Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-02-18
Morning mild and pleasant. Went to the Office as usual and to see Mr. Brooks who told me he had brought my Wife in with him so that I need not go out. His report of the condition of Mrs. B. is such that I think it likely she will not live many days longer. Returned to the Office and after finishing my usual Diary I sat down to read Plutarch’s Lives of Demosthenes and Cicero which I wish to set before me as constant studies. They are deeply interesting in themselves as exhibiting the greatest specimens on record of perfection in the highest powers of man.1 My morning was gone before I thought. Only one interruption. That not welcome. A man by the name of Haskell came to me to present a bill for lumber used in the House behind my Office.2 Mr. Hollis being the responsible man, I sent him off, but as this was one of poor George’s loose practices, I was obliged to pay it only calling Hollis pretty severely to account. I think I should benefit the Agency much if I could dismiss him.
Found Abby at home, but exceedingly dull and dispirited. I am sorry but cannot help it. She must now go through a hard trial, one of the first she has been subjected to. I called upon Dr. Stevenson to know his opinion—it is decided.3 I then for the rest of the afternoon read Demosthenes with usual interest. In the evening, resumed Clarissa Harlowe with my Wife, so long interrupted.4 After which I read part of Lord Kaimes.
166JQA, animated by CFA’s letters reporting his studies in the ancient orators, had recently returned to the reading of Cicero and found his old enthusiasm unabated. He sought to communicate his passion in a series of letters to CFA in the course of which he calls Cicero “the noblest spirit that ever lived in the Tide of Times” (22 Dec. 1829; 11, 17 Jan., 5 Feb. 1830, Adams Papers). CFA, deep in his studies of the Greeks and relying heavily on three articles in the Edinburgh Review (see above, entry for Jan. 29, note ), entered a strong defense of Demosthenes as the greater (CFA to JQA, 14 Feb., Adams Papers).
Perhaps Levi Haskell, who had a wood wharf at the foot of Poplar Street (
Boston Directory, 1830–1831).
Dr. J. Greely Stevenson had, along with Dr. Daniel Swan, been in regular attendance upon Mrs. Brooks since 25 January. Dr. John C. Warren had also been called in consultation on three occasions. Dr. Stevenson’s call on the 18th was the last. (Brooks, Farm Journal, 25 Jan.–18 Feb. passim.)
On 27 Jan., Clarissa Harlowe, which CFA had been reading aloud to ABA for three months, was put aside to be replaced on 31 Jan. by Sir Charles Grandison. The interruption can be explained if the copy of Clarissa they had been reading was the same copy which ABA sent to her mother at her mother’s request. After Mrs. Brooks’ condition worsened, Mr. Brooks and Charlotte Everett took the copy up and planned to read it through (Charlotte Everett to Edward Everett, 31 Jan., Everett MSS, MHi).