Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1827-10-15
I rode into town this morning after spending an hour with Abby, the recollection of which induced me to make the remarks upon the preceding page. I felt slightly melancholy as I was apprehensive that a trivial speech of mine had left an unpleasant effect upon her mind. She is in some respects a little childish. Time will certainly wear off some of this, but in the mean time I have a difficult part to play. Morning passed at the Office and in Court. The afternoon in study at the Office. In the evening I attended a Moot Court which is established here by a Society of Students at Law. Heard an argument, which was all on one side owing to the misunderstanding of the Parties. It was hardly a regular Meeting.1 They commence on Monday next. And I am Chief Justice as we commence in the order of our names. After this Richardson and I took Supper at the Exchange.
The informal moot court, to which CFA refers in this and subsequent entries, was “composed of all the young men who are students of law in the town. . . . The number belonging to it is . . . sixteen or eighteen out of whom some twelve are generally present at each meeting. Three act as Justices and take their turns alphabetically, while two others perform the duties of Counsel, who are taken in the inverted order of the letters” (CFA to JQA, 25 Dec. 1827, LbC, Adams Papers).