Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7

Wednesday 20th.

Friday 22d.

54 Thursday. 21st. CFA

1836-07-21

Thursday. 21st. CFA
Thursday. 21st.

My Wife was very unwell this morning and made me apprehensive of possible detention here. I regretted a little that I had remained, but it was necessity with me, inasmuch as my money was spent and I depended upon being supplied here. As it was I thought it wisest to keep Abby quiet today and see how she was. Of course I proposed no expeditions. My own time hung rather heavy but I walked up to Round Hill and went pretty thoroughly over the town. Northampton has wonderfully improved since my visit to it. Eleven years of peace and prosperity have done wonders in beautifying the whole Country but more especially that part of it which had the greatest natural advantages. I know few places in America superior to Round Hill. The place is however in a decaying and neglected condition, Mr. Cogswell having given it up as a school and no purchaser having yet come forward for it.1 Several gentlemen who have retired to this place after making fortunes in the Southern States have done much towards ornamenting the vicinity of the Hill and I should suppose such a man as Mr. Cushing would find far more to employ a creative taste here than in such a spot as Watertown.2 After having walked myself tired I stepped into the Hampshire Bank for the purpose of seeing Judge Lyman the President of it with whom I am acquainted,3 and of procuring him to cash my draft upon the Merchants’ Bank in Boston. He was there and very politely acceded to my wishes after which he kept me for half an hour in conversation. I then took my leave. A short time after he came with his Wife to call upon Abby. Mrs. Lyman is a second Wife, and a woman of not the most agreeable manners. There was something upon this occasion rather cold and at the same time apprèté4 about her which made me glad of the end of the visit. The remainder of the day was passed in anxious idleness. I was anxious on Abby’s account who was not at all better, and idle because it rained and I had nothing to do. At five we went by invitation to take tea with Mrs. Lyman and killed three hours of time in uninteresting conversation, getting home just in time to clear a heavy shower. Retired early to be prepared for the morrow.

1.

On Joseph Green Cogswell and the Round Hill school, see vol. 5:269.

2.

John P. Cushing, a leader in the China trade, at great expense had developed his estate, Belmont, and laid out “Cushing Gardens” in Watertown (G. Frederick Robinson and Ruth Robinson Wheeler, Great Little Watertown, Cambridge, 1930, p. 79).

3.

Judge Levi Lyman was a friend of Peter C. Brooks; see vol. 3:53.

4.

That is, affected.