On 25 July 1810, when John Quincy Adams wrote this letter to his mother, he was living in St. Petersburg, where he was serving as the U. S. minister plenipotentiary to Russia. In this letter to Abigail Adams he criticizes the "Anglo-federalists." Adams's previous experiences, as well as his current diplomatic post, gave him great perception regarding political issues in the U. S. and in Europe.

John Quincy Adams dated the "really important period" of his life to the British attack on USS Chesapeake in 1807.  Then a senator from Massachusetts, Adams split with his Federalist colleagues and supported the Jeffersonian Embargo.  The Federalists accused Adams of "apostasy;" he replied that they had "deserted their country".  Adams was driven from office, but appointed minister to Russia by President Madison in 1809.