Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1837-03-23
Rain and clouds. Office where I turned my attention very much to the work of Arrears and with tolerable success. I gain no intelligence from Washington which surprises me a little. The accounts from New York of money matters do not vary much. But this morning there is a story here that a couple of brokers have committed a fraud, in retaining bills or notes or rather not accounting for the proceeds to the givers.1
Athenaeum where I entered one of my rights for Mr. Walsh. Call at Mr. Brooks’. He told me, Mr. Henry Lee2 had spoken well of my Pamphlet and thought it ought to have more circulation. I said, I had a good many spare copies and if he would circulate a few among his friends, I should be pleased. He said he would and I sent him a dozen.
Home late. After, read the opinions of the Supreme Court in the case of the Charles River bridge. I am not much edified by either of the three opinions. McLean’s appears to me however to be the nearest 211to the right. He has too much of the Lawyer about his, but Story’s is all Law and Taney’s all sophistry.3 Evening, by engagement, to see old Mrs. S. Dexter.4 Mr. Brooks, my wife and myself. This is an annual visit, and she is one of the humourists of the last age. We returned at ten.
The disappearance of two Boston stockbrokers charged with fraud is reported in the Daily Advertiser, 23 March, p. 2, col. 3.
A leading Boston merchant.
Chief Justice Taney, speaking for the majority of the Supreme Court, held for the defendants, the proprietors of the Warren Bridge, on the grounds that the right of exclusivity claimed by the proprietors of the Charles River Bridge cannot be inferred from its charter, where the right is not specifically conferred (36 U.S. 420). The case, in its earlier phases, is discussed above at vols. 2:264; 3:130–131.
On Mrs. Samuel Dexter, see vol. 3:81.