American Phoenix
Page 49
He also wrote editorials for the North American Review in the 1830s. As part of the antislavery movement, he served as editor and proprietor in the 1840s for the Boston Daily Whig. His most extensive literary accomplishment came through his role as editor for his family’s voluminous paper trail. Charles compiled, edited, and oversaw publication of multiple volumes, including: Letters of Mrs. Adams (1840), Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author (1850–1856), and Memoirs of John Quincy Adams, Comprising Portions of His Diary from 1795 to 1848 (1874–1877), a primary source for American Phoenix. Charles had many reasons to be proud of his family, particularly his father’s lengthy political and public service career.
Two years after his presidency ended, in 1831, John Quincy Adams was elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served for seventeen years. He is the only US president to also serve in the US Senate, in the House after his presidency, and to decline a nomination for the Supreme Court. Just as he had abhorred impressment, so he was also a strong advocate for abolishing slavery. He successfully argued the Amistad case, which freed Africans mistakenly thought to be slaves, before the US Supreme Court in 1841.
John Quincy Adams died on February 23, 1848, two days after suffering a stroke while passionately speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives at the US Capitol. He would have been eighty-one on his next birthday.
Faith fortified Louisa’s soul throughout her life. The woman who had wanted to die after the loss of her baby in 1812 overcame dark depression and a harrowing solo journey so that she could live life to the fullest, relying on her Maker to determine her final breath:
And when it is his will that I lay me down to sleep; that sleep, from which we wake no more in this world; may I die in my Savior Jesus Christ; in the full hope of those divine promises, which lead the purified Soul to heaven for evermore—L. C. Adams, 27th June 1836.
Louisa bid a final adieu in 1852, four years after her husband’s death. Her daughter-in-law Mary and her sister Kitty took care of her in her old age. In an unprecedented decision, Congress adjourned so members could pay their respects to the only American First Lady not born on US soil.
Acknowledgments
MANY THANKS TO THE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS book possible. I am grateful to Judith Graham and Anna Cook with the Massachusetts Historical Society and Caroline Keinath with the National Parks Service for your love of the Adams Family and your professionalism in aiding my research.
Many thanks to Margaret Dorman, Per-Egil Evensen, Jacqueline Nims Phelan, Ashley Profaizer, Scott Szenasi, and Jim E. Whiting for sharing your knowledge to help me better understand the world of historical costumes, Norway, fashion, diplomacy, St. Petersburg, and sailing ships.
I owe tremendous thanks to my favorite physician and OB-GYN, Dr. Glen Silas; the best pediatrician, Dr. Michael Martin; and expert OB nurse and friend Beth Felan for sharing your insights into the medical world and the health issues that may have plagued Louisa and the Adams family.
I am indebted to Jonathan Clements, my beloved agent and founder of Wheelhouse Literary Group, whose tenacity, perseverance, and dedication made this book a blessed reality. I also am grateful for the editing prowess of Victoria Hay and Cari Foulk. This book would not be possible without your direction, guidance, and suggestions. A special thanks belongs to Susan Hotard, my high school English and creative writing teacher. How special it is to keep in touch with the person who first identified my writing aptitude.
Thank you to Joel Miller at Thomas Nelson for his vision and love of history to make this book and so many other great books possible. Much gratitude to the big-picture vision of Kristen Parrish and the keen editorial eyes of Janene MacIvor and Dimples Kellogg, and the sharp cover design by Julie Allen.
Most of all I appreciate my loving husband, Dr. John Kim Cook, for his support of my work, and our sons, Austin and Zachary, who know more about John Quincy and Louisa Adams than any other six- and eight-year-old boys in America.
Notes
ABBREVIATIONS USED
DLA AFP MHS Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams Diary, Adams Family Papers, 1639–1889, microfilm edition, 608 reels (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1954–1959) Reel 264, 269
DJQA John Quincy Adams diary 27, 1 January 1803–4 August 1809, pages 404–410 [electronic ed.] and diary 28, 5 August 1809–31 July 1813, pages 412–413. The Diaries of John Quincy Adams: A Digital Collection. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2005. http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries
JQA and LA John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams, Adams Family Papers, 1639–1889, microfilm ed., 608 reels (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1954–1959) Jan–June 1810 Reel 409, July–Dec. 1810 Reel 410, Aug.–Sep. 1814 Reel 419, Oct.–Nov. 1814 Reel 420, Dec. 1814 Reel 421, Jan.–Mar. 1815 Reel 422
LOC Library of Congress
MJQA Memoirs of John Quincy Adams: Comprising Portions of His Diary, edited by Charles Francis Adams, II, Aug. 1809–July 1814; III, Aug. 1814–June 1817
“NRF” AFP MHS Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams “Narrative of a Journey from Russia to France, 1815,” Adams Family Papers, 1639–1889, microfilm edition, 608 reels (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1954–1959) Reel 268
WJQA Writings of John Quincy Adams, edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford, III, 1801–10;IV, 1811–13; and, 1814–16
AA Abigail Adams, mother of John Quincy Adams
JA John Adams, father of John Quincy Adams
TA Thomas Adams, brother of John Quincy Adams
CFA Charles Francis Adams, son of John Quincy and Louisa Adams
JM James Madison, president of the United States
SOS Secretary of state (first Robert Smith and then James Monroe starting April 1811)
AUTHOR’S NOTE: RECALLING THE ONES WHO WERE
Page
xi The phoenix riddle: “Phoenix riddle,” John Donne, Oxford English Dictionary.
xii It may perhaps at: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS, emphasis in original.
xii If you would not: Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1738.
CHAPTER 1: MURDER OUTSIDE
Page
4 Here I stopped to: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
5 an idle boy: Blanning, Pursuit of Glory, 35.
5 In about an hour: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
6 Mr. Adams too: DLA, July 21, 1810, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
6 I thought it my duty: Ibid.
6 I am this instant: LA to JQA, Feb. 12, 1815, Reel 422 AFP MHS.
7 I hope that you: Ibid.
7 great relaxation of: MJQA, Oct. 31, 1814, III, 62.
7 The tendency to dissipation: Ibid., Feb. 12, 1815, 154.
7 I am as ill guarded: Ibid.
7 The ambassador said: Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, I, 2.
8 the same house where I lodged: MJQA, Feb. 12, 1815, 155.
8 altogether in decay: Ibid.
9 Immediately after my dinner: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
9 I expressed my thanks: Ibid.
9 I, however, assumed: Ibid.
9 I told him very coolly: Ibid.
CHAPTER 2: THIEF INSIDE
Page
10 After informing: JQA to LA, Feb. 19, 1815, Reel 422 AFP MHS.
10 absorb the consideration: MJQA, Feb. 19, 1815, III, 157.
10 She has improved: Ibid.
10 applauded a little: Ibid.
11 I conceived I had nothing: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
11 He then informed: Ibid.
11 Baptiste, I believe: Ibid.
11 to baptize: Oxford English Dictionary.
12 Here for the: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
13 At the same time: Ibid.
13 I told him: Ibid.
13 I promised a: Ibid.
14 All this I: Ibid.
CHAPTER 3: LOST
Page
16 Finding me determined: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
17 I was likewise: Ib
id.
17 After riding about four: Ibid.
18 Until eleven o’clock at night: Ibid.
18 At twelve o’clock at night: Ibid.
CHAPTER 4: THE CROSSING
Page
19 The palpitation of my heart: “NRF,” Reel 268 AFP MHS.
19 Baptiste rode hastily up: Ibid.
19 offered his services: Ibid.
19 One of my men mounted: Ibid.
19 He [the officer] accepted a handsome: Ibid.
20 I therefore expressed: Ibid.
20 After thanking most devoutly the Almighty: Ibid.
20 [w]here I was presented: MJQA, Feb. 27, 1815, III, 163.
20 He asked me: Ibid.
20 He saw the resemblance: Ibid.
20 I was at that time: Ibid.
21 He had a very grateful: Ibid.
21 The British will take: JQA to LA, Jan. 3, 1815, Reel 422 AFP MHS.
21 Its darkest shade: Ibid.
21 My visit here [in Paris] has: JQA to LA, Feb. 19, 1815, Reel 422 AFP MHS.
21 But life here: Ibid.
CHAPTER 5: FIREWORKS
Page
27 “The Boston Patriotic Song”: Paine, LOC.
28 distilled spirits: US Census, 1810, Series of Tables of American Manufacturers (by county), 8.
28 A multitude of little: DJQA, June, Day, 1809, II7, 408.
29 After I came home: Ibid., July 3, 1809, 408.
29 left me with: Ibid., 409.
29 I found in it a paragraph: Ibid.
30 the most virulent: Ibid., July 5, 1809, 410.
30 sixty consuls: “Diplomatic and Consular Posts 1781–1997,” US State Department, Office of the Historian, http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/faq.html#consular.
30 the vague hope: Ibid.
31 While in the church: Ibid., July 4, 1809, 409.
31 So far as your public: WJQA, Ezekiel Bacon to JQA, June 29, 1809, III, 321n.
31 Though your friends: Ibid.
32 A mission to the court: Ibid.
32 The procession: DJQA, July 4, 1809, II7, 409.
32 But the application: Ibid.
32 pay a visit: Ibid.
32 We stayed there: Ibid.
33 Let fame to: LOC, http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.100010462/default.html.
33 This day the news arrived: DLA, July 4, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
34 I do not: Ibid.
35 parties were generally: Encyclopedia Britannica, s.v. “Federalist Party,” www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/203519/Federalist-Party.
35 President George Washington: Ibid.
35 I believe you will not: WJQA, JQA to LA, Mar. 9, 1809, III, 291.
36 expectation of that or any other: Ibid.
36 I had been so grossly deceived: DLA, July 4, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
36 I have determined to go: WJQA, JQA to William Eustis, July 16, 1809, III, 332.
36 The public service: MJQA, JQA to George and John Adams II, Aug. 21, 1809, II, 14.
37 I had passed the age: DLA, Aug. 4, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
38 They [the fireworks] were principally: DJQA, July 4, 1809, II7, 409.
38 No accidents of fire: Ibid.
CHAPTER 6: GOOD-BYE, BOSTON BIRCHES
Page
39 Every preparation was made: DLA, July 4, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
39 And even the disposal of my children: Ibid.
40 Judge Adams was commissioned: Ibid.
40 O it was too hard!: Ibid.
41 On the 4 of August: Ibid., Aug. 5, 1809.
41 Oh this agony of agonies!: Ibid., July 4, 1809.
41 And from that hour: Ibid.
42 A man can take care: Ibid., Aug. 5, 1809.
42 It is with a deep sense: DJQA, July 5, 1809, II7, 410.
42 my personal motives: Ibid.
42 welfare of the: Ibid.
43 the blessings of Almighty God: Ibid.
43 I also enquired of him: Ibid., July 9, 1809, 412. 57
43 [T]hey should go altogether: Ibid., July 6, 1809, 411.
44 Our voyage was very tedious: DLA, Aug. 5, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
44 I scarcely perceive: MJQA, Aug. 6, 1809, II, 4.
45 There is much time: Ibid., Aug. 31, 1809, 8.
45 amusement: Ibid., Aug. 14, 1809, 6.
45 agreeable companion: Ibid.
45 perhaps the most important: Ibid., Aug. 5, 1809, 4.
45 Broken hearted miserable: DLA, Aug. 5, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS, emphasis in original.
45 I had thought: Ibid., Jan. 26, 1811.
46 the dangers of war: MJQA, Aug. 6, 1809, II, 5.
46 frightful: DLA, Sept. 17, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
46 It was dusk: Ibid.
46 If it was to do again: Ibid., Aug. 5, 1809.
47 could not live: Ibid., Sept. 17, 1809.
CHAPTER 7: DANISH PREY
Page
48 All this time the boat: DLA, Sept. 17, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
48 The Chesapeake-Leopard: Encyclopedia of the War of 1812, s.v. “Chesapeake-Leopard Affair,” 96.
49 have been severe: WJQA, JQA to AA, April 20, 1808, II, 232.
49 I was sworn: WJQA, JQA to Skeleton Jones, April 17, 1809, II, 303.
50 to preserve from: Ibid., JQA to The Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, June 8, 1808, 237.
50 vindicate the rights essential: Ibid.
50 I have been obliged: Ibid., JQA to AA, April 20, 1808, 232.
50 the personal liberties: Ibid., JQA to The Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, June 8, 1808, 238.
50 I discharged: Ibid., JQA to Skeleton Jones, April 17, 1809, 303, emphasis in original.
50 It was not without: Ibid.
50 discarded me for: Ibid.
50 I was no representative: Ibid., emphasis in original.
50 Upon common theaters: Diary of John Adams, I, 12.
52 We had a quiet: DLA, Sept. 18, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
52 We were awakened: Ibid.
52 I suppose you: MJQA, Sept. 19, 1809, II, 20.
52 He said it was: DLA, Sept. 19, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
53 the troops of His Britannic Majesty: “American Statement,” Salem Gazette, April 25, 1775.
53 The boat soon returned: DLA, Sept. 19, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
54 We sent for a pilot: Ibid.
54 The captain became: Ibid.
55 I was perfectly indignant: Ibid.
55 The lieutenant, however: Ibid.
56 who the United States: Nagel, John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life, 113.
CHAPTER 8: THREE HUNDRED AMERICANS
Page
57 They found the: MJQA, Sept. 19, 1809, II, 21.
57 I went immediately: Ibid.
58 Mr. Isaacson, an agent: Ibid.
59 The sight of so: Ibid., Sept. 20, 1809, 23.
59 The desire of contributing: Ibid., 23–24.
59 They request my: WJQA, JQA to SOS, Sept. 23, 1809, III, 345.
59 We are ready to: Ibid.
60 when the sun crosses: MJQA, Sept 21, 1809, II, 24.
60 equinoctial gales: WJQA, JQA to SOS, Sept. 23, III, 344.
60 Mr. Isaacson: DLA, Sept. 19, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
60 Mr. Adams obliged: Ibid.
60 We saw four: Ibid.
61 In the midst: Ibid., Sept. 25, 1809.
61 And a lieutenant: Ibid.
61 who on examining: Ibid.
CHAPTER 9: CARICATURE VS. CHARACTER
Page
63 I have friends: WJQA, JQA to Skeleton Jones, April 17, 1809, III, 305.
64 For the instant: Ibid., July 27, 1824, Adams’s appendix to a republished article from JQA’s anonymous publication in the June 21, 1808, Boston Gazette, 225.
64 And the delay: Ibid.
64 best thing that: WJQA, Ezekiel Bacon to JQA, June 29, 1809, III, 321n.
65 The officer not: D
LA, Sept. 25, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
65 We were left under: Ibid.
66 thunder clap news: Ketcham, James Madison: A Biography, 495.
67 but if I had: MJQA, Sept. 25, 1809, II, 26.
67 And you say: Ibid., 27.
67 Yes, Sir. My wife: Ibid.
CHAPTER 10: ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
Page
69 We put down: DLA, Sept. 25, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
69 We had drifted: Ibid.
69 I was anxious: Ibid.
69 [A] boat from the: Ibid.
70 All the morning: Ibid.
70 lashed down the: Ibid.
70 We were between: Ibid.
70 pleasing and not improbable: WJQA, JQA to AA, Feb. 8, 1810, III, 393.
71 The light in: DLA, Sept. 25, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
71 To go through: Ibid.
71 long voyage: Ibid., Aug. 5, 1809.
72 The separation from: MJQA, Aug. 6, 1809, II, 5.
72 The age of my: Ibid., emphasis in original.
73 All the world’s a stage: William Shakespeare, As You Like It, act 2, scene 7, lines 147–50.96.
73 You should each: MJQA, JQA to George and John Adams II, Aug. 21, 1809, II, 9, emphasis in original.
73 some mechanical art: Ibid., 10.
73 As a great portion: Ibid., 9.
74 justice and fidelity: Ibid., 11.
74 The relations of: Ibid.
74 There are also: Ibid., 12.
74 every individual has: Ibid.
74 to the utmost of: Ibid.
74 Finally, let the: Ibid., 17.
75 to be, or: Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Act 3, scene 1, line 6399.
75 and immediately: MJQA, Sept. 27, 1809, II, 31.
75 Mr. Adams was prevailed: DLA, Sept. 28, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
75 as they were still: Ibid.
CHAPTER 11: BALTIC CIRCLE
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77 We all embarked: DLA, Oct. 2, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
78 For three days: MJQA, Oct. 9, 1809, II, 39.
78 Thus we went on: DLA, Oct. 16, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
78 The night was moderate: MJQA, Oct. 9, 1809, II, 39.
79 Dangers accumulated: DLA, Oct. 16, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.
79 The prospect of reaching: MJQA, Oct. 11,1809, II, 40.
80 in better hands: Ibid.
80 They were no imaginary: DLA, Oct. 16, 1809, Reel 269 AFP MHS.