Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1838-04-17
Mr. Buckingham has not only done what I proposed but he being himself sick, my letter occupies the editorial department.1 Here is an answer to my question of Sunday. I have nothing to complain of very certainly in this regard. And now I will wait with not a little of curiosity to perceive the effect. It is an indication of some estimation acquired in the Community that such civility has been conceded to me at once. Another indication is in the earnestness of Dr. Palfrey to solicit a contribution to the North American Review.2 This encouragement comes so late and after such hard labour that it will not, thank Heaven, upset my balance. I trust in a higher power to guard me through the mazes of life.
Office where I worked as usual and various small commissions which consumed much time. Afternoon, went on writing which I continued in the evening. Read Lockharts Life for an hour. Finished my answer. It is not as complete as I meant to make it but I am hurried.
CFA’s four letters to Nicholas Biddle, president of the Bank of the United States, appeared on successive days (17–20 April) in the Boston Courier at p. 2, col. 1. Each was signed “A Citizen.” In them CFA undertook to explain his shift from support of Biddle’s monetary policies to opposition. He charged that Biddle’s stand against resumption of specie payments was the result of a deliberate descent into the arena of party politics and called for reconsideration.
On Rev. John Gorham Palfrey’s acquisition of the
North American Review
, see vol. 6:237.