Browsing: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 2

Morning at the Office. Wrote a letter to my Mother1 which occupied me until one o’clock. Went to Medford with Mr. Brooks. Found Abby sick and complaining. And strange to say, found myself extremely unwell in the course of the afternoon. Conversation with Abby. Passed {p. 235} a very restless and disturbed night owing to a violent relaxation of my system.

Quite unwell this beautiful morning. The first true spring day we have had. I took a walk and gradually became better although I believe I am more weak than I had any idea of. Little occurred of interest. In the afternoon Chardon Brooks and Henry Dalton, a cousin of his,1 came and took tea. The family seemed to be quite unwell, all of them.

Returned to Boston with Mr. Brooks. The weather still very fine. George had not returned. Read Blackstone. Afternoon at my room upon Executive Record which I propose to be in earnest about this Summer. I find my own room very pleasant and have suffered less from melancholy since I have occupied it more. Novanglus and Massachusettensis. Took a walk to South Boston. And attended the Moot Court but there was no meeting. Evening at my room.

Called at Dr. Welsh’s agreeably to request and conversed some time with Miss Harriet. Then to the Office where I wrote a letter to my father although none had been received from him this week. One came from my Mother this morning full of John’s affair. This filled up the time usually devoted to law. In the afternoon I copied Ex. Record as usual and read some numbers of Novanglus and Masstts. Then a walk and evening, Voltaire’s Louis 14th.

Morning at the Office, Blackstone. George not returned although I received today a letter from my father mentioning his having started on Thursday last. Went to Medford with Mr. Brooks. Sat with Abby almost all day. Mr. and Mrs. Hall were there and disturbed us a little. It was one of my happy days. My spirits suffer under an extraordinary pressure and I cannot tell when it will be removed. But I enjoy many moments of extreme happiness notwithstanding and some of them today.