John Quincy Adams to Walter Hellen, April 28, 1802
Boston 28. April 1802.
Dear Sir.
I received last evening your favour of the 20 th: inst t: containing the distressing intelligence
of M r: Johnson’s decease; which I had indeed been in some
measure prepared to expect, by a letter from M rs: Johnson to
M rs: Adams, received a few days before— 1 I endeavoured to communicate the melancholy
event to my wife in a manner which might soften as much as possible the shock— The
agitation into which it threw her, was however so violent that she has been quite unwell
last night; and has not yet entirely recovered— She had flattered herself lately so much
with hopes, that the stroke was quite unexpected to her.— In addition to her distress at
her irreparable loss and that of her family, she was extremely concerned on account of
M rs: Hellen— Your letter of the 22 d: however, which I have just given her, has relieved her mind in a great
measure on this account, and given her as much joy as she was at this time susceptible
of receiving.— We both join in congratulating you upon this new accession to your
family, and hope soon to hear of M rs: Hellen’s perfect
recovery. 2
The situation in which M r: Johnson has
left his family is a subject of deep concern to our minds; and with you, I shall be
happy to make every exertion in my power for their comfort— Just before he left England,
he made a Will, in which he constituted you, his son Thomas (upon his coming of age) and
myself his Executors for his concerns in America— Of this Will, I have a copy in my
possession, and it is attested by my brother as one of the Witnesses— If there has been
no subsequent Will, I presume it will be necessary to prove that, in the Maryland Court
of Probate— 3 I likewise suppose that you
have a copy of the same Will, unless another has been made, and will take
such steps as will be necessary for the probate; and for making such dispositions with
regard to his property as may carry the Will as far as possible into effect— The State
of his affairs is much better known to you than to me, and at this distance, it will
perhaps be impossible for me to obtain such a knowledge of them as to enable me to act
much in the capacity of Executor— I shall however be ready cheerfully to join in any
measure which you may deem expedient for settling the Estate in the manner the most
beneficial possible to the interests of his family.
With regard to his demands against Mess rs: Wallace and Muir, I have heard nothing since I left Washington— I never had
an opportunity to go into a complete investigation of all the transactions, but as far
as I was acquainted with them, it appeared to me he had suffered such gross and flagrant
injustice, that a representation of it properly drawn up, and presented to the
legislature of his native State, was the properest expedient he could adopt, and the
best if not the only remedy remaining to him— The proceedings of the Chancellor in
particular are of such a nature, that a statement of his own decree—with his allegation
of motives, his hand-bill, and in short the whole course of his proceedings must I think
produce a salutary effect, presented to the impartial view of an honest legislative
Assembly, the common protectors of individual rights and of public Justice— 4 I suggested this idea to Governor Johnson, when
I had the happiness of seeing him at Frederick, and though he did not give a decisive
opinion upon the subject, it appeared to me that he did not disapprove it.
If the suit has not yet been decided, his Executors must no doubt
be now admitted to prosecute it, and for that purpose the probate of the Will must be
made as early as possible— I shall be happy to hear from you on this subject, and to
join in any possible effort to obtain that justice for his afflicted and distress’d
family which was so cruelly denied to him.
With great regard, and attachment, I remain, Dear Sir, your friend
and very humble Serv t: