Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3

Wednesday 2d.

Friday 4th.

Thursday. 3d. CFA

1829-12-03

Thursday. 3d. CFA
Thursday. 3d.

My father left us this morning before daylight in the Providence Stage. I felt his departure more than I had expected. He has been so kind to me and I have been in the practice of such frequent communication with him this Summer as to make me feel as if one of my supports was leaving me. I hope his absence will not be for a long time. He promises to return in April, though I am afraid that circumstances will prevent him from coming quite so soon.

I went to the Office, obtained the Fenders which Mr. Brooks gave us, and made my regular deposits in the Bank, for the Quarter.1 It is now just three Months since I was married and on the whole I have had happiness uninterrupted, as mortals ever enjoy. And let me here as ever take occasion to be grateful to a benevolent Deity for the benefits and advantages enjoyed, and pray that I may never abuse them.

I was obliged to hurry myself and make the arrangements about my Father’s Horses. He left them upon my hands in such a manner 95as to compel me to act at once without hesitation. I therefore went down and employed Mr. Forbes my Stabler in all that was requisite to keep the Carriage in good order,2 and to send the Horses for the Winter to Weston. I think sufficiently well of the Tenants there to be willing to trust them. Thus went the Morning. In the afternoon, after returning from dining at Mrs. Frothingham’s where Abby and I had been invited, I sat down and studied some of Aeschines being resolved not to lose this fourth day of the week. I succeeded in making a translation, and as Abby was out, read until late, thus finishing the fifth of the pieces of Aeschylus, called the Choephorae. One of the most interesting of them all. I read La Harpe’s opinion of it which is favourable. But the French lean too much to Dramatic effect. Went for Abby at eight o’clock. The Night was severely cold.

1.

CFA deposited $300, the first of the regular quarterly payments from Peter C. Brooks they were to receive during his lifetime. This sum represented interest at 6 percent on $20,000 which Mr. Brooks kept on his books as an advance against ABA’s “portion.” While his sons received varying amounts of their inheritance as their business enterprises required, his three daughters, beyond the cost of their homes, received only the interest on sums which increased as Mr. Brooks’ wealth increased and as the sons required larger amounts of capital. In 1829 the Frothinghams were receiving $450 quarterly, the Everetts $500. These sums remained constant until 1833, when the payments to the Adamses went to $400, those to the Everetts to $750. From 1837 Adamses and Frothinghams also received $750 quarterly, the interest on $50,000. From 1840, the Everetts’ payments went to $1, 250 (Brooks, Waste Book).

2.

William Forbes’ stable was at Water and Devonshire streets ( Boston Directory, 1829–1830).