Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1832-07-07
Fine morning. I went to Boston and was occupied much as usual. There was a good deal of news of different kinds. Bad so far as it denoted the spreading of this disease, good so far as it is political. I finished my composition and being tired of it concluded to send it at once to Mr. Everett, without hammering over it any more. I am sensible of it’s imperfections. But to write a thing over three times is hard enough without wearing out the interest by perpetual correction.1 I wrote also a short letter to John my brother, according to my Mother’s request. It described to him merely the condition of his child and left it to him to decide what was fit to be done in the case.2 I called to see Dr. Reynolds but was unable to find him.3 Thus the whole morning passed very rapidly. I returned to Quincy at the usual time.
The weather suddenly changed at noon and became cold and cloudy, with an Easterly wind. I read part of Seneca’s book on Providence which attempts to justify the sufferings of good men. It will not do. Nothing but the belief of a future state will satisfy the mind in considering that question. I called in the evening at Mr. Miller’s, saw him and sat an hour.
On the subsequent history of CFA’s essay-review of Robert Vaughan’s Memorials of the Stuart Dynasty see below, entry for 25 Dec., note.
CFA to JA2, 7 July (Adams Papers). The import of the letter was that Mary Louisa’s condition was such that, despite JA2’s own poor health, it would be well for him to come to Quincy if only to relieve LCA, “who is an altered woman from watching and anxiety.”
Later in the day Dr. Reynolds did visit Quincy. After examining the patient he pronounced that Mary Louisa’s sight would not be impaired; he saw no early end, however, to the severe disorder (CFA to JA2, 9 July, Adams Papers).