Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4

Monday. 11th.

Wednesday. 13th.

Tuesday. 12th. CFA

1831-07-12

Tuesday. 12th. CFA
Tuesday. 12th.

The morning was clear and cool, though warmer than yesterday. I went to town as usual. On looking over the Newspaper I noticed the death of Mr. T. Welsh. I do not know when I have been more shocked. The notice came so suddenly and I had seen him within a few days in the enjoyment of such full health, that I could hardly believe it real. I sent to ascertain the nature of the case and found it was something like Apoplexy, which on the whole nobody could be surprised at. Yet such things come like a thunder clap from a clear sky, as if to warn us of another world. I decided to remain in town and attend the 88Funeral.1 My time was occupied in writing my Diary. Mr. S. Brown called about some Mercantile Marine Insurance Shares which I purchased at 24 per Cent advance. They are for my Father and T. B. Adams Jr.2 The advance looks large, but they have in addition to the ordinary profits of their business added fifty thousand dollars to their Capital, and they make regular semi-annual Dividends of five per Cent, which I think makes the Stock worth it. At any rate, it is a present investment and if my father should say a word in disapprobation of the price, I have had the shares put in my name so that I will advance their price and take them myself. I read today in the Bibliotheque d’un Homme public, a fancy called, La République des Philosophes ou Histoire des Ajaoiens, attributed to Fontenelle.3 An amusing chateau en Espagne.

Dined at Mrs. Frothingham’s quietly and comfortably, and sent a message out by them as they were about visiting the family at Quincy, not to be alarmed. At four I attended the Funeral. Found there a considerable number of persons, members of his immediate Circle and of the Bar, though but two blood relations. But a few months since I followed to the same spot his father. Thus it is that families vanish from the face of the earth. There are few men in Boston I shall miss more than this. Almost daily I saw him in his Office or in the Street and he had been more friendly to me than was customary with him to any body. I could not help feeling melancholy upon it. Returned to Quincy immediately and passed the remainder of the day and evening quietly. Mrs. and Miss Whitney called to see the Ladies. Read Grimm and the Spectator.

1.

Thomas Welsh Jr. had died on the day before (Boston Daily Advertiser, 12 July, p. 2, col. 3). On hearing of his death at CFA’s return, JQA recounted for himself the events of Welsh’s life in some detail (Diary, 12 July).

2.

CFA purchased three shares for JQA’s account and two for Thomas B. Adams Jr.’s at a price of $124 per share (M/CFA/3).

3.

The work appears in vol. 9.