Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-11-22
Boston
The day opened in darkness and clouds. After breakfast it commenced raining and held on so pretty violently until night. We returned to Boston in the Carriage notwithstanding. I had several little things to do which consumed a portion of my Morning so that I did not reach the Office until late. When the time did come, I found a Note from Isaac H. Adams stating that his father had been thrown out of a Chaise and considerably hurt, therefore requesting I would see him and let the Carriage take him to Quincy. I went directly to Mr. Jas. H. Foster’s where he was, and found him pretty comfortable, and able to go at 12 o’clock. It is very astonishing that his Neck was not broken.1
Returned to the Office and was busy there in my Accounts, as on this day I was to pay the Taxes upon my Father’s Estate in Boston.2 Mr. Curtis called to have the Certificates of certain shares belonging to the Estate of Mr. Boylston transferred to Mr. Greenleaf, and Mr. J. A. Welsh called also to be paid his Share of the proceeds of the Appraisement of Mr. New’s Estate. I then went home to dress for the purpose of dining with Mr. A. H. Everett according to invitation. The party consisted of none but the family of Mr. Brooks and Mr. Everett, excepting that Mr. Brooks was himself prevented from coming by the rain. The dinner was dull, and gave me no satisfaction as I was not pleased with my part of it. I left to take tea with Mrs. Frothingham and ride home with my Wife. Milton’s eighth book and the Tatler.
The accident occurred on Hanover Street at Concert Hall when, on turning the corner, TBA’s hired horse and chaise, “one of your new fashioned high seated wasp shaped gimcracks,” struck the wheel of a wagon with such force that both shafts of the chaise were broken off, the chaise overturned and “shivered to atoms.” One of the wheels passed over TBA’s body in the thigh and hip area but no bones were broken. (JQA, Diary, 22 Nov.; JQA to JA2, 30 Nov., Adams Papers.)
Taxes for the year amounted to $112 (M/CFA/3).