Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-01-05
Delicious day. I never knew in this climate, so extraordinary a week as the last, in this month. It is much more like May weather. I went to the Office. Engaged in Accounts, and paying innumerable demands that were pouring in upon me. I must stir myself or else demands will exceed the supply. Wrote up my Diary which the occupations of the week had thrown somewhat behind-hand.
At one o’clock, I had made an Engagement to return home, for the purpose of going with my Wife, Mrs. Frothingham, and P. C. Brooks Jr. in a Carriage to Medford. The road was exceedingly bad, the frost being quite touched even to it’s extreme depth. We found Mrs. Everett and Miss Lydia Phillips quite well. Mr. Brooks came in shortly afterwards.1 For myself I never care to go out in the Country during the Winter months. It looks so dreary and blank in them. But on the whole I enjoyed myself pretty well today. Returned home and took Tea quietly, after which I read Burns and wrote a little piece of a Skit.
Contrary to his general practice, ABA’s father, Peter C. Brooks, remained at Mystic Grove, his Medford estate (vol. 3:xviii, 10), through the winter season, 1832–1833, in company with his daughter Charlotte (Mrs. Edward 5Everett), who, expecting a child, did not accompany her husband to Washington for the Congressional session (vol. 3:6). After Mrs. Brooks’ death in 1830 one of the daughters of Mrs. John Phillips of Andover, Mrs. Brooks’ sister, was often in attendance to share in the household management. P. C. Brooks Jr., usually called Chardon, was the third of ABA’s brothers currently living in Boston (vol. 3:4). On the Brookses and Everetts mentioned here, see also Adams Genealogy.