Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1836-06-11
My head ach was not gone this morning when I arose and it threatened to worry me all day, but prudence at breakfast and a little exercise caused it to vanish before dinner. I continued making my arrangements to go away. Owing to the call of the Quincy Bank I am rather short of funds, and I leave affairs here not quite settled—But I shall probably never be more so. To the Athenaeum, went in to see the Gallery which does not strike me much this year. The pictures are all old, with the exception of a few, four fifths of which are bad. My father’s Speech is much talked of in private.1 Home, Livy.
Afternoon, just as I was sitting down to read, came Mr. Frothingham who asked me to join him, his Wife and my Wife in a visit to Medford, which I consented to do with pleasure. We rode in a Carry all and arrived at about five, found the family together with Miss Mary Hall and Lydia Phillips. We took tea and walked round the garden, returning home by eight. The day was delightful and every thing went well. I wrote afterwards.2
The Daily Centinel and Gazette had on this day (p. 1, cols. 6–7) printed extracts from the National Intelligencer’s text of the speech with the observation that it “has not been surpassed in interest and ability, by any which has been made during the present session of Congress.”
Although CFA and ABA did not depart on their journey to New York State and Niagara Falls until the 15th, the present entry is the last made in the Diary until some time after their return, when CFA began to make up his arrears. The entry for 12 June begins, “After a lapse of six weeks during which I have passed over two thousand miles of this Continent I resume my Diary record.”