Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams. | Page 8

until he had received the necessary
instructions. While waiting for these, an engagement he had formed
during a former visit to England was fulfilled, by his marriage, on the
26th of July, 1797, with Louisa Catharine Johnson, the daughter of
Joshua Johnson, American consul at London; a lady highly qualified to
support and to ornament the various elevated stations he was destined
to fill. Mr. Adams was reluctant to accept the appointment to Berlin, as
it had been made by his father, who had succeeded Washington as
President of the United States. "I have submitted to take it," he
immediately wrote to his mother, "notwithstanding my former
declaration to you and my father, made a short time ago. I have broken
a resolution I had deliberately formed, and that I still think right; but I
never acted more reluctantly. The tenure by which I am for the future to
hold an office of such a nature will take from me the satisfaction I have
enjoyed, hitherto, in considering myself a public servant." To his father
he wrote: "I cannot, and ought not, to discuss with you the propriety of
the measure. I have undertaken the duty, and will discharge it to the
best of my ability, and will complain no further. But I most earnestly
entreat that whenever there shall be deemed no further occasion for a
minister at Berlin I may be recalled, and that no nomination of me to
any other public office whatever may ever again proceed from the
present chief magistrate." His continuance in a diplomatic career had
been repeatedly urged by President Washington. In August, 1795, he
wrote to John Adams, then Vice-President: "Your son must not think of
retiring from the walk he is now in (minister from the United States to
Holland). His prospects, if he pursues it, are fair; and I shall be much
mistaken if, in as short a time as can well be expected, he is not found
at the head of the diplomatic corps, let the government be administered
by whomsoever the people may choose." In a letter dated 20th February,
1797, addressed to Mr. Adams, just before his entrance on the
Presidency, Washington again wrote: "I have a strong hope that you
will not withhold merited promotion to Mr. John Quincy Adams

because he is your son. For, without intending to compliment the father
or the mother, or to censure any others, I give it as my decided opinion
that Mr. Adams is the most valuable public character we have abroad,
and that he will prove himself to be the ablest of all our diplomatic
corps. If he was now to be brought into that line, or into any other
public walk, I would not, on the principles which have regulated my
own conduct, disapprove the caution hinted at in the letter. But he is
already entered; the public, more and more, as he is known, are
appreciating his talents and worth; and his country would sustain a loss
if these are checked by over delicacy on your part."[4]
[4] Sparks' Life and Writings of Washington, XI., p. 56, and p. 188.
This letter, communicated to Mr. Adams by his mother, induced him
reluctantly to acquiesce in this appointment. In reply, he wrote: "I know
with what delight your truly maternal heart has received every
testimonial of Washington's favorable voice. It is among the most
precious gratifications of my life to reflect upon the pleasure which my
conduct has given to my parents. The terms, indeed, in which such a
character as Washington has repeatedly expressed himself concerning
me, have left me nothing to wish, if they did not alarm me by their very
strength. How much, my dear mother, is required of me, to support and
justify such a judgment as that which you have copied into your letter!"
Mr. and Mrs. Adams embarked from Gravesend, and landed at
Hamburg on the 26th of October, and reached Berlin early in
November. He was received, with gratifying expressions of regard for
the United States, by Count Finkenstein, the prime minister; but, owing
to the king's illness, an audience could not be granted. After his death
Mr. Adams was admitted to presentation and audience by his successor.
New credentials, which were required, did not arrive until July, 1798,
when Mr. Adams was fully accredited.
The absence of the king from Berlin prevented the renewal of the treaty,
which was not commenced until the ensuing autumn, nor completed, in
consequence of incidental delays, until the 11th of July, 1799, when it
was signed by all the king's ministers and Mr. Adams, and was
afterwards unanimously approved by the Senate of the United States.

The object of his mission being fulfilled, Mr. Adams immediately
wrote to his father that he should, at any