Adams Family Correspondence, volume 11

Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 6 December 1796 Johnson, Louisa Catherine Adams, John Quincy

Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams

London Decbr: 6th 1796

Agreable to my promise of the 29th of writing to my beloved friend once a week I now contrary to etiquette enter upon the pleasant occupation—

Surely you will acknowledge—when I tell you you are indebted to me four letters I have amply compensated for my former omission— I have vainly expected to hear from you but the winds are unfavorable in a word every thing seems to conspire— I will only say to teach me patience

There are I find two Mails due Oh may they prove auspicious to my wishes in bringing me letters—

I will not mention the subject which has caused our mutual uneasiness lest it give you pain— I have promised to exert fortitude and will endeavour to fulfill that promise reason tells me I shall at least acquire resignation if not happiness—

Never my beloved friend let my weakness lessen your affection for 437 me but write to me constantly and if possible teach my rebellious heart gently to acquiesce without murmering— Adieu think of me often and believe me with unalterable affection yours

Louisa C Johnson1

RC (Adams Papers).

LCA still had not heard from JQA by the following week. In a letter dated 13 Dec., she again complained about this lapse and apologized for her letter-writing abilities (Adams Papers).

Abigail Adams to John Adams, 7 December 1796 Adams, Abigail Adams, John

Abigail Adams to John Adams

Quincy December 7th 1796 “The Morning lours, the Dawns oer cast And heavily in clouds brings on the Day Big with the fate of Liberty, and Man”1

on the desicions of this Day, hangs perhaps the Destiny of America, and May those into whose hands the Sacred Deposit is committed be guided and directed by that Wisdom which is from above, and the result prove the prosperity Peace and happiness of our Country. this is My most fervent Wish & petition to Heaven, totally divested of every personal feeling and sentiment.

I have twice written to you previous to this Day Which compleats a fortnight since You left me, and in all which Time I have not heard a word from You. I hope tomorrows post will bring me a Letter. We have had one continued turn of cold and dry weather, untill last Evening when the wind blew a Gale from the Southard & brought on rain. to Day it is very Stormy with snow hail & rain.

I Sent on our sons Letters in My first Letter. I want to know who is meant by the Pennsilvana Speculator the Intimate Friend of Munroe.?2 Who was Secretary to the abolition Society in Philadelphia?3 be so good as to send me the Secretary answer to Adet as Soon as publishd, and every Pamphlet You meet with, worth communicating to your ever affectionate

A Adams—

RC (Adams Papers).

“The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, / And heavily in clouds brings on the day; / The great, the important day, big with the fate / Of Cato and of Rome” (Joseph Addison, Cato, Act I, scene i, lines 1–4).

Dr. Enoch Edwards (1751–1802), Benjamin Rush’s first medical student, was a Philadelphia physician. He served as a surgeon in the Revolutionary War and was an associate justice of the Penn. Court of Common Pleas. A 438 friend of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Edwards became acquainted with James Monroe while in France during the winter of 1795–1796. JQA alluded to Edwards’ speculative activities in his 13 Aug. 1796 letter to JA, referring to “a man particularly from Pennsylvania, a deep speculator in the french revolutionary funds, and a confidential friend of Mr: Monroe” (Jefferson, Papers, 25:672; Harry Ammon, James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity, N.Y., 1971, p. 134; Adams Papers).

Benjamin Kite, a Quaker schoolteacher, was the secretary of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery (Joseph C. Martindale, A History of the Townships of Byberry and Moreland, Phila., 1867, p. 60, 68; Philadelphia Gazette, 30 Dec.).