First lady, wife of John Quincy Adams. ALS signed 'L. C. Adams,' one page both sides, 5 x 8, December 16, 1823. Letter to an unknown correspondent. In part, 'The very deplorably distressed situation of the unfortunate Mrs. Moultrie was has excited the deepest feeling of sympathy for her dreadful situation and I am authorized by Mr. Adams to say that he will become security for her present debt...you will I trust immediately relieve her from her present calamity which is aggravated by the deathly sickness of her children who are in want even of common necessaries...L.C. Adams". The Moultrie affair created a small scandal for John Quincy Adams while he was Secretary of State. Mrs. Mary G. Moultrie had sought out Louisa Adams, begging for her help; the poor woman was in quite a state of distress, overwhelmed by debt and the ill health of her child. After Mrs. Adams visited Mrs. Moultrie's home and confirmed her terrible circumstances, she informed her husband about the situation. John Quincy Adams did an honorable and noble thing: he endorsed a 187.50 note for Mrs. Moultrie. However, his political enemies learned of the story, and maintained that Mrs. Moultrie was obviously of low character, and thus John Quincy Adams did not "give the note for nothing.' It later came out that John B. Colvin, a former member of the State Department that Adams had fired, began the rumor as revenge. In very good condition, with letter having been professionally silked all over to reinforce fold separations, scattered soiling and toning and several folds and repaired separations. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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