Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-02-06
Morning to the Office. Weather again severely cold, although I did not feel it nearly so much as before. My Wife received an amusing Letter from my Father,1 which I read. It is full of the Washington scandal, but sarcastic enough. I was very much prevented from attending to any thing in particular, by several visits I made. One to Mr. Brooks to inquire how Mrs. B. did, one to Edward Blake to know what the result of the meeting of the Committee was. I was very little interrupted however while at the Office, so that I had opportunity to finish the record of my Diary, which had been lagging behind.
In the afternoon, instead of reading Demosthenes, I was engaged in making preparation for some few remarks I had to submit at the Meeting in the Evening.2 My arrangements this day were short, for my only duty was that of attack of a proposition without submitting any thing for a substitute. But I pursued the course I always propose, that of methodizing my ideas in such a manner as to present a clear and definite statement of my grounds of argument, and not going at all out of the way. I accordingly attended and succeeded in submitting my propositions very distinctly. They brought on an animated discussion 156which lasted till quite late, and though myself considerably attacked, I had no opportunity to reply, a thing perhaps a little lucky for me, for I was perhaps a little too warm. We adjourned, and I returned home tolerably well content—My powers of speaking being undoubtedly improving.
31 Jan.; an answer to ABA’s letter of 13 Jan. (both in Adams Papers).
In its first three meetings in February, the Debating Society devoted itself to the subject of the militia. What the views were that CFA presented at these meetings is not known.