat heureux” and he seems to have set a fashion likely to last untill the end of time; but which never was so prevalent as in our age.—The consequences of this Election it appears to me will probably be very different from what are generally anticipated—In the first place if we judge from the ordinary workings of human nature, both the parties will be in great danger of disappointment to their expectations—The Swedes chose the French General, thinking thereby to secure to themselves the support and protection of France—France sends the Swedes a king to make them perfectly subservient to her policy—But this will be so oppressive upon the nation, that if their new Prince makes himself the instrument of France he will become the object of detestation to the Swedes, and if he adopts the feelings and interests of the Swedes he must lose the favour of France—The effects of a similar experiment have been signally manifested in Holland; but Sweden is not so easy to annex to the French Empire as that Country.
The War between Russia and the Turks and Persians, is another object of the first importance in this Country—The Conquest of Moldavia and Wallachia, has in the course of the last Summer been secured by that of several important fortresses beyond the Danube; the campaign has been very brilliant and very bloody—The Russians have advanced within two hundred miles of Constantinople; but what remains is a Country strongly defended by nature, and through which their progress has been and will be slow—They must now be in Winter–Quarters, and negotiations for Peace will be attempted—Of this Peace, the Emperor Alexander is strongly desirous.
We have no letters from Boston later than those brought by Mr: Jones—that is of 12 July—though he has been two months here—I do not expect you can receive this earlier than February; at which time vessels will be preparing to come directly up the Baltic again But what will be the condition of our trade to the Baltic next Spring and Summer it would require the gift of prophecy to foresee. If it depended alone upon Russia, I should have neither doubt nor anxiety about it—The universal disposition of the Country from the Emperor downwards is in its favour and I have this very day received a new and flattering assurance of it—But for what depends upon England more than upon Russia, upon France as much, and upon Denmark (which is indeed France) little less, it would be presumptuous to indulge any very auspicious anticipations.—If upon the whole the success of the ensuing season should equal that of the last we must consider ourselves fortunate beyond all hope.
I am Dear Sir, ever faithfully your’s
A—


Title: From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 November 1810
From: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear Sister,
Nov. 13th.

When you were here, I lent a great Coat, a small one—to Mrs Harrod, to keep of the rain, which she says, she put the next morning into the Carriage—I suppose your Man, forgot to bring it into the house—I thought it was at Mr Harrods, & did not send for it, till the week before I was sick—It has a piece set in behind on the shoulder—If it should be found, please to let it be taken care of—you need not send it by the Stage—
You mention Cousin Susans being on a visit at Newbury I think she will be delighted with Town; & its Inhabitants—I wish she could have made us a visit too—I would have sent for her, if it had been in my power—If she should return before your Thansgiving, I wish she would put it into her Friend Miller’s head, to ask, the two young Paines, Martyn, & Elijah, to keep Thansgiving at Quincy, with him—I heard you express a great regard for their Father, & should like to see them at Quincy They are far different from their parents—& have no particular connection near—And it is of infinite importance for youth to be introduced into good, & improving Company—How many Evils may it prevent, & from what Temptations may it secure them. When young persons are known to seek, & love the society of the virtuous; & respectable, what a Barrier, & Shield it is, from the Enchantments, & solicitations of the frivolous, & the Dissolutes.
I am very sorry to hear that Mrs Norton is so very unwell—by her Mothers tender care, I hope, she will be preserved, a blessing to her young family—&  friends—It is a blessed thing when in trouble of any kind, Children have a Parents house, to which they can repair, & have the warmest reception—When enjoyed; it is seldom half enough valued—
The winter before the last, Abby, made twelve british cotton Shirts for her Brother, marked all with indeliable Ink,—Last winter she made nine finer, all I think marked with  blue Cotton—When he was here, he had the thickest on, & thought he had none finer—If Mrs Dexter, would be so good to attend a little & distinguish them, I should be obliged to her—I wish he would take more care himself—He looked quite neat
When he was here, which pleased me much—
With the kindest remembrance to the Mrs Adams’s
Cousin Louisa, & all my dear Connections, I will
relieve you, & Subscribe
E Peabody


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 15 November 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

N. 9St: Petersburg 3/15 November 1810.

There were last Winter fifteen or sixteen American vessels, that pass’d the Winter at Cronstadt—This year there will be none—I wrote you by the last vessels that sailed, and since then I have had an opportunity to send letters by land to Gothenburg, to be forwarded from thence to America—By that opportunity I wrote to my father, and with this I enclose a duplicate of that letter to him.—There is yet one vessel for New–York loading at Riga, and which is to sail in eight or ten days—It is by this occasion that I now write you to Say, that we are all well; Catherine Johnson having recovered from the illness which I mentioned I the letter to my father.
I promise myself a winter much more quiet, and therefore much more suitable to my taste than the last—There was Scarcely a Night in the week, without some Ball or other party, which it was indispensable to attend—And as their evening parties here begin at eleven O’Clock at Night, and always have a supper to which you must stay and which is served about three in the Morning, we could scarcely get home and go to bed before day–light—Very fortunately as I consider it, almost all the open houses of last Winter are now closed—For open houses, it seems in this Country, are liable to the same inconveniences, which are apt to attend them in others—One of them was kept by a Prince, who died in the course of the Winter—One by a foreign Minister, who for the present Season has obtained from his court, permission of absence—One by a Gentleman, who is now gone to travel for his health, and one by another Gentleman, who has met with misfortunes—and now offers his house to be leased—In the short compass of one year, we have thus witnessed the shutting up of four of the most magnificent houses in St: Petersburg. I know at present of only two such left; the French Ambassador’s and one more—The Ambassador now gives a regular Ball one Evening in the week, which is sometimes varied by the performance of plays—declamations from Tragedies and Opera Dancers.—But having established the custom of coming home from these Parties before supper, we are allowed not to do it without offence or observation, and come off with about half the Night—We attend at present no other parties.
The attendance at Court is principally in the months of January and February.—The only occasion of that kind this Season was about three weeks since on the 14/26 October, the Empress mother’s birth-day.—Then there was a Circle, or as they call it in England a levee in the morning—that is at 2 in the afternoon; a french Opera performed at the Theatre of the Hermitage in the Evening, and afterwards an exhibition of fire–works upon the river, and beyond it, in front of the Imperial Palace—It was all over by Midnight.
The next Court day will probably be the Emperor’s birth-day which is the 12/24 December.—last year the Emperor himself on that day was absent at Moscow-but the morning Circle was held by the Empresses, and the Evening Ball given by the Empress Mother.
On new year’s day Old–Stile, there is a Circle in the morning, and in the Evening a masquerade Ball at the Imperial Palace, for which tickets of admission are issued to persons of all Classes—the number of tickets issued is from twelve to fifteen thousand, the whole Palace is thrown open; and swarms like an ant–hill.—Separate invitations are sent to about three hundred persons for the supper at the hermitage, at which the Emperor and all the Imperial family attend.
On the 6th: of January is performed the annual Ceremony of the benediction of the Waters—The whole Imperial family go in procession from the Palace to the river where the act of consecration takes place—The foreign Ministers are invited to the Palace, and witness the Ceremony from a Balcony, to which the Empresses return, to see the troops file off—there are usually on that day about thirty thousand men under arms—
The 13/25 January is the Empress’s birth day which is also celebrated by a morning Circle, and an Evening–Ball.—The 3/15 February is distinguished in the same manner, being the name day of the two Grand Duchesses Ann—This festival however was omitted last Winter, owing to the severity of the Cold
The day after Easter, which is in April, the closing Circle for the Winter is held, but without any Evening Ball.—The reigning Emperor is not fond of these gala–days as they call them, and frequently omits them—In the Empress Catherine’s time they were very frequent, and in that of the Emperor Paul more so.
Judging from experience since I have been here I conclude you will not receive this letter untill about the last of February—Then will be the most favourable time for our merchants to commence their speculations for the Baltic—I would recommend it to you, to write rather at stated periods, say the first day of every month, and send your letters to lieutn: Governor Gray, requesting him to forward them by the first opportunity—He has had six or seven vessels here this year, none of which brought us an letters from you—which has been a sore disappointment to us—He usually dispatches his ships so suddenly that you have not time to get notice of their departure, in season to write by them—Next year I hope we shall be more lucky—If you would make it a rule to write, were it but a line the first of every month, and my brother the 15th: we should at least be sure of never being long without hearing from you—The last letters we have from America, are yours of 11. 12. July, brought by Mr: Jones, and we had the pleasure to receive them in two months after they were written.—He has been here upwards of two months. We have no accounts from America of any kind later than the beginning of August.
I beg as usual to be remembered dutifully to my father, and affectionately to all the family circle with you, and in your neighbourhood—My dear Sons I hope continue to be good boys and to grow in grace as well as in knowledge and in Stature—While so much under your eye, my confidence is unqualified that their religious principles will not be neglected—There is nothing else in education upon which I can place dependence.
I am, my most revered and beloved mother, ever affectionately yours.
A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 16 November 1810
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

St Petersburg Novbr. 16 1810

Having an opportunity to write you by Mr Lewis of Philadelphia who leaves this place for England early tomorrow morning I hasten to inform you of the general health of the family which although not perfect is as good as we can rationally expect Winter comes on us in so harsh a form that we anticipate an unusual degree of severity in its course this morning the River and Canals were hard frozen and the Bridges all removed I understand it is a very uncommon circumstance as we have yet had no Snow and the people are apprehensive that the Trees will be destroyd in consequence of it
The you winter amusements commenced with a masked ball for children at which Charles assisted in the character of Bachus to the admiration of of every one present he looked beautifully and conducted himself with the utmost propriety, owing to the customs of this place we have been obliged to initiate him very early in the school of dissipation but my acquaintance is so limited that fortunately it I am not often called upon to introduce him—
Nelson who we brought over with us from America is gone to live with the Emperor you can have no conception of the anxiety and trouble Strangers have here with their Servants we who keep as few as possible and who are thought to live trés petitement have fourteen and I am perpetually told that I have not enough to do the common business of the family the expence is intolerable and the trouble ten times worse a regular system of Thievery is here brought to the highest perfection and the wisest and most experienced head would find it utterly impossible to guard against it—
God bless you my dear Mother and my darling Children could wishes waft me to you you would shortly embrace your most affectte
L C Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 November 1810
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

N. 10.
Mrs. A. Adams-Quincy
My dear Mother.
St. Petersburg 16/28. November 1810.

I received a few days ago, and since I wrote you last a letter from Captain William Welsh, dated at Lisbau, a Russian Port in the Baltic, to which I suppose he came, on finding that all American vessels were excluded from the Port to which he was originally destined—He enclosed to me at the same time your kind letter of 25th: July—In the obstructed state of navigation in the Baltic, I have scarcely received a letter from America in less than four months from its date, and from the ackowledgments of my correspondents, I find that our letters have been still longer in reaching them. I am however continually reminded by the receipt of letters from you, of your punctuality and attention as a correspondent—I hear of letters as late as the 6th: of September; but excepting yours I have myself received none later than June.
We had already heard of the Death of President Webber, at the time of Mr: Jones’s arrival—And it is much to be regretted, as from the present State and complection of affairs, the prospect is not bright of seeing his place supplied by so good a man—My own affections as well as my judgment would incline in favour of Mr: Ware—But I think very highly of the talents and of the temper of Dr: Kirkland—My greatest apprehensions from him would be the very circumstances which perhaps will contribute most to his election—I mean his political Connections—It has become a fashionable doctrine of late years that the College should be turned into a political engine; a doctrine which I altogether disapprove. And I am very much afraid that the late alteration in the Constitution of the College Government arose from party motives—Of this alteration, not having seen it in its full extent, I cannot speak positively: but by advertisements in the Newspapers I should infer, that the connection between the Legislature of the Commonwealth and the University has been formally dissolved—The Senate and Council formerly constituted a part of the board of Overseers, and the Congregational Clergymen of the six neighbouring towns were the other part—Instead of which there are now chosen fifteen laymen. I should conceive that a liberal and comprehensive Spirit would seek to make the most antient institution for the education of youth, in our Country, venerable in the eyes of the world; and that by thus attaching the public authority of the State, and the ministers of Religion, by ties of duty to the interests and welfare of the College, one of the most natural and happiest expedients for that purpose had been devised—From the wise and profound policy of this idea, to that of fifteen laymen chosen by a Caucus, there is in my mind a lamentable falling-off, and there must be some extraordinary benefit of which I am not aware, attached to the administration of these fifteen laymen, to compensate for the loss which the University must sustain, by discharging the legislative and Executive authorities of the State from all superintendance over its affairs, and by removing the Clergy thus completely from that superintendance—
I readily conceive how large a vacuity must have been occasioned in your family circle by the removal of my brother and his wife and children—On his part too with a disposition so social as his, I am afraid that he will feel at first, and especially during the winter season a sort of irksome solitude in his new residence—But if he feels, as I always do an inexpressible charm in the spot of his own and his fathers nativity, there will not be a tree nor a brook nor a rock in the neighbourhood, but will attach to itself some remembrance that will serve as a substitute for Society—And with his own family and my boys about him with the business which will occupy so much of his time, and with you and my father so near him, his situation will still be enviable in comparison with mine.
The river Neva has been frozen over about a fortnight, and has about five months longer to remain in the same condition—We have already had several days nearly as cold as our most rigorous days in America—Within the house however we feel nothing of this severity—Double windows, double doors and stove fires keep our apartments at the exact temperature that we chuse to have them. It is the fashion of the Country to keep a thermometer in almost every room and chamber of the house; and at the same time another fastened to a window, outside—The scale in most common use is that of Reaumur—Fahrenheit’s is not used at-all—Generally dining-rooms and parlours are kept at about 15 degrees of warmth—(65 degrees of Fahrenheit) Bedchambers at about 12. or 60 of Fahrenheit—It is considered as a general rule that for healthiness the Bed-chamber must be kept cooler than any other—There is a stove in every chamber, and in the houses laid out for comfort or luxury, one in the entry—In large Halls there are usually two, and sometimes four—A fire is made once a day in every stove—But when the weather is very mild some of the stoves are suffered to pass unheated every other day; and in extreme cold they are sometimes heated twice in a day—The wood is precisely of the same kind, as the Eastern wood so much used at Boston—The stove is heated in the manner of an oven, and when the wood is consumed to a coal without flame the chimney passage is covered over with an iron cap like the lid of a pot—The walls of the houses are about three feet thick. The external windows, hang upon hinges, in the form of folding doors—The glass is very large—The panes in most common use are 25 or 26 inches long and 19 wide—The internal window consists of the six such squares in a single frame, which is put up in September and taken down in May—and when put up the crevices all round the sash are stuff’d with tow, and paper is pasted entirely round the borders—But for the sake of ventilation, one corresponding square of both the windows, is made like a door, on separate hinges, and may be opened at pleasure—The sash of this square is therefore larger than that of the rest, and gives an irregular and awkward appearance to the windows—For that reason perhaps, it has acquired the name of a was ist dass—meaning in German what’s that. In many houses there are windows of two single panes each six or seven feet long and twenty inches wide, and in hinged frames folding together like doors—
There are two remarkable differences between the severe winter weather of this Country, and that of our own Country—The first is that here there are no violent snowstorms—It snows an hour or two almost every day in October November and December; and continues through the winter occasionally to snow in the same manner—But scarcely ever does it snow for six hours together, and a fall of snow of a foot deep at one time is I believe without example—The Snow here drifts comparatively very little—once fallen it lays the whole winter, and receiving so frequently a fresh powdering it settles and cakes into a substance between ice and snow which by the month of March gets to be three or four feet thick—But it lays almost entirely on a level untill the breaking up of the frost in March or April—The Streets of St: Petersburg are then scarcely passable—The second peculiarity which mitigates the rigour of this climate is that the extremest colds are always accompanied with a clear sky, and little or no wind—If with an atmosphere at 30 degrees of Reamur below 0 which is 67 degrees of Fahrenheit below the freezing point, there were at the same time a wind like our North-west Gales, I believe human nature could not exist under it—
We are all well—As this sentence is worth a volume in every letter which we receive from home; so I trust it is the most acceptable thing that we can write to you in return—I know not how or when I shall have an opportunity to send you this, but I write it now to have it in readiness by the first opportunity that may offer—They sometimes present themselves suddenly, and I have then barely time to prepare my public letters.
The last political event which has excited attention was the Emperor Napoleon’s decree to burn all the English manufactures upon which his custom-house or his military troops can lay their hands—The State of Commerce throughout Europe continues to be excessively distress’d, and will probably be much more so before it will experience any relief—Our countrymen still rush in crowds into every Port where they can obtain access, and into many where they meet nothing but seizure and confiscation—There are twenty or twenty-five vessels, which were coming here at a Season when no mortal European dares venture into the gulph of Finland—only one of them reached Cronstadt, and that while the river was freezing—The rest have entered at Revel, Riga, and other Ports of the Baltic—Some have not yet been heard of—I hope however that none of them have been lost.
I am, my dear Mother ever faithfully your’s

A.