25 July 1816
adams-john10 Neal Millikan
40

25. VII:15. Mrs. Adams went into London this Morning to ask Mr Smith to come out and spend some days with us. But he declined— He finds in the constant occupation of the Office a relief from his distress which he would miss, here— The way in which he heard of his father’s death, was by a Note from Mr Delafield, condoling with him upon his misfortune— He went immediately to Delafield, to enquire its meaning; and there found the Event announced in an American Newspaper— His father, Coll William Stephens Smith, died at Lebanon in the State of New-York on the 10th. of June last— His two brothers, Justus B and James had both died within three Months before— The Coll. was born in the State, then Colony of New-York; was during the War of the American Revolution Aid de Camp, first to General Sullivan and afterwards to General Washington. In 1785. when my father came to this Country as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, Coll. Smith was appointed the Secretary of the Legation; and here in the Summer of 1786. married my only sister.— They had four children—William Steuben, who was with me, Secretary to the legation at St Petersburg—John Adams, now Secretary to the Mission at this Court—Thomas Hollis, who died an infant; and Caroline Amelia, married about two years since to Mr De Wint of The Colonel’s life was checkered with good and evil-fortune, the latter of which greatly predominated— He had been however, a Member of the House of Representatives in the thirteenth Congress; from 1813 to 1815. He died at the age of sixty 41I employed the day in drawing the Journal of the Month of May, and the last Volume towards a close— Walked before dinner, the round through Brentford and Gunnersbury— At Kew Bridge I met the Carriage with Mrs Adams, and Lucy, returning home. In the Evening we could not walk-out, for the dampness of the ground and weather.— This morning W. Cook came to say that his daughter would not need any longer the attendance of a Doctor, of which we sent notice to Dr Cooke— Mrs Adams saw this day at the Office a number of Americans; among whom, were John A. Welsh, youngest son of Dr T. Welsh of Boston, Mr Gracie, who has come back from France, and is to return there immediately—Mr Snow of North Carolina, and a Mr Ellis of New-York.

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