John Quincy Adams to William Stephens Smith, January 18, 1802

Boston 18. January 1802.

Dear Sir.

Two months having elapsed since I made the proposal respecting the
note of hand due from your brother Justus to me, and being still without an answer from
him, I presume either that the proposal was not agreeable to him, or that some accident
has delayed or misdirected his answer, and prevented its coming to hand. 1

I have now settled once more in this town, and resumed the practice
of the law— But I have to maintain a family, necessarily expensive to a certain degree,
and I am burthened with the heavy charge of furnishing my house at a time when I am
without any income sufficient to meet it— I mention these circumstances solely for the
purpose of justifying the request that you yourself would pay that attention to this
debt which your sense of honour and of justice will dictate— When my late brother
Charles gave up the security upon which that very debt rested, I mean the mortgage, it
was, as he declared, not only for your accommodation, but
of essential benefit to you. I think therefore I may with some reason expect that you will provide at least for the punctual payment of the
interest— Indeed, if Col l: Smith will consider for a moment
his present situation and mine, the use which my money has
been of to him, and the manner in which it was obtained (I mean by Charles’s surrender
of the landed security) I am confident that the generosity which
forms so distinguished a trait of his character will induce him to discharge the debt
itself— The sum being now, a trivial object to him, though it has become a very serious
one to me.

If you conclude to pay the note and interest, or the interest
alone, please to let me have your answer, as soon as possible— As the convenience and
even the comfort of my family depend in a considerable degree upon it.

I am, Dear Sir, with great regard and attachment your friend and
very humble serv t:

P. S. The interest due on the note is now largely upon the third
year— The two years in arrear amount to 280 dollars— I will send you either a receipt
for that, or indorse over the note itself to you, according as shall be most agreeable
to yourself.