Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 1
1824-06-29
Attended Prayers this Morning for the first time for some days, and recitation. After breakfast I drilled my squad for half an hour and taught them marching in double ranks. I then came home and wrote my Journal for a little while, but as I had two days to make up, I only finished one this Morning. I then went to recitation to Dr. Popkin after which I returned home and wrote some of the Lyceum Journal.1
At dinner I was surprised by a visit from my brother George who came out today in consequence of a note on Saturday which I left for him. I had some conversation with him on College matters and also on his difficulty with John which will I hope soon be amended. I did not dare however to communicate to him my opinions received by that letter concerning Mary as I think with John such a notice should come from higher authority than that where any misconstruction can be put even upon the best intention. He appears to solace himself with a belief which I hope is authorized but I cannot say I think so. I then spoke to him of his Oration which as he appears to be anxious, I believe I shall be compelled to hear. I would gladly go if these parts did not interfere but it appears to me to be a great sacrifice to give us this pleasure for so much stiffness as I shall meet here.2 I settled with him concerning the appropriation for the dress of the Commandant,3 deciding that I should be credited for that Dante4 until an order should be received to give me the money for this very purpose.
After a little more desultory conversation he left me in the stage for Boston and I went up to Otis’ to look over Trigonometry which we recited to Farrar as usual. After this I returned and wrote my Journal for yesterday which employed me until Prayers. I have been so ex-214ceedingly busy of late that I have not been able to look at Mitford, six remaining volumes of which, by the bye, were brought to me to be paid for much to my displeasure as I had calculated upon no such thing. My studies of all kinds appear to be given up for the present only to be resumed with as much vigour as possible in warm weather, as soon as the present Seniors have left College. My expenses are now running very full also which must also be corrected when they leave. Evening spent as usual. X.
No such journal has been found in the Harvard Archives or among CFA’s own papers.
Thus in MS, but the sense is defective; “us” doubtless should be “up,” and “here” is probably a mistake for “there” (i.e. in Quincy, where GWA was to speak).
The uniform of ordinary cadets was an amalgam of required college dress and West Point attire. Students were required to wear a dark gray Oxford mixed, single-breasted coat, with claw-hammer tails. Over this the cadets put white crossbelts and a waist belt. An officer wore the same coat, trimmed with gilt buttons and gold epaulettes, white trousers, black shako with fountain plumes, a scarlet sash, white sword belt, and a straight sword (Batchelder, Bits of Harvard History
, p. 68).
This allusion is utterly obscure. Though the term comes up again (see entry for 22 July 1825, below), it is not certain whether it refers to a book, is a slang expression, or what.