The correspondence is to John Adams from Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams, 1 January 1823 to 20 January 1823. Louisa Adams was the daughter-in-law of John Adams and wife of his son, John Quincy Adams. Hers is a rather remarkable story. Among her other distinctions, she was the first and only, (before Melania Trump), wife of an American president to have been born overseas. In addition (from Wikipedia)
Her husband died at the United States Capitol in 1848. She remained in Washington until her death of a heart attack on May 15, 1852, at the age of 77. The day of her funeral was the first time both houses of the United States Congress adjourned in mourning for any woman.I know nothing about her other than from Wikipedia but from her correspondence to John Adams, she was a good writer and sharp observer.
An extract from this letter:
This was not so agreable as the last dinner—Mr King is not in good spirits this winter—He is labouring under the worst of feelings of discontent and mortification which having once siezed on a man’s mind render him fretful unsocial and unhappy—God grant that whatever is in store for me I may never embitter the remnant of my days by this sort of restless irritation which is calculated to prove a torment to ourselves without a shadow of benefit to any human being—Let me be satisfied with my own conduct and I defy slander and the foul kind.What an excellent thumbnail sketch. I recognize the poor soul immediately from her description. An angry neuroticism, seizing on imagined slights, quotidian infelicities, and minor disappointments to create a mountain of anger and melancholia, infecting those around them and spreading irritation and resentment abroad. It has not even the value of a pearl for the irritation it causes.
Some other sharp points from the rest of the letter:
I had some conversation with Baron Maltitz whom I found a very sensible well informed Man notwithstanding that he has passed for a fool ever since he has been here—upwards of a year.I hope I do not lose track of Louisa Adams. I can't imagine when I would have the time but I would certainly read more of her.
[snip]
In the evening a large Ball at Mrs Brown’s. She is certainly a pleasant cheerful good tempered woman. Pleased with herself and enjoying really the manifold blessings in her possession.
[snip]
As I sat between Mr Van Buren and Mr Calhoun I had the pleasure of participating in a charming conversation—These Gentlemen are both distinguished for Talents—The former is one of the leading men in New York active & enterprizing the latter intriguing and social—there was therefore much animated conversation in which I occasionally joined & time slipped away unnoticed.
[snip]
The young people went to the Capitol to hear Mr McIlvaine with whom they are not much pleased—He is a fine declaimer but persuasion does not hang on his lips.
[snip]
This Gentleman is said to be a Wit. He is facetious at least.
[snip]
How many things are brought to light by the infuriate rage of party spirit which would more be heard were not the passions of men excited by political intrigue.
[snip]
Mr A— [her husband, John Quincy Adams] told me a good anecdote. A Gentleman called at the Department and was shown into his room upon entering which he asked Mr A if he was Mr Adams he said he was Was he Secretary of State Yes he had that honor He took a Chair with his hat on and said he had come from Virginia and that he was determined not to leave the City without having seen him. Mr A made many inquiries concerning his farm the State of Virginia Agriculture generally and they continued to converse very sociably above an hour when the Gentleman took leave observing that he was perfectly satisfied—This was a man who was not to be gulled by the stories propagated about Mr A’s manners &c—which it has been so much the fashion to decry and he was resolved to judge for himself.
[snip]
The City will be crowded next week and the dissippation will be oppressive.
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