Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1836-12-09
A lovely day with the sun quite warm. I went to the Office and passed my time in finishing off an Account current with a letter to Mr. Johnson.1 This business I am glad to have off my mind. I purchased a bill on Messrs. Welles Paris for the amount of his second Quarter’s Income and inclosed it. Looked over my own accounts in order to understand my position. Mr. Walsh came in and talked and I afterwards walked with him. Home where I read Livy.
Afternoon, I occupied myself partly in commencing upon some other papers which promise to be interesting and partly in continuing Swift’s Tale of a Tub, which is a very singular medley but partaking too much of the coarseness of mind of the Author. Evening, finished reading to my Wife the second volume of Slidell’s book on England,2 a thing I am excessively disappointed in. Indeed a very poor book in every way you view it. My child Louisa was sick all day today with one of her old turns.3 Goguet.
To Thomas B. Johnson, 10 Dec., LbC, Adams Papers.
The reading of Alexander Slidell [Mackenzie’s] An American in England had been commenced earlier in the year; see vol. 6:334.
Louisa’s early years were marked by illnesses during which CFA described her as “drooping.” She was also troubled repeatedly by sore throat and by severe coughs. CFA’s descriptions of her attacks lack precision, reflecting uncertainty also on the part of the physician: “she is delicate and easily put out of order”; “she seems to be subject to severe turns of a complaint the nature of which I do not know, but which takes the intermittent shape.” See vol. 6:61, 357 and Index.