John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, July 1, 1804

Quincy 1. July 1804.

My dearest Louisa.

On Thursday, I went into Boston, for the first time this month
past, and there received at once your two letters of 14 th: and 20 th: of June. 1 They alleviated in part, and only in part the
heavy anxiety which has weighed on my Spirits for the health of the dear child— I hope
the fine weather has return’d with you, so that you have been able to give him the
benefit of the air and exercise— I cannot avoid misgivings for you all as the trying Season approaches— God Grant you may all go through it without inconvenience
or illness.— For the last fortnight our weather here has been generally cold, and
great part of it rainy— But the preceding week at the very time when by your letters
it appears to have been the worst, we had only to complain of the heat, which was
excessive, and which occasioned some drought, while you were in such a drenching.

My lettered, and silent companion of the Office, whom I mentioned
to you in my last, soon after departed; and yesterday M rs: Foster and her two children left us, so that we are now reduced to the family alone—
But Susan is in vacation, and here— She grows tall and slender—And continues to make
rapid improvement at School— She already writes a very tolerable hand.

We have many reports in circulation from Europe, and you have
doubtless seen them in the newspapers, that Gen l: Smith’s
nephew’s brother (as M r: Breckenridge called him) is not
to be satisfied with the vapid denomination of first-Consul— But is soon to swell into
an Emperor— 2 Should this take effect
the recognition of Citizen Jerome’s marriage, will prove more difficult than ever—
However, I presume that it will thoroughly reconcile the Smith’s and the Nicholas’s
and the Patterson’s, and all the fifteenth Cousins, who felt so radiant at their
affinity to the wife of the first Consul’s brother—it will thoroughly reconcile them I
think to the disavowal of the Connection on the french
side of the water— 3 For stern
republicans as they are, however flattered they might be by kindred to a first-Consul,
they must hold in utter abhorrence all relationship to an Emperor—

After all there is a very rational ground of hope upon which they
may with some confidence rely— The rocket blazes just before its fall— In the
mutabilities of this world nothing is more probable than that the citizen Jerome will
at no very distant period be indebted for life and support, to this very despised
alliance— Richard Cromwell by changing his name and plunging into the deepest
obscurity, was suffered to live all his days, and attained a great age— 4 Jerome was no more born to wield Empires than
Richard— But both may be much wiser men than their towering relatives—

I delivered both your letters to M rs: Whitcomb— 5 The key and bill of lading
came safe to hand but the vessel has not yet arrived— M rs: Whitcomb will procure, and I will forward the Articles for which you write— They are
to leave our house to-morrow— He goes to Concert-Hall— I am not determined what to do
with the house, but think of selling it.— I shall duly attend to your request in a
late letter, and if possible with any convenience,
will make an addition to the house at the foot of Penn’s hill— D r: Phipps is building an house close in that neighbourhood, and on the other
side of the road. 6

Adieu, my dearest friend; I count as anxiously as you the moments
as they roll, with impatience, waiting for that which shall unite you once more to
your ever faithful and affectionate husband

John Q. Adams.

I enclose you a minute of the costs of the Articles sent you—as
you requested— 7