Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1831-02-15
Morning at the Office as usual—After going to Market which made my time nearly eleven o’clock before I got there. Engaged in writing my Journal, with an occasional interruption from visitors. One upon the Affair with Robert New and the debt due to his Estate by one Byrd who asks time for payment. I told him to settle it with my Attorney. Then Mr. Conant from Weston with a little more money. And so wasted the morning.
At dinner, I received a summons from the parties in the case of Storer and Farmer which I had not heard of before. This is a shocking 423business to be made so public, but I do not now see how it can be avoided.1 My poor brother’s reputation must be mangled in a Court of Law, and that in a suit to which he had no kind of compulsion to belong. I did not get over it all the afternoon, but I still persevered in reading the Oration against Verres which I finished. It was to distract my attention.
Evening, at home, after in vain trying to get tickets for the Theatre.2 I read to my Wife the rest of the Rivals. After which as usual the Latin Grammar and the Tatler.
It had been almost a year since the litigation between Miles Farmer and Dr. David H. Storer in the court of Common Pleas, April term 1830, had been brought to CFA’s notice, and at that time he had thought a settlement reached; see above, entry for 27 April 1830. However, the parties did not reach agreement and the case was continued to the July term when judgment for the plaintiff was entered by default. Appeal was taken by the defendant to the November term of the Supreme Judicial Court, then carried over on technical grounds (
Farmer-Storer Trial
, p. 6–7). For an account of the issues, the public disclosure of which CFA found so painful, see vol. 2:403–404.
Richard III and a farce, The Irish Tutor, were scheduled for performance (Boston Daily Advertiser, 15 Feb., p. 3, col. 5).