Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1832-05-18
Morning cold. The change of wind has disposed of all our fine weather and given us in its place the easterly chill. Went to the Office. Passed my time in copying Catalogue and then to the Office where I read my father’s Report upon the Bank. It has his usual vigour and his usual severity.1 This is the reason why I think it disadvantageous to him to be placed in a public body. But in reading it as in reading all that is written by him one is carried away by the glow which he throws upon the subject. Washington has a heated Atmosphere unlike that of any other place in this Country. I do not think things are at all judged of in the same manner there that they are any where else.
300Took a walk with Mr. Peabody. Then home. Mr. Frothingham dined with me, and we had some of my new wine which I think very good. Afternoon passed in reading a little of Sismondi as well as prosecuting my Catalogue. I did not work to effect however, feeling somewhat drowsy from my vigil last night. Quiet evening. My Wife went over to see Mrs. P. C. Brooks who is unwell. I went with her, though sitting solus, while she was upstairs. Continued my Catalogue.
On 15 May the Daily National Intelligencer had devoted almost the whole issue (p. 1–3) to printing the text of JQA’s separate Report on the Bank. Next day he sent a copy to CFA (JQA to CFA, 16 May, Adams Papers). A MS of the Report in several hands with notes and corrections in JQA’s hand, dated 14 May and identified in CFA’s hand as the “printers copy,” is in the Adams Papers. On the wide distribution given to the issue of the Intelligencer containing the Report, see Bemis, JQA
, 2:254.
JQA’s Report was endorsed by John G. Watmough; these two in turn joined in signing the Counter-Report of the Minority prepared by George McDuffie which was presented on 11 May, was printed in the Daily National Intelligencer on 18 May (p. 2–3), and later appeared in pamphlet form along with the Report of the Majority.