Louisa Catherine Adams to John Quincy Adams, June 6, 1804

Washington June 6 th 1804

My Dearest friend

I send you enclosed a couple of Profiles one of which I wish you to
present to M rs: Adams if you think , Start deletion, they , End, it will prove acceptable I am told mine is a very
fine likeness and Caroline who likewise takes this opportunity of offering one to your
mother has I think been equally fortunate the other you can keep or give to M rs. Whitcomb if you do not want it they were taken by a M r. Todd. a Philadelphian and are very neatly finished— 1

Your last charming letter afforded me the sincerest
gratification 2 I wish when you send
your books back for the winter you would put up Madame de Sevigne’s letters it is so
long since I read them I am certain I should to reap both instruction and amusement in a
reperusal I am at present studying Miss Hamilton on Education I admire her more than any
author I have yet seen her system of Education is formed from the best writers on this
subject and by being simplified is render’d more easy to execute Lock & M rs Edgeworth are the two writers she most approves though she
frequently differs from their opinions 3 had I a daughter it is the only system I would wish to adopt but it requires a Mother of
a superior cast to be able to undertake it &. do it justice.—

Mama has recieved very flattering letters from Mess Thorp &
Maitland presenting her with a hundred Pounds and assuring her that the creditors of W.
J. M. would do something to render her situation , Start deletion, more , End, independant for the rest of her life M r. Maitland tells her the business was not arranged then but he had great hopes of
accomplishing it in a short time as a payment of the Interest was soon to be made which
would oblige the Creditors to meet &. he trusts he shall then be able to prevail on
them to settle it fir[st] 4 Ah my beloved
friend you , Start deletion, know not , End, have no idea of what a
consolation it is to us her Children to know that she may at least be removed from the
painful state of dependance to which she is now forced to submit &. that Hellen will
partly be relieved from a heavy burthen , Start deletion, from , End, which
he has supported with unexampled kindness—

The heat is excessive since the first of this month untill then the
weather was cold & uncomfortable with Thunder gusts every evening we have had both
Strawberries &. peas for some time though I understand they were unusually late this
year I presume your garden now begins to supply you &
if your Dairy supplies you with Cheese I should very much like to have a little of it
here it has been so scarce we have never been able to procure any since you left us

George is much delighted with his drum I intend to trouble your
mother with a commission in a short time but not immediately M rs. Whitcomb did not execute hers with exactitude Pray tell her I wish she would
write me the prices of the different articles she purchaced and to send me a White Veil
by the first opportunity— It will be better to give the enclosed paper to M rs. Whitcomb She will then know what I want— 5

Adieu my best friend it is so warm I can scarcely write and I fear
you will have some difficulty to read this letter I have no news M r. Custis is to be married the 7 th of next month to
a Miss Fitzchew Sister of M rs. Craig whom you met once or
twice last Winter 6 M r. Thornton le petit Chargé is gone to Baltimore he sails for
England in a couple of days &. M r. & M rs. Merry are to set off on their journey to the northward
some time next week 7 She called on me
last evening & complained much of the heat indeed she looked very ill M rs. M. expects to see you in Boston there are a number of
Savants , Start deletion, at , End, here one of whom is a D r. Fothergill from England and another a Baron Rumboul from
Prussia 8 I am not sure that this is the
mans name but Kitty who dined with them at M r. Maddissons
yesterday says it was so pronounced—

Remember me affectionately to your father mother &. Brother The
Children send you an hundred kisses with as many as you please from her whose greatest
happiness and glory it will ever be to subscribe herself
your sincerely devoted and affectionate wife

L C Adams

P.S. George is now standing at the door , Start deletion, & , End, crying because a Gentleman passed by whom he
took for you without noticing him