John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, March 15, 1804
Washington 15. March 1804.
My dear Mother.
A few days since, I received your kind favour of 25. ult o: and am greatly rejoyced at the restoration of your
health— 1 But I have delayed answering
it hitherto, because as the Session draws to a close, we find ourselves more driven for
want of time; in addition to which we have had the extraordinary business of trying an
impeachment, and I have been in trouble with illness in the family— 2 Both the children have severe colds with coughs,
which we hope and fear is the hooping cough, without having yet ascertained whether it
be so or not— I am also labouring myself with a very bad cold.—
I hope to see you at Quincy in about a month from this— I shall
then attend to the farm, below Penn’s Hill, and Briesler’s requests; in the mean time I
wish him to do as you think best— That, I am sure I shall approve.
The letter I received from Mess r: Willink was only to inform me, that one of the bonds remaining in their hands had become
payable, and that they had given credit for it— I propose to sell bills on them for
about 2000 dollars to bring with me, when I see you.
I have nothing satisfactory to tell you of the demands against
Bird, Savage and Bird— I have had the debt proved under the Bankruptcy of Robert Bird at
New-York, and by a letter I received last Evening from Bird and Savage in London, I find
M r: Williams had received the papers I sent him to prove
the debt there— Their letter is dated 8. Dec r: and they say,
a dividend would probably be declared the next month — I
presume however that dividend, will be nothing at-all.
On my way home, I shall stop at New-York, to see what can be done
there— But I am informed the chances there, are as desperate as in London. Robert Bird
as well as his associates in London, has written me imploring letters, to obtain my
signature to their certificates of discharge— I have not thought it
consistent with duty or propriety to comply. 3
I remain ever affectionately your Son.
John Q. Adams.