Adams Papers Digital Edition

Adams Family Correspondence, volume 5

Elbridge Gerry to Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams to John Adams
John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 20 May 1784 JQA JA John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 20 May 1784 Adams, John Quincy Adams, John
John Quincy Adams to John Adams
Hon'd Sir London May 20th. 1784

I have been looking out for lodgings, yesterday and this day, and have at length found a bed Room, in the House, where Mr. Smith1 lodges; and as he intends to go into the Country next week, I shall then take those Rooms which he now occupies. Captain Calohan, is expected every day, and it is very probable that within a fortnight, I shall hear from our Ladies.

I have not seen Mr. Stockdale2 yet, nor our books, as all my time has been taken up in looking after lodgings, but to morrow morning 330I shall go and see, in what state they are; Mr. Lawrence, is in the lodgings at present, but intends to sail, for America, in about a fort'night; he is chosen member of Congress for S.C. with Messrs. Jacob Read, Alex. Gillon, J. Bull, and C. Pinckney. The Delegates for N.Y. are Messrrs. A. M:Dougal, J. Lansing, Ephraim Paine, Walter Livingston and C. De Witt. This is all the News I could find in a Charlestown, Newspaper, of the 30th. of March.3

I shall go and hear the debates in the house of Commons in the beginning of the week, if (as I hope,) I find any body to introduce me. I went this morning to see Mr. Jackson4 but he was not within, when I called upon him; I saw Mr. Gorham this morning at the Coffee House, he intends, I believe, sailing soon, for America.

Your Dutiful Son. J. Q. Adams

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

JQA's cousin once removed William Smith, son of Isaac Smith Sr.

 2.

John Stockdale, London publisher and bookseller in Picadilly. In 1781 he had published JA's A Translation of the Memorial . . . into Common Sense and Intelligible English (Sabin 35987). Stockdale put up JA and JQA in Oct. 1783; forwarded letters to them after their departure for Holland in Jan. 1784; and published a pamphlet edition of JA's “Novanglus” letters in 1784 (vol. 4:30, note 1; JA, Diary and Autobiography , 3:149, note 3, 207, note 2, 313–314, note 6; JQA, Diary , 1:197, note 1; JA, Papers , 2:224).

 3.

Henry Laurens reached New York on 3 Aug. ( DAB ). For the election of South Carolina and New York congressmen, see Burnett, ed., Letters of Members , 7:lxxv–lxxvi, lxxi–lxxii.

 4.

Jonathan Jackson; see JQA to JA, 1 June, and note 2, below.