Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-01-15
A mild day with the Streets almost impassable by the melting. I read a little German and then to the Office. No interruptions. I wrote my Diary. Read an Article in the last number of the North American Review in answer to Mr. William Sullivan which is pretty thorough in it’s dressing,1 and began another attempt to write for the Papers on the present crisis. This took up my time. Mr. Beale from Quincy called in wishing for an answer from my father but I had none to give him. Took a walk, but found my Coat oppressive and the walking horrible. Did not read more than one hundred lines of the Fasti.
In the afternoon Mr. Dumas’ Letters. He appears to have been a poor Frenchman who for the sake of a living and occupation became a servant of the United States. He appears to have served them usefully too. It is amusing to watch his course with my Grandfather.2 Took tea alone with my little daughter Louisa who is becoming a treasure to me. Evening quietly at home. Read d’Israeli, and at eight went to Mrs. Frothingham’s—the Miss Dehons and some children. Very dull. I was glad to get home.
In an anonymously published pamphlet, Remarks on Article ... entitled “Origin and Character of the Old Parties,” Boston, 1834, the author, presumed to be William Sullivan, had replied to A. H. Everett’s article in the July 1834 issue of the
North Amer. Rev.
, which itself was a reply to Sullivan’s Familiar Letters on Public Characters and Events, 1783–1815, Boston, 1834. 56Everett in the Jan. 1835 issue had entered a rejoinder (
North Amer. Rev.
, 40:170–232).
On Charles William Frederic Dumas and his services to JA and to the American cause, see JA, Diary and Autobiography
, 2:457; 3:4, 9–10, 15, 25, 27, 29; 4:169–170, and index.