Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-12-27
Fine clear day. I went to the Office. Engaged in copying out my Accounts for the close of the year. Mr. Peabody called in and asked me to walk, we accordingly went round the new street which is opening from Broad to Purchase Street—A very great improvement indeed.1 The city is in the full tide of prosperity, but it’s progress seems now likely to be impeded by the embarrassments into which our currency is likely to be plunged. Thus it is, that man spoils his fairest blessings by his own wilfulness.
Afternoon, Mr. Price Greenleaf called and spent an hour. Read Bacon and Virgil. Evening, received a letter from my father No. 10 which informed me of his having sent his letter to the Speaker with No. 9 on the 21st. This has not come to hand.2 And it is now too late to send and return before the Legislature meets. My position is excessively embarrassing. I sent a letter notwithstanding.3 Corrected the Address.4
The new street around Fort Hill had a length of 2,000 feet, had been constructed at a cost of $11,320, and had involved the destruction or removal of a number of dwellings and shops but permitted the construction of two wharves (Columbian Centinel, 2 Jan. 1834, p. 2, col. 3).
JQA to CFA, 24 Dec. (Adams Papers). CFA’s concern over the missing letter and its enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth was of short duration. On the following day he received both (21 Dec. and enclosure, Adams Papers).
No letter from CFA of this date has been found.
JQA’s letter of the 24th set out in detail the corrections he wished made in the Address, making it possible for CFA to enter those changes in the draft he had received on 16 Dec. (see the note there).