Adams, John Quincy | A very good, sometimes revealing, fraternal correspondence

Property of a New York Collector

Adams, John Quincy

A nice group of autograph letters signed to his youngest brother, Thomas Boylston Adams, 1794–1801

Autograph letter signed ("John Q. Adams"), 2 pages (203 x 161 mm) on a bifolium (watermarked seated Liberty), Boston, 18 April 1794, integral autograph address leaf directed to Thomas at Philadelphia, reception docket. In a letter containing reflections on both family and public matters, Adams is most concerned with the seeming imminence of war: "War—seems to be now the danger that most imminently besets us. What will be the consequences, if we should get involved in it, is beyond the reach of calculation. The oppression which our commerce has suffered from privateers and privateering judges, is scarcely tolerable, and there is so much weakness, so much folly and so much wickedness in active exertion to foment every particle of our irritation, that it is hardly possible we should continue much longer at peace, if the War in Europe should not terminate." Adams also chides his brother for not writing more often and offers a revealing comment about matrimony: "I have made up my mind tolerably well to the life of a bachelor. There is so much slavery in marriage, even at its best Estate, that it cannot be satisfactory, to one whose existence is liberty.— I fear I should make an inattentive, if not a neglecting husband, and mean to avoid the sin by denying to myself the happiness of the State.—" Despite this declaration, John Quincy married 22-year-old Louisa Catherine Johnson, the daughter of the American consulate in London, three years later. The couple had four children and remained married until Adams's death in 1848. (The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, ed. Hogan, et al., 10:145–146.)

Autograph letter signed ("John Q. Adams"), 2 pages (254 x 205 mm) on a bifolium of wove paper (watermarked W Elgar | 1794), London, 6 April 1796, reception docket on verso of integral blank. Although writing from London, John Quincy was at this time the U.S. Minister to the Netherlands, principally occupied with overseeing payments on the debt arising from Dutch loans to America during the Revolutionary War. Thomas was acting as his secretary and was resident in the Hague. "I still remain in status quo, nor was my Patience every put to a severer test than by the lingering expectation which still detains me here.— … The enclosed letter to Messrs. Willink contains twenty-two coupons of interest, which I received some time since from America, with directions to forward them to Amsterdam. I have hitherto kept them with the intention of carrying them myself. They may as well go at once and be done with. The very sight of them seems to me almost a reproach of procrastination. It is not mine, however." The letter continues in a financial vein, "I have also to request that you would apply to our bankers for a bill in my favour of two hundred guineas. … I am authorised by the department of State, to draw my necessary supplies while here, from the Gentlemen at Amsterdam: so that I suppose they will not make any difficulty on that score." John Quincy closes by telling Thomas that while no recent letters have arrived from America, he is forwarding one from "your father" that he had forgotten to send earlier. (Not yet published in The Adams Papers.)

Autograph letter signed ("John Q. Adams"), one page (254 x 205 mm) on a bifolium of wove paper (watermarked W Elgar | 1794), London, 6 May 1796, integral autograph address leaf directed to Thomas at The Hague, reception and other dockets. A letter of introduction for "Mr. Marshall a gentleman from Virginia, who proposes to pass some time in Holland. You have already been acquainted heretofore with his Lady, by the name of Miss Morris.— Whatever services or attentions it may be in your power to shew him during his stay in Holland will ensure you the thanks of your affectionate brother." (Not yet published in The Adams Papers.)

Autograph letter signed ("A"), one page (233 x 193 mm) on a bifolium (watermarked Jan Kool), [The Hague?], 28 April 1801, integral autograph address leaf directed to Thomas at Philadelphia, reception and other dockets, including an endorsement by the American consul in Hamburg, Joseph Pitcairn; the letter is sealed with black wax, perhaps mourning his father's loss in the 1800 presidential election. Adams writes of his impending return to the United States in light of the incoming Jefferson administration: "I enclose my third letter upon the book concerning the States of France—I know not whether I shall have time to finish this examination and my project of furnishing you with frequent articles upon foreign politics and literature will of course cease by my recall which I have now received. As I suppose it was known to you some days after it took place, you will probably not write me again from the expectation of my return." That return, would be postponed because John Quincy's wife, Louisa, had given birth to their first child, George Washington Adams, just sixteen days earlier: "This will however unavoidably be delayed for some months—I cannot form a hope that my wife will be in a state to undertake a journey for six weeks to come—" (Not yet published in The Adams Papers.)

One page only of a pressed letterbook copy of an autographed letter signed ("A.") on tissue paper (237 x 197, irregular), n.p., n.d. [but probably Moscow, late 1811 or early 1812]. The letter mentions that his daughter had just cut her first teeth and that his son Charles still had a bit of a cold. Louisa Catherine Adams was born in Russia in 1811. Since infants usually start to teethe between four and six months of age, the letter most likely dates to late 1811 (Louisa Catherine was born 12 August 1811) or early 1812, when John Quincy was serving as minister to Russia. Just before the infant died on 15 September 1812, "the physician lanced her gums thinking that teething was causing the disease" (Nagel, The Adams Women, pp. 187–188).

Autograph address panel with franking signature ("J. Q. Adams"), on a slip of wove paper (82 x 130 mm, watermarked dove and olive branch) cut from an integral blank, directed to his nephew, "Lieut. Thomas B. Adams, Alleghany Arsenal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," with postal endorsement ("Quincy Mass | Free | Oct 19"), and reception docket ("Rec'd Oct 25th Friday 1833 | Ansd Nov 29th").

Together 6 items, various sizes. Occasional staining, spotting, or short marginal fold separations, letterbook copy a little tired with minor loss to ink erosion, but generally very good condition.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's New York, 21 June 2007 (undesignated consignor)