Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1836-01-01
I was gloomy today and could only account for it by the feeling which the situation of Mr. Everett’s child has inspired
My relations with my father are much more kind than they were a year since, for which I am very glad. Thinking him sometimes wrong in judgment as I have occasionally taken the liberty to do, I have yet experienced too much kindness from him to allow my opinions ever seriously to affect my conduct. And the last year has been most particularly one in which that kindness has been shown both in acts and in opinions, in the natural course of parental affection and in the extraordinary one of personal esteem. One the result of blood, the other that of my own acts. The latter to me the one without which the former could scarcely be prized. Thus I have still to bow in deep humility before my God and repeat the expression of my overflowing sense of his bounty to me far above my deserts, which has been poured upon me year by year.
The day was very fine for the Season, and I had little to do beyond the attending to the demands of the Season in the shape of money to be paid. I was very desirous on many accounts to get rid of as many of my debts as possible. The times are rather hard and I wish no man should feel them harder by any fault of mine. Called upon E. C. 301Adams at Mr. E. Miller’s and paid her usual sum. And all these processes with the necessary entries in my Account books took up the morning.
Home to read Livy, not much of which I could accomplish. Afternoon, Mr. Price Greenleaf called and sat an hour. He talked of many things, especially of Jefferson’s works and Quincy Granite, showing the peculiarities of his character in both. Afterwards, wrote Diary, but it takes so much of my valuable afternoon time that I must again transfer it to the Office as a morning exercise. Evening, as I felt dull, went with my Wife and spent a couple of hours with Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham. Home. Goethe’s Wanderjahre.