Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 5 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 24. Mrs: Louisa C. Adams. St: Petersburg.
My dearest Friend.
 Ghent 5. August 1814.

Oh! for the Patience of Job, to bear the tricks played upon us by or at the Post-Offices!—The day before yesterday they brought me together your numbers 14 and 15, dated 6 and 12 July—the second of which has I believe come in proper time—22 days. but the other should have been here last week, and why did it not come?—Again—why were you on the 12th: of July still expecting my letter from Amsterdam, which on the 20th: of June I had delivered into the hands of Mr: Willink, at his Counting house, to be forwarded by that day’s Post? It ought regularly to have arrived at St: Petersburg on Friday 8. July—and with all the customary delays, to have been delivered to you on the 9th: or 10th.—Whatever the cause of this postponement may have been, I trust it was not lengthened beyond the Post-day next after the 12th: and that from that time untill this reaches you, there will have been no intermission of a Post-day without bringing you a Letter from me.— I have at least not intermitted from writing every Tuesday and Friday, though I am very sure you will find in many of my Letters, the same embarrassment to fill the sheet, of which you complain—If you do not think them insupportably dull, you will have more indulgence for them than I can have myself
At least Mr Hall, did write you as he had promised me, and informed you, that the winds had been fair for us at Gothenburg. Six days from the time of our departure—My Journal will have shewn you, that in those very six days we completed our Voyage; although the Winds were fair for us scarcely one whole day of the Six. It is a new proof of what I have so often had occasion to remark—that in the Baltic you can never infer from the winds in the Ports, what they are at the same time a very few miles from them on the outside.
Your Letter of the 6th: on one subject raised a hope, which that of the 12th: immediately disappointed. Had Mr and Mrs. Smith then embarked for any Port in Holland, they would have had ample time to arrive in Season for the John Adams—She will probably sail between the 15th: and 20th: of this Month—I cannot abandon the hope that they will yet reach the Texel to go in that ship.
I know not who it was who so positively assured You that there were to be no British Commissioners appointed to meet us; but it must have been somebody deep in the secrets of the British Cabinet.—I wrote you on the 2d: of June from Stockholm, that British Commissioners were appointed and gave you their names—Lord Castlereagh on the 20th: of July told the House of Commons that Commissioners were appointed, though the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave at the same time a broad hint that it was not intended they should make Peace—Now for something nearer at hand. We have a Letter from Mr Beasley, dated 29. July. this day Week—He says he had just seen Mr: Hamilton, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; who informed him that the British Commissioners had kissed the Prince Regent’s hand the day before, and that they would certainly leave London for Ghent in all this week. Mr Hamilton to be sure, had before written to Mr Irving that they would leave London, on or about the first of July—But the Ceremony of taking leave of the Regent, looks more as if they were in earnest.—I now confidently expect them within a week from this day.
I was almost as much gratified with your account of the Entertainment at Pavlowski, as if I had been one of the party myself. You do not mention the occasion of it, but I find upon recurring to the Calendar, that it was the Grand-Duke Nicholas’s Birth-day. I congratulate you upon your having got so well through the day, and rejoyce that you have had that occasion for enlivening your Summer—The Emperor has I presume before this reached St: Petersburg, and now will be the time for fêtes and rejoycings—The Newspapers say that he has declined accepting the title that was offered him, of the Blessed; and has referred it to Posterity to erect a Monument in honour of him, if he should deserve it—This answer is so conformable to his character that I believe it to be in substance true, and it is among the strongest proofs that he deserves both the title and the Monument—It shews a mind unsubdued by Prosperity; as it had already proved itself superior to adversity. It indicates a just estimate of the honours that can be conferred upon an absolute Sovereign by his co-temporaries; and of those which may be conferred by posterity.
Mr Beasley has sent us some of the latest American Papers that have been received; they are to the 20th: of June, and exhibit no indication of the intentions announced by the British Gazettes, on the part of the Federalists to address Congress for the removal and Impeachment of Mr Madison—Quite the contrary—The New-York Election, has given a great accession of strength to the Government of the United States; and the Massachusetts Governor and legislature are retreating, and boast of their forbearance—There has been a new religious festival in Boston, upon the downfall of Buonaparte and the restoration of the Bourbons The State-House and a few private Houses were illuminated; but the Chronicle says it did not take—that it was truly a solemn festival; for they could not get so much as a shout from the boys in the Streets—That they asked for what the State-house was illuminated? and some said it was because Buonaparte had been bribed, with 6 Millions to give up France to the English; and others said it was because Governor Strong was chosen instead of Samuel Dexter—At this same religious festival several Resolutions were proposed by Mr Gore, about as wise as the festival itself—One of them is merely a lamentation that on account of the War, they cannot express as they wish they could their admiration of a certain Hero who must be nameless! There is a speech made in the Senate of Massachusetts by a Mr Holmes, in which he bears down upon the junto as Perry did upon the British on Lake Eri—There has been nothing like it for many years.—The federal papers say that Mr Otis replied to it with a Torrent of Eloquence, but they have not published his Speech—That of Holmes is entire in the Chronicle of 20 June, and its main points are too stubborn for Otis’s torrents to overwhelm—It appears that Otis must have resigned his Seat as a Judge; by his being again in the Senate.
The only piece of private intelligence that I find in these Papers is the marriage of young Pickman, with Hannah Smith—You remember we heard it was postponed for better times. I suppose the parties have discovered that this would require them to wait too long.
In the attack of the British upon Oswego, they lost nearly as many men, as the whole number opposed to them—In the affair of Sandy Creek they had 187 Men taken by 120 and a few Indians. They surrendered at discretion; with their boats—not a man escaped to tell the Story—These little affairs are encouraging—On the other hand the British reinforcements sent out to America, amount to at least 18000 men; of whom 6000 had arrived in the River St: Lawrence—Admiral Cochrane had issued a Proclamation, inviting the Blacks to desert their Masters, and promising them Freedom & Settlements—The Prospect is lowering— We shall have heavy tiding before the close of this Campaign—Wilkinson is displaced, and General Izzard commands in chief.
We begin to be wary, not of one another, but of our bargain for the house—You will not be surprized at this when I tell you that our Landlord is Mr Launuyer—We find him as tiresome as his name—I shall complain as little as possible, but shall perhaps at the close of the Month, return to the Hotel des Pays-Bas—Mr Russell and his Son are gone to Dunkirk—Mr Hughes to Bruxelles—and I here and every where, with love to Charles am unalterably yours.

A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 August 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 20
My dear Friend
St Petersburg August 5 1814

You must laugh at the information contain’d in my last as Mr. Harris tells me he wrote you by the same post that the resignation was accepted Mr. H.—as far as prevarication goes is certainly a good diplomat for he came to me very full of what I wrote you and told me he had it from the Gentleman himself. he was here last night with what he wrote you and at the same time stating that the Gentleman stood so high that he was to name his successor. I do not vouch for  any thing from that quarter.
As you have so good a correspondent I shall only write my own immediate concerns and what I see and hear myself.
The day before yesterday I went to the Peterhoff Fète which was very beautiful though I am told it was not so splendid as usual on account of a Fète to be given at Pavlosky on Sunday We had nobody at dinner but the Corps Diplomatic and the grand Maitre des Ceremonie Mr. Narischkin so that our dinner was quite sociable. in the evening we went altogether to the Ball and I did not reach home untill six o’clock the next morning. I saw there Mr. Bardaxi he is still very low, and does not talk much of the affairs of Spain. Count Lovenhielm the Brother of the ci devant Minister, was there also, I know not in what quality. I put myself as usual under the protection of the Duke & Dutchess who is not on such occasions remarkably good natured the Grand Maitre is very polite and attentive he did me the honor to visit me in my apartment. The Emperor was more fascinating, more affable, and handsomer than ever, the Ladies are as in Paris almost all “folle par Armour.” I was not honor’d by the notice of any of the Court. Mr. H was presented that eveng.
Mr. Bailey said he would astonish the World, and Show them that the English and Americans had enter’d into an alliance, by dancing a Polonaise with me. we were follow’d by the Emperor who seem’d diverted by it, and spoke to him when the dance ended
I wrote you that Mr Monreal had been so good as to undertake the arrangement of the business you left me; it is not yet finish’d, the agio was 2 97, and it is to be paid in Silver. it is now 2 96 but as the Silver Ruble passes for four Rubles, I thought it was better not to sell it. the exchange is at 11P. and 4/3. and falling.
I am sorry George takes so much after his Mother, she never was gifted with the talent of writing, and nothing in the could ever give it her. Mr. Charles I think is the only who bids fair to possess the accomplishment, and I much doubt if he will ever equal his father, who in my judgement stands unrival’d.
Of Doctor Beresford I forgot to speak in my last letter he is going to Holland, where he is to have an establishment, you will therefore have an opportunity of returning his Books.
I understand that there are late letters from America, and that the affair at Oswego, has not turn’d out so badly as was at first stated.
As the English Commissioners had not sail’d on the 19th of July, I hardly know how to form an opinion regarding your return. I hope Mr. Smith will arrive in time for the Frigate; we had the most tremendous storm today I ever witnessed—God speed you soon to the arms and heart, of your truely affectionate Wife

L C AdamsCharles has been a little unwell but is better.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 7 August 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 22
My very Dear Friend
St: Petersburg Augst 7 1814

I am so exhausted by fatigue that it is with the utmost difficulty I can scrawl a few lines having just return’d from a Fète at Pavloski which lasted two days & Nights I may say as you know at what hour the Balls break up The fète was most beutiful and we recieved every possible mark of Distinction the Emperor spoke to me and asked where you were I told him you had seen at Ghent he said he had only passed through it that he had seen Mr. Galatin in London. Mr. Harris order’d me not to go because Mr Naryschkin gave us a verbal message and for some time I hesitated what to do but as I had promised Mr. N: who apologized to all the Corps for giving in that form and they all accepted I thought it would be highly ridiculous in me who you know dont belong to it to make any pretentions. Mr. Harris engaged to let me know what I was to do and I expected to hear from him on Saturday evening; Saturday passed, and I heard nothing. I therefore thought it would be more prudent, to make enquiries, and if I found the Corps Diplomatic intended going, to do as they did, thinking it more likely difficulties would occur at the English, I ascertained that he and all the Corps intended being at Pavloski at half past 5 o’clock and set out from my house in consequence so as to be there at the same time. The Dutchess arrived about the same time and my heart was set at rest as I presumed that for once in my life I had done right. in consequence of the badness of the weather the fète champètre was postponed untill the next and we only went to the Ball at which the Emperor did not appear the Empress was much chagrined at the disappointment but as usual did the honours of her house incomparably she spoke to several times and expressed much sorrow at the bad prospect of affairs but told me that nothwithstanding appearances she hoped we should soon make a good Peace Her Majesty invited me in person to remain at Pavloski and said she was happy to keep us two days instead of one. Mr. Harris did not appear, and poor I became the only representative of America (not so bad neither considering how we go on in Canada, an Old Woman or a Child would answer the purpose) every thing was render’d as comfortable as circumstances would admit and we awaited the hour of meeting with much impatience, which took place at 7 o’clock last evening in the Empress’s pavillion of Roses every thing was superb and succeeded to a miracle the Emperor danced without ceasing till two o’clock this morning and we got back to our house I not a little rejoiced that it was over. Now I must entreat you if I have committed an error in going to pardon me as I really believed I was doing Mr. Harris my Servants tell me has been here twice and expressed much dissatisfaction at my having gone. You told me before you went away that I must attend all such invitations and I again repeat I thought I was doing right.
A circumstance occurred on our return home which placed us all in considerable danger and I am much indebted to Lord Walpole, and more particularly to General Moriss, for their very kind attention His Lordship having escaped himself, was so good as to return to seek me, I assure you our peril was great for some time and we were very near being crushed to death by the prodigious press of Carriages, and Horses, which for the first time since our residence in Russia, it was utterly impossible for the Police to regulate we only saved ourselves by leaping out of the Ligne at the risk of our lives and getting over fences and ditches untill we could get clear of the road.
I will answer your numbers 17 and 18 which I received together on Saturday last more fully the next Post at present I will only send you the extract from the German paper which you request, State of exchange 24 July
London11 7/811 5/8Ducats 11.65. New 11 50 Old.Amsterdam10.9 7/8Agio of Silver 2 R. 94 1/2 Kop.Hamburg9 1/169Paris105I will make the enquiries you desire and write you the next Post I mentiond in my last that the Obligations were paid in Silver Agio 2R. 96 and I have recieved the Sum which you yourself marked as the Silver sells only at 3.96 and it passes current for four I thought it better to use in payments. God Bless you:
L C A.Charles is still unwell he grows so fast he outgrows his strength. do not be uneasy however I hope it will pass over you see I have filled my paper


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 9 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 25.
My Dear Wife.
Ghent 9. August 1814.

The Saloon, which we visited in company with the Mayor of the City, the day after the Ceremonies at the distribution of the prizes, is an exhibition of Pictures, Sculpture, and Designs of Architecture, much like that which takes place about this time every year at the Academy of Arts at St: Petersburg. But it shews a much higher state of perfection in the Cultivation of the Arts—The Paintings are of far superior Execution; and taken altogether, are superior even to those which I have seen heretofore at the exhibition at Somerset house in London—You manifestly perceive here a remnant of the excellencies of the Flemish School—There are a large number of charming landscapes—Several Flower and Fruit-Pieces, worthy of the best times, an excellent Water-Piece, and a number of Portraits, if not equal to those of Van Dyke, at least not inferior to any thing that French or English Painters of the present age can produce—There is one large picture of Augustus pardoning Cinna, from Corneille’s play, remarkable only for its size—A Crucifixion considered by the Connoisseurs as the finest picture at the Saloon, but not so to my taste—A Venus and Adonis, by the same Artist, and which suits me much better—There are many things which go to the making up of the Judgment of a Connoisseur in Painting, which from my ignorance of the Art, contribute nothing to mine—The management of light and shade, the breadth of colouring, the pyramidical grouping of figures, the science of fore-shortening, and a multitude of other things which contribute to the difficulty of execution and of course to the merit of a Picture, are entirely lost upon me, untill they are pointed out by judges better skilled, and even then I do not always feel the force of them—Upon the Canvass I never look but for two things—Beauty for the eye, and Sentiment for the Soul. Resemblance is an object of some consequence for a Portrait, but is nothing in comparison to the expression of character—The Venus and Adonis pleases me because the figures are beautiful; and because the Passions of the parties are strongly marked both in the attitudes and in the Countenances—The expression of the Passions is precisely the thing in which almost all the Pictures at this Saloon are most defective—There was a premium offered by the Academy for the best Picture of the Sacrifice of Abel—There are five Paintings of it exhibited, not one of which is fit to be seen. The figure of Cain is a mere Caricature in them all—The Passions in the picture of the Crucifixion are overcharged—Nothing is easier than to paint a convulsed face and features distorted; but that is not the expression of the Passions—In general, there is at the Saloon very little appearance of original Genius; but there are many works of Artists formed in a good School, and copying from the model of great Masters.
Another public Institution that we have visited is the Tribunal Criminel or Court of Assizes. We attended the trial of a Man, charged with having written threatening anonymous Letters to extort money; the forms of proceeding were interesting to us as objects of comparison with those which we have been accustomed to in our own Country; but the detail of them would not be very amusing to you.—The most extraordinary Circumstance was that when we went to the Court, seats were assigned to us, and we were addressed in a written speech by the President of the Court—It did not appear that any answer was expected from us; and the address itself having been perfectly unexpected, we had no answer prepared for it, and made none.—The President’s Speech was courteous and complimentary in the highest degree, and it was ordered to be entered upon the Records of the Court—You will please to observe that we are such consequential Personages here that we have already been put into the Newspapers, both for the attendance at the distribution of the prizes, and for the visit to the Tribunal—On this Occasion it is remarked in a Flemish Gazette, that Lord Castlereagh had stated that Mr Gallatin was yet in Paris, although he had been in this City a full Month.—If the English Newspapers take up this paragraph, My lord will perhaps suspect that Mr Gallatin himself sent it to the Press; but the fact is that neither he nor any of us know from whom it came.
The British Commissioners arrived here on Saturday Evening the 6th: instt: and yesterday we had our first Conference with them—Their manner is polite and conciliatory—Their professions both with regard to their Government and themselves, liberal, and highly pacific—But they have not changed the opinion which I have constantly had of the result—Of the prospects you may judge with more certainty from the Speech of the Speaker of the British House of Commons, than from the professions of the Commissioners. Last week the Session of Parliament closed—The Regent in his Speech said that he regretted the continuance of the War with the United States—That notwithstanding the unprovoked aggression upon their part, he was willing to make Peace on terms honourable to both Nations. But that in the meantime the War would be carried on with increased vigour—But the Speaker, undertook to dictate the terms in his Speech, and roundly declared that the House of Commons could never consent to terminate the War, but by the Establishment of the Maritime Rights of Great-Britain.—You will now, my Dearest Friend receive in the most exclusive Confidence whatever I shall write you on this subject—Say not a word of it to any human being, untill the result shall be publicly known—At present I do not think that the Negotiation will be of long continuance—At the same time I cannot yet speak on the subject with perfect certainty.
We also received yesterday Despatches and Letters from America—Immediately after the Restoration of Louis 18 in France, a French Vessel was despatched to the United States with Instructions to the French Minister there—This Vessel has just returned to France; she left New-York the 6th: of July, and brought our dispatches and Letters.
Can you conceive that the Secretary of State writes me in a Letter of 23. June, that Mr: Smith’s Commission, of Secretary to the Russian Mission, confirmed by the Senate, had been forwarded nearly two years ago, and that my Letter of 14. October last to Mr Monroe, conveyed the first intimation that it had never reached him?—This has relieved me from great anxiety, by the knowledge that he is duly commissioned, but it makes one almost as great, if he has left St: Petersburg to come to Holland, with a wish rather to retain the Situation in Russia—If he comes, I shall give him the option of going back with me, or of proceeding to America—As I have written to ask again to be recalled from the Russian Mission, we shall probably be there at all Events only untill the next Spring.
My only family Letter is from my Mother, dated 1. May. She says that my brother had had a very severe fit of sickness which confined him a month to his chamber. He was out again but still week.—George and John were at Quincy, on Vacation and both well—I give you word for word the conclusion of my Mother’s Letter.
“My best Love to Mrs: Adams whom I long to hear from, and my Grandson Charles.—George’s growth has been so rapid in the year past, that I believe he will not be more than an Inch or two taller: his voice is changing, and John will insist that he is 15 years old, and must have a Razor in another year—John is short and Stocky—full of Spirit, Animation and fire—both of them longing to have you return—so does your affectionate Mother.”
I will write you again if possible, by the next Post—In the meantime remaining with the tenderest affection to you, and paternal Love to Charles, unalterably your’sA


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 12 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Charles Francis

My Dear Son.
Ghent 12 August 1814.

Your Letter of 15 July, gives me much pleasure, as it always does to receive a Letter from you; and it would have given me still more, if it had been better written—Comparing it with your former Letters which I have on file, I find it not so well written as either of the others, although the first of them is dated nearly three months before. Your brother George learnt with much difficulty to write, and I was for some time afraid that he would never acquire a good hand; but the last Letter I have from him is written so well, that  I have no doubt he will write at last with ease and elegance—I hope you will take care at least not to lose what you have learnt, and that whenever you write to me you will remember how much I shall be delighted to receive your Letter well-written.
I dare say that Mr Fishwick did not give you more lessons to learn than was proper for you, and I hope you did not entirely lose the time of the Vacation—I am sorry for Dicky’s disappointment but I don’t understand what you mean by a red colour.
Tell your Mama that since I wrote her this morning, Mr Irving and Mr Creighton have arrived from Paris, and Mr Emlin from London—We have received a Passport for the John Adams, by which Mr Smith and his family can go in her to America, if they arrive at Amsterdam before she sails— I expect she will go about the 25th: of this Month.
You may also tell your Mama, that there is more news from America, about the War; some good and some bad—That a Brig of the United States called the Rattlesnake has been taken by an English Frigate—But that a seventy-four Gun Ship, called the Independence has been launched at Charlestown, and a Frigate called the Guerriere at Philadelphia—That an English Regiment has been defeated near Niagara, and lost 300 men killed and wounded and forty Prisoners—That Sir James Yeo has had a stroke of the Palsy, and resigned the command of the English fleet on Lake Ontario.
My Dear Charles, I suppose you will like much better a description of the Dutch boys and Girls, and their dresses than news about War in America— But I know you love your Country, and will be glad to have any thing to tell your Mama any thing that will give her pleasure.
I see in the English Newspapers that Miss Edgworth has been publishing some more early lessons— If you would like to read them, let me know, and I will see if I can get them for you—
I am, Dear Charles, your ever affectionate father
John Quincy Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 12 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 26.
My dearest friend.
Ghent 12. August 1814.

I wrote you some weeks ago that after the arrival of the British Commissioners, I should probably find it impracticable to write you either so frequently, or with so much prolixity as I had done and should continue to do untill that Event.—They are now here and the occasion has come on which I must plead for your Indulgence—For although I am well aware that the length of my Letters must often have been tedious to you, yet as I know you will have considered it as one of the tokens of my affection, you would still prefer to receive them with the four pages full, rather than have them shortened—Rest assured therefore that nothing but absolute necessity shall deprive you of a Letter by every Post, and that when reduced to the resource of abridging them, it shall be by no other cause than the pressure of public Duty—
Yesterday I received your Letters of 15 and 19 July; the first of them enclosing a Letter from Charles, in answer to mine from Amsterdam—As they both came again together I am apprehensive there is some place on the way from which the Letters are forwarded only once a Week—I am still anxious to learn the receipt by you of my first Letter from this place; because having sent that, and all the rest since then, addressed directly to St: Petersburg, and without any second cover, I could not be sure, where curiosity might be tempted to look under the Seal—They have assured me very positively at the Post-Office here that my Letters would go safe, but they do not themselves know, by what road, or through what particular Cities, they will be transmitted—And I now feel some additional concern for them, because on the 19th of July, you should already have received my first Letter from Ghent—It was despatched from hence the 26th: of June.
I touch first upon a point which seems to have affected your sensibility.—I hope you do not think that the good Spirits which Captain Bates ascribes to me arose from any forgetfulness or unconcern for you—That you are reconciling yourself to the inconveniences and troubles of a separation from me, cannot give me pain; on the contrary I hear it with pleasure; because present or absent the first wish of my heart is that you should enjoy life in cheerfulness and comfort—But I should deeply lament if the time should ever come that you would like to live absent from me—I certainly never shall like to live absent from you, but my health, as I have written you before, has certainly been improved by this Journey, and my Spirits have shared in the improvement of my health—Yet even when Captain Bates wrote, there was a load upon them, which it was unnecessary to display to him—That load is not now removed—far from it—I endeavour in vain to conceal it from others and even from you—It needs I truly assure you all the Consolations, and all the Resources that I can muster to keep me from sinking under it.
The capture of the Epervier, by the Peacock, was mentioned in my Letter to you, of 2 July—but it reached you sooner by the way of Gothenburg—The same Peacock has been within the last fortnight cruizing in the Irish Channel, has taken a number of vessels, and according to Accounts in the English Newspapers, had sunk a British Sloop of War, just about the time that the two British Frigates were obtaining the glorious Victory over the two Americans on the Serpentine River—The Courier gives a hint that John was surly at the exhibition of this victory on the Serpentine, and would not utter even a shout of exultation, when the Yankey Colours were struck—John has the wit to distinguish between a victory on the Serpentine, and a victory on the Ocean.
I now hope that Mr and Mrs: Smith have not found an opportunity of coming to Holland; for as he is regularly commissioned, there is no necessity for his return to America, untill the termination of the Mission itself—I still expect to return to St Petersburg before the Winter—Our affairs are approaching rapidly to a Crisis—We have had three Conferences with the British Commissioners; and another fortnight may very probably release us all.
You have doubtless concluded to quit Mr: Strugoffshikoff’s house; for which I certainly would not pay a Ruble more for Rent than we have paid hitherto—I am happy to find that my ideas so exactly coincide with your’s; as to the propriety of taking up a smaller establishment—Let it be as small as you can find convenient—I refer you particularly to my Letter of 22. July, which I hope you have before this received—If Mr: & Mrs: Smith remain with you, more room will be necessary, but it may be still much less than in that house.
We have this day all the Americans now here to dine with us—They are, Captain Angus, Mr Ecky, Connell, Howland, Myers, Moreton, and Russell—the last is your old acquaintance of London, and looks exactly as he did when I last saw him—He made many enquiries concerning you and all the family—Mr: Moreton is of Baltimore—Mr Myers, I believe of Norfolk; these Gentlemen have just come from Paris—We daily expect the arrival here again of Mr Emlin who after staying here two or three days, went to England. Our Colleague Mr Russell, and his Son have returned from Dunkirk—After having been with me the first on the spot, and having waited here six full weeks for the British Commissioners, he was unlucky in the choice of his time to make an excursion, and was absent from the first two Conferences; in which probably the whole issue of the negotiation was determined.
To-morrow the British Commissioners are to dine with us—Of their individual demeanour towards us we have no reason to complain.—They are all well-bred men, and even their official professions to us have been as smooth as the paws of a tyger—Lord Gambier is what Mr Harris would call a most amiable Man—He has a nephew with him, Mr Gambier, whom he presented to us, the day before Yesterday—Mr Goulburn’s Lady is with him, but we have not yet had the pleasure of seeing her—The day after their arrival Mr Baker called on Mr. Bayard, with whom he was acquainted, and after notifying the arrival of his principals, proposed from them, that we should meet them the next day at their lodgings—In return the offer was made them of meeting; at our house, or if they preferred it at a third place—They agreed to the third place, and we met in a Hall at the Hotel des Pays-Bas—We there agreed to hold the future Meetings alternately at each other’s Houses, and untill they should take their House, entirely at our’s—This was their proposal, to which we assented—Immediately after the first meeting we paid them a visit at their Lodgings, which they returned the second day succeeding—So you see how easy it is to arrange a point of Etiquette, when the parties are so disposed.
We have the satisfaction of living in perfect Harmony; the discontents of our domestic Arrangements are all with our Landlord; and none with one another—Even he gives us better satisfaction than he did—Mr Hughes and the private Secretaries all dine with us every day.—One of our troubles you must know, was that this house was haunted, and its ill-fame in this respect was so notorious, that the Servants and the children of our party were very seriously alarmed before, and when we first came in—The perturbed Spirits have all forsaken the House since we entered it, and we hope they are laid for ever.
I shall answer Charles’s Letter, by this or the next Post—At all Events give my love to him and believe in the unbounded affection of your husband.
A.


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

No 23
My Dear Friend
St. Petersburg August 15 1814

Your two last favours of the 19 and 22 of July were again deliver’d to me together at on Saturday last. I was delighted to hear you were so much pleased with your situation, owing to the amiability of your companions, but am very sorry that your absence is likely to be prolong’d; but as I have often said if Peace should really be the consequence, I should not repine at passing the whole of the ensuing winter alone.
We have here still a great talk of War but I know not if there is any foundation for it I have dined out the last two days and have hear’d of nothing else My neighbour was again honoured by a great visit yesterday and as you may suppose we are quite in alto She is very kind and attentive and is contributed much toward moderating my sorrow for the departure poor Kitty—
I am very much obliged to you about the Lace but when I wrote you I did not know that Congress would treat you so shabbily I therefore will only request you to purchase me one piece which I should like to have handsome as I wish to present it to Mrs. Krehmer in return for her great politeness. I think if Table Cloths are not high priced a dozen would not be too many as our stock is wearing fast I will thank you to get me a dozen or a dozen and half Pr. of Silk Stockings every thing here is at an immense price.—
It is impossible now to get Horses under 350 R. a Month and a Carriage 150 Mr. Harris has tried every where but is obliged to pay 500 for his equipage my Iswashic took my horses from me but I was so fortunate as to get the Horses at 250—This was one of my vexations Another is that I have been robbed by the Man that I wrote you I believed was honest & by Vasili and I have been tiezed to death with drunken Servants and still can hardly keep a sober one in my house
The poor Old Woman I took for a Cook has also caused me a great alarm she is very useful to me and a very good servant but she has had a Paralytic stroke and I live in continual apprehension of her going off suddenly Dr Galloway having announced that it is highly probable the next will prove fatal. should this letter be read, at the Post Office will prove highly amusing should it be read at the Post Office and nothing but the great alarm you betrayed in your last letter could have  me enter into such details.
I have been under the necessity of expending more for my toilet than usual on account of the fétes and I sent my Boys a watch a piece and this is what I alluded to when I said I fear’d you would be very angry if I offended you I am sorry for it. but I could not withstand the temptation and indulged myself with the gratification of presenting my Children a trifling souvenir.
Adieu my best beloved friend, it is said that the Husband of a young Lady of distinction has taken to himself another wife in Paris and sent her back her dot. with a desire that she may find another husband. do not follow this fashion and believe me ever your affectionate

L C Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 16 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 27.
My Beloved wife.
Ghent 16. August 1814

American News presses upon us with an interest still increasing, and which will soon be but too powerful. It is impossible that the Summer should pass over without bringing intelligence which will make our hearts ache; though I hope and trust that nothing will or can happen, that will break the Spirit of our Nation—We are but just now receiving the accounts of the arrival of the Reinforcements sent out in the Spring—Those of their Operations must soon follow—In Canada, we have done Nothing, while the superiority of force was unquestionably on our side! What are we to expect, when an overwhelming superiority will be on that of the Enemy?—We are catching at the Straws, of such trifles as the affairs of Sandy-Creek and Niagara, while the blow hangs over us, which we are told is to lay us prostrate at the mercy of our foe—God forbid! But either that, or a latent energy must be brought forth, of which we have as yet manifested no sign.
We had last Friday all the Americans in the City to dine with us—We sat down to table, twenty-two—The next Morning, Captain Angus, and Mr Connell left the town—The Captain returns to his ship, which is to sail on the 25th: instt.—Connell could not obtain passage in her; nor any other person but those expressly named, or charged with Dispatches.—The morning they went away, Captain Angus said to Mr Shaler, “well, I am going home, and what shall I say? the People will all be crowding about me for News—what shall I tell them”?—Says Shaler, tell them that the day before you left Ghent, you dined with the Commissioners, and all the Americans in the place; and that at this dinner, Mr A. gave for a Toast “Lawrence’s last Words.”—“Why, says Angus, do you think he meant any thing by it”?...“tell them the fact, says Shaler, and leave them to judge of that—”—It is true that Mr A. did give the Toast, but it is very strange that Shaler should have noticed and recollected it! If he had meant any thing, was it not much more probable that it would have been instantly felt by Captain Angus, himself a Naval Officer, than by a non-combatant Landsman?—Angus, did however finally suspect that Mr A, meant something—What is your opinion?
On Saturday the British Commissioners dined with us; that is to say, Lord Gambier & Dr: Adams—Mr Goulburn was unwell and sent an excuse—He met with the accident two days before of bursting a small blood-vessel, in the throat; and was advised to confine himself a day or two to the house; and to avoid speaking, as much as possible.
Lord Gambier was in Boston before the War of our Revolution; in the year 1770—He was then a boy, only twelve years old, and with his Uncle, who commanded there—He was also at New-York in 1778. during the War; and then commanded a Frigate.—He told me he had the happiness of being one of the Vice-Presidents of the English Bible-Society, and that they had been much gratified by a liberal act of the Bible Society in Boston—One of our Privateers had taken a parcel of Bibles, going out from the English Society to Halifax—The Boston Society, not succeeding in the attempt to purchase the Bibles and send them to their destination, made a collection, sufficient to pay for them, and sent the money to the Society in England—I told him I was a member of the Society in Boston, and we perfectly agreed that if all who call themselves Christians would read their Bibles attentively and practice on the precepts taught by them, honestly, there would be much less of Wars and fightings in the World than there is.
In the course of the Conversation at Table, there was some mention made of Jerome, and his beautiful wife—it was remarked by somebody that little Jerome was born in England— Mr Bayard very significantly asked Lord Gambier “how would your doctrine of allegiance apply in that case?—My lord laughed, and said, “we will not talk about that, now.”
I enquired of Dr: Adams, to what part of England his family belonged, but I could not find that we were consanguineous. He said they had belonged heretofore to Pembrokeshire in Wales; and had there possessed a considerable Estate, no part of which had however descended to the present Generation—That they had removed from thence some ages ago, and now or of late years had resided in the County of Essex.
On Sunday, we had two Gentlemen to dine with us; Relations of Mr Gallatin, who have come from Geneva, for the sake of seeing him—They are going to Amsterdam.
Mr Beasley has been ordered to quit London, and to reside at Brentford, a dirty Village, as he styles it, six Miles from the City—He is not to be permitted to go to London without a written application, for every time, and is to return always before Sunset. This is a measure professedly adopted in retaliation for a similar order given to Coll: Barclay, the British Agent for Prisoners at Washington—He is obliged to reside, and under the same Restrictions, at Bladensburg.
Mr Crawford has received his new Credentials, as Minister Plenipotentiary to Louis 18 king of France, and was to have his Audience to present them, last Sunday week; we have not heard from him since. Mr Todd remains at Paris, to be presented—Mr Gallatin proposes that Todd should return to America, in the John Adams, and his name is on her Passport—But the important object of being presented, may detain him at Paris untill it will be too late.
I have in a former Letter, mentioned to you a Mr: Meulemeester van Aken, and his family, from whom we have received many Civilities—Their’s is the only House in the City where we have been entertained—There, we have dined once and passed two Evenings; besides two others, at their Seat in the Country—Some of the Gentlemen have other acquaintances—I brought only one Letter, and that was merely a Letter of Credit.
The Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands has been nearly these three weeks at Bruxelles, where he declared himself Governor General of the Country, untill the Congress at Vienna shall finally decide to whom it is to belong.—His Proclamation at the same time gives them to understand that they will be united with Holland, and that he is to be their Sovereign—This is said to have given dissatisfaction to France; where the warlike Spirit appears not to have been extinguished—The Duke of Berri has been in England upon a mission surmised to be connected with this subject. A French Camp of 90000 men is announced to be assembling in Alsace—The English troops in Belgium are increasing in numbers, and are commanded by the hereditary Prince of Orange, who has been made an English General—There is much talk of War, but I believe it will all evaporate at the Congress.—The martial Spirit of the French army will be controuled by the pacific disposition of the Government, and the ambition of Austria will be curbed by the common interest and concurrence of the other Powers—England will yet Rule, as Lord of the Ascendant.
The ministerial English Papers still tell us we are not to have Peace—An Expedition said to be of 14000 Men is fitting out, to sail by the first of September, bound to America—Lord Hill has the command of it; and at a dinner last week, promised the Company that he would humble the Yankees, and reduce them immediately to submission.
The affair at Niagara was rather more important than had at first been stated.—The British force, by their own statement amounted to about 1500 regular troops; with Indians and Militia near as many—Their loss in killed, wounded and missing amount to more than 500— Our numbers were probably not much superior to their’s—They do not name the American commanding Officer, but their own account of the action bears unwilling testimony both to the skill of his dispositions, and to the valour of his troops.
With Love to Charles, I am ever faithfully yours
A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 18 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

N. 62.
Ghent 18 August 1814.

The John Adams is to sail from the Texel on the 25th: of this Month, and Mr Dallas, who is to be the bearer of our Dispatches to the Government is to leave this City on the 21st. I employ the last moments that will be left me previous to his departure, to perform they duty of writing to you, and of acknowledging the receipt of your favour of 1. May. It came by the return of the French ship which had been sent to America, on the occasion of the last Revolution in France.—We received by the same opportunity Instructions from our Government.
The British Commissioners appointed to meet us, arrived here on the 6th. instt:—we have had three conferences with them, and are already at a stand—None of the stubborn questions about impressment, orders in Council, Blockades, maritime wrongs and neutral Rights have come into discussion; other Grounds have been taken by the British Government, and we are to treat, if at all, not only for the privileges of Neutrality but for the rights of Peace.
Our worthy fellow-Citizens, who so devoutly, and with such profound fore-cast, celebrated by a religious festival in Boston the triumphs of Wellington; who illuminated the State-House in his Honour, and who with such rosy pudency lamented that they could not glorify him by name, have already had the opportunity of further reflection upon the consequences of those victories which they welcomed with such extacies of delight.—A large proportion of the Heroes at six-pence a day, who atchieved those mighty deeds, which these true Americans felt such an ardent longing to immortalize, were without being allowed even the furlough of a Month, transported direct from Bordeaux to America, there to atchieve other deeds of glory, and give the “moral and religious” admirers of their exploits, other opportunities for religious festivals; and new fires to illuminate the State House.
Long before this will reach you, the pious and clear-sighted celebrators of that memorable festival will have had evidence nearer home of the valour and martial accomplishments of Wellingtons troops—Several thousands of them have been spending the Summer in carrying fire and the sword into our own Country—Other thousands are now embarking to assist them in the same honourable purpose, and one of the great Man’s subordinate chieftains, whose deeds of high-emprize have already made him a Lord, last week at a festival (whether a religious one or not I have not been informed) promised his pot-companions “that he would humble the Yankees and bring the contest to a speedy and successful issue”—Even if this Mountain should bring forth a Mouse, the festive Gentlemen need not be discouraged—If the Lord should turn out a mere Braggart of the Burgoyne School, the Field-Marshal Duke himself is yet in reserve; as ready and as earnest to humble the Yankees as his subaltern—For among the motives for approving the bashful coyness of our sanctified Resolves is the consideration that this same magnanimous Irish hero, is one of the bitterest and most inveterate Enemies of the Yankees in all his Majesty’s dominions.
When Philip of Macedon was working by the united instruments of violence and corruption the destruction of the free Republics of Greece, he had friends and partizans in every City, who considered him as the mighty champion, of the Grecian Cause, and the World’s last hope against the universal Monarchy of the Persian Tyrant—Two or three of these Patriotic Citizens, in one of the Cities, made a bargain with an agent of Philip’s (some such character as Captain John Henry) to deliver up the City to him—They performed their part of the contract, merely from their horror at the idea of having their children taken for the Persian conscription—Philip took possession of the City; and the first thing he did was to hang his virtuous friends who had made him master of it—Philip’s friends too (though Demosthenes rudely called them by another name) looked up to him as the bulwark of their holy religion—He it was, who had punished the Phoceans for their impious ploughing up of the sacred fields—Philip’s gratitude however sometimes yielded to his sense of Justice, and when he had made the use of his instruments which suited his purpose, he hung them up for the edification of after ages, and to shew his discernment between genuine and spurious patriotism.
My last Letters from St: Petersburg are of 26 July. Mr Smith and his family were to embark the next Morning, I presume for Amsterdam or some other Port in Holland—It is doubtful whether they will arrive in time to go by the John Adams, or whether they will go in her even if they do arrive—For to my utter astonishment I received last week a Letter from the Secretary of State informing me that Mr Smith’s appointment as Secretary to the Russian Legation had been confirmed by the Senate more than two years ago, and that a Commission for him had then been transmitted—no such commission was ever received either by him or me—on the contrary we had reason to believe that his appointment had not been confirmed by the Senate—As he is regularly commissioned he may chuse to return to St. Petersburg, and I must leave it at his own option. My own expectation is to return thither, and probably before the Winter—It would seem that the calculation of the British Government is to break off the Negotiation at this place before the end of the present month, for Lord Hill is to sail upon his famous expedition on the first of September, and his departure is expressly said to have been delayed untill that time to wait the result of the Negotiations at Ghent.
I have written to the Secretary of State requesting to be recalled from the Russian Mission next Spring; if I can then get an opportunity to return to the United States; or to have letters of recall to be presented whenever I may be able to obtain a passage home. I most earnestly hope not to be detained in Russia beyond the next Summer.
The British Commissioners, are said to be personally men of moderate principles, and their deportment has hitherto been of a conciliatory character. Lord Gambier was in Boston in the year 1770, when his uncle commanded there. He was himself then a boy, but he recollects having seen my father at that time—Dr: Adams is an admiralty Lawyer—His family, he told me, some Generations ago, came from Pembrokeshire in Wales; but has for many years been settled in the County of Essex—I think we have neither Essex kindred, nor Welsh blood in our pedigree—His arms are a Red Cross—Ours I think are no other than the Stripes and Stars.
I beg you to present my duty to my dear and honoured father, and my love to my sons; and to believe me to be ever devotedly your’s
A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

N. 44.
My Dear Brother.
Ghent 19 August 1814.

I have now barely time to enclose you a Press-Copy of my last Letter; the original of which I sent to England, to be forwarded by the earliest opportunity from thence. It is of no inconsiderable importance to me, and I must request your particular attention to the enquiry, how you have disposed of the balance of $2528..26 due to me on your account ending 31. December 1810; and why you have taken no notice of that balance in any of your subsequent Accounts? I cannot divest myself of the apprehension that you are not aware of the balance that stands against you, and that you will be surprized on the re-examination of your own Statements to find it so large—Should it prove so, let me repeat the request of two things. First, a candid admission of the facts, and an exact statement of the balance; and secondly an undoubting reliance on my disposition to make not only every allowance which you can think due to you in equity, but every indulgence which your own situation and circumstances may require. Be assured that however the result may stand, you shall never experience from me any thing but the kindness of an affectionate brother.
By a Letter from my dear Mother, I learn that you had again been confined by a severe fit of sickness. I have cordially sympathized with you in this, as well as in your other afflictions: I had also a sickly Winter of it, myself, having suffered much with the rhumatism, and not a little afterwards with the Jaundice—My health has been greatly benefited by my Voyages and Journies to this place, but I look forward with no pleasing anticipations to the prospect of another Russian Winter.
I pray for the blessing of God upon you and yours—That a larger measure of health may be allotted to you, than you have in the latter years enjoyed, and that with health every other comfort, and every desirable blessing may be granted to you.
Your faithful and affectionate brother.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to William Steuben Smith, 20 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Smith, William Steuben

Dear Sir.
Ghent 20 August 1814.

I received on the 19th: of July, your favour of 10 June, which has hitherto remained unanswered because I concluded you would have left St. Petersburg before the answer could reach you
On the 8th: instt: I received a Letter from the Secretary of State, dated 22 June 1814 of which the following is an extract.
“On the Subject of your Secretary’s Salary, instructions would long since have been conveyed to you, had it been known that he was acting without a Commission, and that your doubts in relation to his compensation arose from that circumstance. His commission, as confirmed by the Senate was forwarded from this Department, nearly two years ago, and your Letter of the 14th: Octr. last conveyed the first intimation, received here, that it had never reached him. It was fortunate however, under this circumstance that you did not withhold his Salary, and it will be equally so, if the absence of his Commission, should not have induced his return to the United States, as it was his intention to do. Another copy of his Commission will be forwarded by some early opportunity.”
It thus appears that you have been and still are regularly commissioned as the Secretary to the ordinary Legation in Russia, and it remains for you to determine whether you will return thither, or proceed to the United States. A Letter from Mrs Adams, dated 26. July informs me that you were to embark the next day at Cronstadt, but she does not say for what place. I write you now, supposing you may have arrived at the Texel before the John Adams will have sailed. Her Passport contains a permission for you and your family to go in her. But if you prefer going back to St: Petersburg upon the prospect that I shall return thither it is at your option. I expect, myself to return, and may probably leave this City within a Month from this day (this I wish you to keep entirely to yourself.) I have again repeated my request to be recalled from the Russian Mission, next Spring, so that if you go back it will probably be to stay only until then. If you return to Russia, it will be necessary to go by Water, and it may be best for us all to take passage together. Such a passage, I suppose may be obtained at Antwerp.—If the John Adams shall have sailed before you arrive at the Texel, I would recommend it to you at all Events, to come here with your family. We can then consult together, what is further to be done. The passage home by the Neptune will still be practicable; and that will at all Events be a good opportunity for Martha.
Mr Dallas, who goes by the John Adams with our Dispatches, takes this Letter, and I shall request him if he should sail before your arrival at the Texel, to leave it with Mr Hoogland our Consular Agent, at the Helder; to be delivered to you when you do arrive, if your destination was to any other place, I shall expect to hear from you when you reach it. The most convenient, as well as the least expensive mode of travelling for you to come here will be by the Water conveyances; at least for the greatest part of the way.
With my affectionate regards to Mrs Smith, I remain, Dear Sir, your faithful friend.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 22 August 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No 25.
St. Petersburg 22 Augst. 1814

Your two last numbers 21 and 22 came together as usual on Saturday last. I could not help smiling at your idea of the Rose bud which though very pretty I have no sort of claim to Master Charles painted it and without my knowledge slipped it into the Letter to shew you what he could do Martha was his instructress and I had nothing to do with it at all.
I always doubted the fact of the Crown Prince being willing to resign his situation and I believe he is as little of a favorite here as in the Countries you mention it is said he has begun the War in Norway very successfully—
I cannot concieve what the english would be after what can their motive be for refusing to let the Vessel take Passengers? one would suppose it was to prevent the Ministers from going home it is not a bad idea for I wonder some of them have not found their patience exhausted If it is really their idea that Mr. Madison is to be deposed and impeached, are you wait the event at Ghent or are you to be taken care of there untill you can be sent home to share his fate?
Mr. & Mrs. Smith left this place on the 27th of July as I wrote you, they met with uncommon difficulty in procuring a passage and he at last sail’d in a Vessel bound to Hull, intending to take a passage at Elsineur. It appeared to me that he did not manage his business very well, and his passage to Holland will I fear prove very expensive: to Elsineur he was to pay 900 R. and find all his own provisions what would be the cost afterwards I cannot tell he seem’d to me to be much embarrass’d and requested me to make some advance which I positively declined excepting for Martha’s passage. I was so well aware of this before you went away it caused all the anxiety which I expressed for positive arrangements to stop any demands of the kind.
It is highly likely that you will find many mistakes in the dates and numbers of my Letters for keeping no Copies and List of their numbers I am apt to forget my two last Letters. I am perfectly ashamed of they are full of disagreeables I was both sick and cross when I wrote them I have been under the necessity of raising the price of my Horses I told the old Man to take them away but he came and told me I should have them for three Hundred and I thought you might be angry at my laying down my Carriage which would create so much conversation so I now wait for your orders as I am ready and willing to do it as soon as you please.
It is easy to  see by the gallantry of the termination of your no 21 that you are out of the reach of the petrifying air of Russia and on the confines of France I hail it as a good omen, and trust that when you return you will not be in danger of falling into the gloom from which you seem now to be happily relieved.
23d
I did not close my letter untill to day in the hope that I might hear from you again but I have been disappointed. We hear of Nothing but Revolutions you know better probably the truth on this subject than we can do but much is whispered. God Bless
L C A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 23 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 29.
My dearest Friend.
Ghent 23 August 1814

We had last Friday, after my letter of that day to you was closed, a conference with the British Commissioners at their request, which will probably be the last—Lord Castlereagh himself had arrived here the Night before, and left this place on his way to Bruxelles the day after—We did not see him; but at the Conference it is scarcely a figure of speech to say that we felt him—Our opponents were not only charged fourfold with obnoxious substance, they threw off even much of the suavity of form, which they had observed before—After they had opened upon us their new Battery from England, and answered some questions put on our part, I told them, and we all agreed on our side that our proceedings were now sufficiently matured, for us to be ready to receive from them a written Communication—They promised it to us without delay, and sent it the next Morning—We shall send our answer in a day or two, and I believe we shall need to wait no longer than for their reply—That may be sent us in an hour, or it may be delayed a week; the difference of which will depend upon its length or its Laconism—Every thing here has proceeded precisely as I had expected—It is not possible that we should be detained beyond the last of this Month, unless it be for the arrangement of our Papers—
Mr: Dallas and Mr Emlen left us the day before yesterday morning, for the Texel, to embark on the John Adams—That ship is to sail the day after to-morrow: I have not heard yet from Mr Smith, and know not even for what Port he embarked at Cronstadt—I wrote him a Letter by Mr Dallas, to be delivered by him if Mr Smith should arrive at the Texel before the John Adams sails; and to be left there, with the Consular agent, to be given him if he arrives there afterwards.—I am afraid he will be too late not only for that opportunity but for the Neptune.
Messrs: Bayard, Clay, and Gallatin expect to return this Autumn to America—But their project now is to order the Neptune round to Cherbourg, Brest or L’Orient; and to go there by Land to embark—They will thus have the opportunity of visiting Paris again. They suppose that by this arrangement they may yet sail as early as the first of October—But it is much more likely they will not get away before the first of November—Then an American Coast in December will be very disagreeable—Some of them will run a great risk of passing another Winter in Europe.
Messrs: Delprat and Todd, arrived here together on Saturday—Todd was to have gone in the John Adams; but on reaching this City he received a letter from his mother, urging him at all Events not to stay longer in Europe than Mr Gallatin—Todd’s argument is that in compliance with his Mother’s request, he must stay in Europe, as long as Mr Gallatin; so he has postponed his Voyage, until the departure of the Neptune, and talks of returning immediately to Paris—He has a very important motive to this step; for an oculist there has promised him, if he will put himself for a few weeks under his hands, he will make him look straight—He had also after all the misfortune to fail of being presented—Mr Crawford had an Audience, and delivered his Credentials last Tuesday—Todd was to have been presented at the same time; but the Introducteur des Ambassadeur forgot to send him notice in time; so that he was disappointed.
Coll: Milligan has just returned from an excursion of two days, with Mr Hughes to Antwerp—The Coll: is going upon a visit to his Relations in Scotland; with the intention however of returning wherever the Neptune may be in time to go by her—This place continues to be the thoroughfare of all the Americans in Europe—They come, and look at us, and are off, in such rapid succession, that sometimes I hear nothing of them until they are gone—Mr Jos. Russell departs this day for Paris—He desires me to remember him with his most particular respects, to you.
We are not confined exclusively to visitors from our Country. Last Friday, our old friend de Cabre came and spent the Evening with us. He is going as Secretary of the French Legation to Copenhagen, and came round by this City, twelve leagues out of his way, merely for the pleasure of seeing us, and especially his intimate friend Hughes. If besides that he came to reconnoitre, we know nothing of it—I put him one or two prying questions, but he was as ignorant as a simpleton—He knew Nothing—He had not long since a touch of the gout, but is, now in perfect health, and fatter than when we last saw him at Boston.—He also desired to be most respectfully remembered to you—He spoke to me with great attachment and Veneration for the Duke de Vicence, who you know is in retirement—St: Genêt he told me was in Holland—Rayneval is first Secretary of the Embassy in England. The new French Ambassador to Russia is the Count de Noailles—I suppose he will have arrived at St: Petersburg before you receive this Letter.
The Mayor called upon me as I was closing my last Letter to you, for the purpose of going with me to see the Public Library of the City—We had visited the Botanical Garden, in company with Mr and Madame Meulemeester, the day before—These Institutions and many other improvements and embellishments of the City have originated while the Country was in the Possession of France—The Botanical Garden is one of the best in Europe—The Library consisting chiefly of the spoils of many suppressed Religious Houses, has a few antient Manuscripts, but scarcely any modern books. Its most copious collections are in the classes of Theology and Jurisprudence. The Librarian who expected us all in a Body, was prepared to receive us with a Speech; but the other Gentlemen were all indisposed or engaged and I alone accompanied the Mayor—The worthy Librarian, though apparently a little disconcerted, at having but one person for his auditory, did not chuse however to lose his Speech, and I received it with suitable solemnity, and answered him by a discourse as umbrageous with laurels as his own had been with olive-branches. Yesterday the Mayor accompanied me, also alone, to visit a collection of antient medals, belonging to the Curate of the Church of St: Nicholas, named de Bast—It is very large, and curious. the number of his Medals amounts to nearly ten thousand; of which it was impossible in the course of two hours to take more than a cursory View. The Roman Medals and Coins were to me the most interesting and the most complete—The Curate is one of the most learned men of the Country, and has published several large works on subjects of Antiquity—But he has made himself obnoxious by taking an earnest and active part in the political troubles of the Country. He was deeply concerned in the insurrection of these Provinces against the Austrian Government, which immediately  preceded the French Revolution, and he gave me a medal, and two or three pieces of Coin struck at that time by the insurgents—He is at present engaged upon a work of researches into the history and character of the antient Celtic Language.
This day, we are all invited to dine with the Intendant—And the British Commissioners are likewise to be there—They have sent us an Invitation to dine with them next Saturday, which we have accepted; but I should be unwilling to pledge myself that it will not be superseded by the total rupture of the Negotiation, before that day. If not, it will be what Count Busche called Lauriston’s last official dinner at St: Petersburg, the Henker’s Mahlzeit.
There is news from New-York to the 18th: of July—In the affair at Niagara, where the British official Accounts pretend that their troops were repulsed by the prodigious superiority of our numbers, it appears that our numbers were in truth inferior to their’s—But it is lamentable that we had done nothing more important before their reinforcements were brought into the field—At least I will hope that the accounts which must soon come will not arrive untill we shall have finished here, and be gone.
Love to Charles—I hope you will have exchanged the Strugoffshikoff house for smaller and more comfortable apartments; and that you will see by this day two Months, your ever affectionate husband
A


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 25 August 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No: 26
My best beloved Friend
St. Petersburg August 25 1814

Mr. Harris was here last evening, and made me an offer of a House, which as times go is remarkably cheap, and I have thought it prudent to accept it upon condition that he will let us have it by the Month. the rent is 3500 Rubles it is the House in which Von Essen lived in the Place St Isaac. as I know not how you are going on, or at what time you expect to return, I have delayed taking any measures for procuring a House; but this offer appeared so eligible that I thought it would be imprudent to  neglect it, more especially as the price of every thing is encreasing beyond anything you can concieve. Wood is at present 14 R and they say in Town it will soon be 18 and everything else in proportion: and as the orders contained in your late Letters were very positive should you not return Mr Harris proposes to live in the House himself so that on the whole I thought it  was no great risk let what would happen For myself I had made up my mind to stay here untill your return and I do not propose to remove into Town untill the 1st. of October
I yesterday recieved a note from Mr Lewis stating that Lord Gambier had left England for Ghent and Mr H informed me that the Prince Regents speech was quite pacific I wish it may prove something more than a speech but our good friend suffers his hopes to run away with him. the very Debate which you mention he informed me “bore evident marks of a great change in the British Government in our favour” and he appear’d to be quite elated I cannot help laughing at the different effect produced by the same events upon him and our good friend L—— who viewed this debate in a very different light and could no where trace any thing like peace or friendship I confess I have no reliance upon the judgement of either the first is too often misled by the warmth of his feelings; and the other and the other has not feeling enough upon this subject, to enable him to have any judgement at all. all his hopes seem to be centred in one little point, and if the American Government should disappoint should Us, bewave of the event. nothing less than a Russian War.
If the good people at the Post Office would only let me have my letters when they arrive, I should be much indebted to them; though I suppose now it will make no difference, as you will be too much occupied to write me so often; indeed I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kind attention hitherto, as I have been fully conscious of the inconvenience with which it has been attended and should certainly think myself both ungrateful, and unjust, to ask as much after the meeting of the Commissioners. I shall now begin to expect you back very shortly as I suppose the business must soon be decided after the meeting We are to have no encrease of the Diplomatic Corps untill after the Emperors return at present he takes no notice of them whatever Mr. Nestlerode has the Portfeul untill his Majesty leaves Petersburg he is then to accompany him
Mr. Harris I suppose writes you all this information much more correctly than I can he is very intimate with the Count—.
Adieu my best Friend, may every blessing await you, is the earnest prayer of your affectionate Wife
L. C. Adams
P. S. I am happy to hear that the news from America looks so well and I hope it will still be better. I do not like the appearance on the Lakes, there seems to be a backwardness in our Commander there, that looks very suspicious—
I have just done reading the Life of Cicero, (dont laugh and there is a passage in it concerning the defence of Republic’s, that has struck me most forcibly, and is certainly the most applicable to the present state of our Country, of any thing I ever met with were the passage not too long I would transcribe it, but my paper is full and I have not time. I can only say this was a man to be adored.
Adieu once more the weather has been unusually cold, and my poor head is quite disorder’d according to custom


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 30 August 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson

N. 31.
My dear wife.
Ghent 30. August 1814.

Your Letter of the 2d. instt. addressed directly to me at the Hotel des Pays-Bas, came safely to hand on Saturday the 27th: It had therefore been 25 days on the road, and further confirmed the opinion that the Post is somewhere transmitted only once a week; and that the Post that starts on Saturdays is the one that goes through without being stopp’d—I should therefore from the commencement of the ensuing Month write you only once a week, if I had the prospect of remaining here; but we shall all have evacuated this place by the 15th.—We are in hourly expectation of receiving the reply of the British Plenipotentiaries to our Note in answer to theirs, and we already know that it will contain a refusal to continue the Negotiation. I have not yet ultimately fixed either the manner of my return to St: Petersburg, whether by Land or by Water, or if by Land the Road by which I shall travel—I wrote yesterday to Antwerp, enquiring if there is any vessel there bound to Cronstadt, and to sail between the 10th: and the 20th: in which I could take my passage—I cannot myself go sooner than the 10th—after the 20th. I should not like to go, and have to encounter again the Baltic and the Gulph of Finland in October.—If there should be no such opportunity, I shall as the Sailors say, take my land tacks on board, and trudge it through Germany—I have had no small temptation to go round by the way of Paris, which is only 36 hours distance from me; but I am not making the tour of Europe for my pleasure, nor to see the world, and what has Paris to shew that would compensate me for a detention of three days longer from my Queen of flowers? If I lengthen the journey upon my return, it will assuredly not be for amusement, or to gratify my personal curiosity.
You have at last informed me for what Port Mr Smith and his family embarked, and it has added much to my perplexity concerning them—I suppose he must have intended to go immediately from Hull over to the Texel, but he will be too late either for the John Adams or the Neptune—The former of these Vessels was ready to sail, and Mr Dallas was on board of her the 25th. but she was still wind-bound on the 27th. and there was no appearance of Mr Smith.—The Letter I had written him on the supposition that he might be there, Mr Dallas gave to the consular Agent Mr Hoogland—If there should be no opportunity of going from Hull to the Texel, I see no course for them but to go by Land to Harwich and come over to Helvoetsluys in the Packet; but they will not be in time for the Neptune—Messrs: Bayard, Clay and Gallatin will order her to Brest immediately after we shall receive the final answer from the British Mission—They expect she will be there, ready to receive them by the first of October, but I think it will be later—If Mr Smith misses the Neptune, I know not how they will get home, and if he determines to go back to St: Petersburg they must return, as they came, by Water.—There may be another chance for them to go to America by the Chauncey, which vessel we expect every day at Ostend or Antwerp—Her Cartel from the British Admiralty was sent to the Captain at Gothenburg, about the 20th: and she must have sailed from that place before this—But I think that sooner than go in her, they will prefer returning to Russia—I am almost as much concerned about Martha, as about them.
We are here making our respective domestic arrangements for our departure—The first Month of our contract for the house in which we live closes this day—As we shall pass only a few days of the second in Ghent, we have agreed with our Landlord to pay him at an advance price, but only for half the Month—Some of us will be gone probably within this day week—I calculate upon starting about the 10th: of September—You will of course on receiving this cease to address any more letters to me at this place, if you will not have already ceased on receiving my last Letters—If I conclude to return by Land, I expect to pass through Dresden, and may reach there about the time that a Letter from you in answer to this, may come so far.—You can either address the Letter to me “Poste restante, à Dresde,” or ask some of our friends at St. Petersburg, to enclose your Letter, under cover to one of their Correspondents there, to be delivered to me, on my arrival.
We dined last Saturday with the British Plenipotentiaries, and were entertained as courteously as was to be expected—There was no other company but ourselves—Mrs: Goulburn was the only Lady present, and was agreeable; or to speak more properly, very studious not to give offence—I thought her handsomer, than I had, the day we had dined at the Intendant’s.—There was a sufficient labour of attention to us, to shew that they all meant to be well-bred, but the success was not always equal to the effort—By some unaccountable singularity, all the little occasional asperities that have occurred in our intercourse with the other party have been between the Chevalier, and the Doctors Commons Lawyer—This personage, had pretensions to Wit, and wishes to pass himself off for a sayer of good things—The Chevalier, who is a sportsman, was speaking of a fowling piece on a new construction, price 50 Guineas, which was primed with one grain of fulminating powder—The Doctor thought that no fowling piece could be good for any-thing, that cost more than 5 Guineas—He hinted to the Chevalier that his 50 guinea musket was gimcrack—a philosophical whimsey, better for shooting a problem than a partridge—and he was as liberal of his sarcasms upon philosophy, as he could have been, if delivering a dissertation upon gun-boats and dry docks—The choice of the person, upon whom this blunderbuss of Law, discharged its volley of ridicule against philosophy, diverted us all, and you may judge how much it delighted our colleague of the Treasury—The Chevalier pronounces our name-sake to be a man of no breeding.
On Thursday, the Intendant and his family, the Mayor, and the Meulemeester family, are to dine with us; we have not invited the British party, because we expect that our intercourse with them, will cease, before that day—I am sorry for the circumstance, on account of Mrs Goulburn, to whom I should have been glad to shew civility. The Society will be mixed, the Intendant and the Mayor, with their connections being of the nobility, and the others only of the “haut commerce”—They form separate classes here, as well as in other parts of Europe; but we have settled it that we can with propriety invite them all together.
You cannot receive this Letter untill after the beginning of September Russian Style, before which you must have made your arrangements with respect to a house—I hope you have found a smaller, and less expensive place of abode than that of Strugoffshikoff, and particularly one more agreeable to yourself—I should still prefer Apartments by the Month, having a strong hope that the next Winter will at all Events be our last in Russia.
Your purchase of a new Carriage has certainly given me no pain, but the Postscript of your last Letter mentioning that Charles was unwell, and not at school has caused me some uneasiness. You know how the state of his health affects me, when we are together—distance does not diminish my anxiety.—God grant that your next Letter may relieve my mind!
The English Newspapers are filled with the preparations for Lord Hill’s Expedition to America—Ten thousand Men had arrived at Halifax and in the St: Lawrence on the 1st: of August—There must be at least ten thousand more going out now.—In the mean time American Privateers are swarming in the Irish Channel, and the Captain of one of them last week sent a present of some New-York, Papers, with his Compliments to the Gentlemen of the reading Rooms at Bristol.
Adieu my dear Louisa—Love to Charles—May God prosper the righteous Cause!

A.


Title: From Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams to John Quincy Adams, 30 August 1814
From: Adams, Louisa Catherine Johnson
To: Adams, John Quincy

No. 27.
My best Friend
St Petersburg Augst. 30 1814

Your No 21 and 22 were recieved by me as usual last Saturday, or rather Sunday morning, as it was so late at night they could not send them to me. I was particularly anxious to have them as Mr. H had been to me with a load of bad news, stating that the Mission was broken up, and that all prospect of a Peace was entirely at an end &.. &ca. The fact is however ascertained that the Ministers had left England, and it is published in to days Gazette. the merchants of this place however who pretend to know every thing, announce that the instructions of these Gentlemen are such as must break up the thing immediately, as England is determined not to make Peace at all.
If this is true I shall at least have the satisfaction of soon seeing you and that will in some measure make up for the grief I must feel at your ill success I have never flatter’d myself with a hope but I believe the gain in this instance would have proved a loss so we had better fight it out—
The most interresting news we have here is the recall of Mr Speranski, who it appears is perfectly acquitted of all the charges alledged against him the death of General Armfeldt, has contributed much I understand towards his release, and relieved him of a bitter Enemy—so much for the ups and downs of this World, and we may surely say no one can tell what the morrow will bring forth—
Among the exhibitions displayed in England to gratify the Mob was a fight between  an English and American ship in which the first of course gained the advantage, this is a sport calculated to produce painful sensations as considering our means, the advantage has been largely on our side and John Bull dont readily forget a wound of this kind.
As to our Canada busines’s I am almost ashamed of hearing it spoken of; worse it cannot be, but when things come to such a state they must mend. as to our advantages they are almost too trifling to notice. I wish General Izard may succeed better than our former Commanders, who were certainly even before their appointments, more fit to superintend there farms than to lead Armies to Battle. but alas there are few Washingtons in the World, and I much fear that in our trials, we shall find many wanting in skill before we shall meet with one capable of carrying us through this arduous undertaking.
I informed you in my last that I had engaged a House Mr. Harris had taken the contract from Mr. Von Essen, who is going to England—as he intends going away as soon as you arrive he proposes that you should take it of him, which I agreed to provided you approved of it; should you not return this winter a much smaller house would answer for me, and I can get the one, which Mrs. Gisborne lived in last Winter, Mr Krehmer can let me have it untill the spring. all these rumours and reports keep me in a state of continual anxiety and I never know what I ought to do for the best your next will I hope state something decisive and I wait for it with great impatience I am extremely desirous of doing what would be most prudent and best but I have no one to advise  with and I cannot rely at all on my own judgement more especially as I have never before been obliged to rely on myself and have given too many proofs of my incapacity added to which in matters of expence and management their are few people in the World so exigeant as yourself—
Mr. H intimated to me that he should write only once more to you, as he did not think you would be there to recieve his letter. I shall continue untill you tell me not.
Charles is very well and once more growing fat God Bless and grant you spirits to bear the disagreeables that I fear you are exposed to most sincerely do I wish to see you and to assure you personally how much I am your affectionate Wife
L. C. A.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to William Steuben Smith, 1 September 1814
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Smith, William Steuben

Dear Sir.
Ghent 1. September 1814.

A Letter from Mrs: Adams, informs me that you sailed from Cronstadt, in an English vessel for Hull, on the 28th: of July—I hope therefore that this Letter will find you in England, if you should not be already on your way from thence to Holland—The John Adams in which I had obtained a passage for you and your family, sailed from the Texel Roads last Sunday, so that the chance of your going in her is lost—The Neptune is yet at Antwerp, but will probably soon be ordered away—I intreat you not to lose a moment of time, in coming here—If you lose the opportunity of going by the Neptune, I know not how you will be able to return to the United States—I wrote you a Letter by Mr Dallas, to be left with Mr Hoogland the Consular Agent at the Helder, and it is now in his hands, and will be delivered by him to you, if you arrive from Hull at the Texel—But if this Letter reaches you in England, your best way will be come if possible to Ostend, or if that is not possible, in the Packet to Helvoetsluys, and from thence to this place.—I cannot express the anxiety that I feel for you to be here before the departure of the Neptune. I wrote you that by a Letter I lately received from the Secretary of State I was informed that you were regularly commissioned as Secretary to the Legation in Russia—and that if you think it advisable you can return thither as such—But in that case you must go by Water, and in a very few weeks it will be too late—I may perhaps myself sail from Antwerp or some Port in Holland between the 10th: and 20th: of this Month, and unless you hasten hither, I may be gone—I am also very desirous that Martha may not lose the chance of her passage home.
In the hope of seeing you within ten days, I remain, with affectionate remembrance to Mrs Smith, / truly your’s
John Quincy Adams.


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

N. 32.
My dearest friend.
Ghent 2. September 1814

Do not impute it to me, if from one Post-day to another I tell you different stories about the time of my expected departure to return to you. When I last wrote you, we had been promised a reply from our adverse parties without delay—They had then been in possession of our Note, five days, as much time as we had taken to prepare and send it in to them—We had been amply warned that we should no longer have occasion to meet, or to discuss any thing, and that there was no occasion on their side, for any further reference to principals—On Wednesday came Mr Baker, requesting us to wait a very few days longer; for it had finally been settled, in consideration of the great importance of the affair, to send the reply to England for approbation, before transmitting it to us—This therefore fixes us here perhaps a week longer—And I was not without suspicion at first that it might be a continuation of the delaying system—But I yesterday paid a visit to the British Plenipotentiaries, which I intended for Mrs. Goulburn. I did not see her; nor either of the Ministers except her husband—He assured me that he expected the answer from England last Evening, or at latest next Sunday and he gave me every reason to believe that it would vary nothing from their former Communications—In that case the delay will only be until the return of their Messenger—To say the truth we ought to wish there may be no variation—Success is out of the question; and it is impossible that we should fail in a more advantageous manner, than as the matter now stands—And I have an inexpressible reluctance at being kept, to be turned off with the news upon which they are reckoning, from America
The day before yesterday I received a Letter from Mr Harris, which gave me great pleasure, and particularly as being dated 5. August, it informs me that he had seen you the Evening before at Ochta, and that you and Charles were well—This in some measure relieved me from the anxiety I had felt since the receipt of your last Letter, on his account—I hope before the end of the week to have a confirmation of the pleasing tidings, under your own hand. I was also much gratified by Mr: Harris’s account of the Peterhoff fête, at which he mentions that you was present. That at Pavlofsky he tells me was to be the next day, and expected to be still more brilliant—I wait for your account of both in your next Letter. These excursions and entertainments will, I flatter myself have a favourable effect upon your health and Spirits.
Mine continue to be good. They have been little disturbed with fêtes and entertainments here, of any kind; but we have lived together in a manner so social, with so much harmony among ourselves, and with so many civilities, and manifestations of civility good-wishes, from the People in whose abodes we have been cast, that it has taken something from the bitterness of the cup we are drinking, and which may not pass from us—We gave yesterday a dinner to the Intendant and his family; the Mayor, and his first deputy; and all the Meulemeester family, with some other Gentlemen we had met at that house—We sat down, at table, thirty persons, among whom were seven Ladies, all married—We had during dinner, and in the Evening a large band of music, in a room adjoining our dining Hall, and our Garden behind the house was illuminated with variegated coloured lamps—It was in truth a sumptuous entertainment, and our guests after spending the Evening with us, left us about Midnight, very well satisfied with the party—
The Intendant, the Comte D’Hane de Steenhuyse has a family of seven children—among whom is only one daughter—His Lady told me that she had had twenty-four; most of them by two and three at a time, but that only seven of the number had survived—She did not tell me, what I have heard from other quarters that she once had five at a time, and I did not think proper to ask her the question; though I have no reason to doubt the truth of the fact—
After our company was gone, we closed the Evening by a game...of what?...alas! of all-fours, between Mr Clay and myself...and for what do you think this genteel game was played between our Excellencies?—alas! for an old woman, ‘age’e de 69 ans’!...and what was the result of the game?...alas! it was that I lost and Mr Clay won the old woman; so that it is he and not I that must make the precious confession of having taken a Lady into keeping!—The case was this—Seven of the Pictures which had been presented at the late exhibition were afterwards sold by a Lottery—We were politely requested by way of patronizing the fine Arts to take a few of the tickets, and we accordingly each of us took four upon each lot—At the drawing, three of the Lots fell as prizes to our share—A Landscape to Mr Gallatin—a bunch of flowers to Mr Russell; and the Old Woman to me—Mr Bayard and Mr Clay drew nothing—It was but yesterday morning that I took her into my bed-chamber, and there she is with her spoon dipp’d into a sauce-pan of milk; but as soon as Mr Clay gets up, I must send her into his chamber with my Compliments; for he staked 200 francs against her, and the Old woman is his—five minutes after he had won her, he staked her against Mr Russell’s bunch of flowers, which Mr Todd had just won from him—But Mr Clay’s luck bears down every thing and he has got both the flowers and the Old woman—Mr Gallatin saved his Landscape only by retiring to his chamber ten minutes sooner than the rest of us—But it is good policy to cry out sour grapes! Mr Gallatin’s Landscape was the only picture worth keeping and on leaving this place I should not have know what to do with the Old Woman.
I have heard nothing from Mr Smith and his family since they sailed from Cronstadt. I have written to him again, and shall this day enclose my Letter under cover to Mr Beasley—The John Adams sailed from the Texel last Sunday. That chance is therefore lost—That by the Neptune will according to all appearance be lost within a week—They must have had a very tedious passage to Hull, for I cannot think he has neglected writing to me after his arrival there—It will even now be very difficult to get a passage back to St: Petersburg by Water; and in another Month, impossible. I have an answer from Antwerp informing me that there is no vessel there, bound to Russia—I wrote to Amsterdam, to make the same enquiries, but have not yet the answer to them—I should now find it difficult to embark there before the 20th: instt. and would not embark later—I think I shall conclude to return by Land.
Some weeks since, I received a Letter from Bruxelles, the writer of which stated that he had been my father’s Gardener at Quincy, within these two years; that he had left our two Sons George and John there; fine boys, and in good health; and intreating that I would take him into my service. Not finding it convenient to comply with his request I did not answer his Letter; but he has found his way here, and came to see me two days ago—The poor fellow had the address to perceive his strong point, and talked to me about George and John till he made my eyes glisten—He is in distress and complains that he cannot get employment—He was born in this Country, but has been a wanderer about the world; I suppose unsteady; and from his appearance addicted to habits of intemperance—He told me he had served lawyers Dexter and Otis, as well as my father—I told him he should not have come from America; where a Gardener could never want good employment—He said he was now convinced he had been wrong; and wished he could get back—and I can only wish I could help him.
Love to Charles; and unalterable affection to yourself.
A.