Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-05-03
The Morning was lovely and seemed to pay us for all the troublesome weather we had experienced. After reading a due portion of Demosthenes which I find easy, I went to the Office for a couple of hours. The time flew with the utmost rapidity so that I had hardly accomplished any thing by the time that it was necessary for me to go home for the purpose of starting for Quincy. Abby went with me and we had a delightful ride. We had the first true Spring day for enjoying the Country.
Found both my father and Mother pretty well though I think the latter1 in rather low Spirits considering the little one would think could trouble him. I talked with him and after dinner we walked out in the Garden and from thence to the Mount Wollaston Farm to look at the Orchard planted there.2 Found it in pretty good condition considering every thing.
Returned to Tea, and found Mr. Degrand there making his usual first visit. Returned to town so as to reach it by Evening. My Wife pretty well tired by her first excursion. Found Horatio Brooks just arrived from New York. Read Grimm and the Spectator as usual.
Thus in MS; “former” is clearly meant.
JQA’s journal entries for the period following his arrival at Quincy are almost wholly devoted to activities in his garden, orchards, &c., confirming his comment, “I return to my plantations with intense interest, and can take scarce any pleasure in any thing else.” Contributing to his absorption in outdoor pursuits, and undoubtedly to his low spirits, was the condition of his eyes which had prevented all reading for some days. Whether influenced or not by the melancholy state of things at Quincy, CFA and ABA during the course of the day revised their earlier decision to remain in Boston throughout the final months of ABA’s pregnancy and “promised to come and spend part of the Summer with us.” (JQA, Diary, 3 May).