Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3

Monday. 28th.

Wednesday. 30th.

Tuesday. 29th. CFA

1829-09-29

Tuesday. 29th. CFA
Tuesday. 29th.

Morning rainy and unpleasant. I arose suffering very heavily from my cold. I do not know how or when I could have contracted it but it seems as severe as any I have had. At the Office engaged in reading Marshall, and in making out the accounts of my father’s Agency for the quarter. Mr. Child sent me a letter requesting the use of my late brother’s Uniform. I told him in reply, first in a letter and then verbally when he called to see me that I did not feel at liberty to let him have it in that manner,1 that I wished to part with it but felt it impossible to allow the value of it to be diminished constantly by these occasional uses. He allowed the reasoning and seemed puzzled to know what to do and so left me. Mr. Curtis called and left a letter from my father in which he complains of not hearing from his man to put up a fire place for him.2 This compelled me to go and find him after dinner which was not at all agreeable as I felt much more in a humour for remaining at home. My comfort was entirely destroyed during the day and evening although I felt all the luxury of a comfortable home. Mr. Child made me go to the Office at seven o’clock in order to come to a decisive arrangement about the Uniform. He concluded to take it and give me the appraised price which I thought very low. He paid me only a small part in hand and promised the remainder in ten days. I know what his promises are but I was foolish enough to give them up and do much more than was altogether suitable to my conscience.3

1.

Correspondence missing. On David Lee Child (1794–1874), who succeeded GWA as brigade-major of the City Guards ( Mass. Register, 1829, p. 107; 1830, p. 92), see vol. 2:152, 351, and DAB .

2.

JQA to CFA, 29 Sept. (Adams Papers). The reference is to the brother of Ward Litchfield, agent of the New 31England Soapstone Co., probably Allen Litchfield, mason, of 28 Myrtle Court ( Boston Directory, 1829–1830).

3.

Child purchased at this time only parts of the uniform (hence “them”). The price was $85. CFA to JQA, 26 Feb. 1830 (LbC, Adams Papers).