Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-06-05
Cloudy and very sultry. Committed some lines of Pope and then to the Office for a few moments but did not stay. I find the Atlas and Centinel are both out upon me and my attack upon Mr. Webster.1 The latter scolds like a fishwoman and argues a little. I had not time to spare upon them today but hurried home and from thence to start for Quincy in my Gig with Louisa. My Mother has been desirous to have her there to pass the day and I have complied though disliking extremely the hazard of a Gig with children.
We arrived shortly after eleven and I passed the time in conversation with my father and mother. He was exceedingly kind to me as upon such occasions he usually is. Discussed the substance of my Political Speculation and notified me of a valuable present of coins and medals he destined for me.2 This is a present of high value to me as some of the pieces are reminiscences of the public services of my parents. No other family in the Country possesses any thing like the same advantages in this respect. He seems gratified with my political course. 152If it was not that I was under the perpetual stimulus of my family pride I would never mix in the heated waters of political affairs.
I came home in fear of a thunder shower. Louisa slept the whole distance. Arrived at home I felt weary, and retired tolerably early.
In their issues of 5 June both the Daily Atlas and the Columbian Centinel carried strong editorials taking issue with CFA’s No. 7, published on the 4th, which was CFA’s most direct attack upon Webster to appear thus far. Both quoted at length from the offending piece; both denied that the writer was a Whig and objected to the misuse of the name. The Atlas identified the author of the series as “a Tory writer” (p. 2, col. 1), while the Centinel made its comment under the banner, “Political Antimasonry identified with Jackson-Van Burenism” (p. 2, cols. 1–2). JQA took note of the response CFA had elicited, recording that “
“I told him I wished to give him my collection of Medals and coins, and that he should undertake to arrange them and have them put up in suitable boxes and draws” (JQA, Diary, 5 June).