Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1831-02-14
Morning cool again. Went to the Office as usual and was occupied with my usual affairs a great part of the morning, so that I had little or no time to take up for reading. A visit from my new Tenant Mr. Gulliver took up a little, and I found him rather better humoured today. I also was busy in preparing the Papers for my application to be admitted as an Attorney to the Supreme Court.1 A necessary step in the ascending series of a Lawyer’s course. On the whole, Away went the morning as usual, and I was left to account for it as I might.
Afternoon busy with the second Oration of the Second Book against Verres in which I went on somewhat faster than heretofore. Though some passages were a little slighted. Evening quietly at home. Read to my Wife the remainder of Douglas, and two Acts of Sheridan’s Comedy of the Rivals. After which I pursued the Latin Grammar and my regular Numbers of the Tatler.
See below, vol. 4, entry for 2 March. To accompany the papers in support of his application, CFA wrote to Josiah Quincy Jr. under date of 14 Feb. asking him “to communicate to the Committee of the Bar my request to be considered as a Candidate for admission as an Attorney of the Supreme [Judicial] Court” (The Influence and History of the Boston Athenaeum from 1807 to 1907, Boston, 1907, extra-illustrated copy in MBAt, facing p. 50).