Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1838-04-21
This morning appears a long communication from Mr. Buckingham endeavouring to weaken the impression made by my articles,1 but bearing the mark of mental weakness resulting from his confinement by sickness so long. He professes not to know who wrote them. Is this true? I suspect it is although my friends think otherwise. I believe him partially but think he equivocates. It is clear that he has been hard pressed and seeks to find an outlet, although resolved to execute his intention. The letters met with no delay, nor were put in a corner, as might have been done if it was wished to injure their effect. My opponent promised yesterday, also appears but is a very poor creature.2 The other papers persevere in the usual course towards me of silence. It remains to see how they will do in other places.
I was very much occupied all the morning by Accounts and payments of various debts which I wished settled previous to departure. I think I now begin to see light after the heavy expenditure which has now been pressing upon me with much severity for more than eighteen months, of shortened resources. W. Spear in from Quincy and called for a settlement. Thus the morning passed until half past one when I met my Wife for the purpose of taking her to see Celestini’s pictures. He was civil but evidently out of humour by the failure of all negotiation. And he had therefore lost much of the courtesy of manner which he had while he had an object.3
Afternoon, continued at work upon the coins which I must now soon give up. I have got very nearly through the assorting and now the 28catalogue making only remains. Evening Mr. Brooks was here, after which I was not active.
The editorial, dated “Cambridge, April 19” and signed “J. T. B.,” undertakes a detailed refutation of CFA’s position and concludes, “Of Mr. Biddle we are not the apologist. We give him credit for great talent as a financier, and for patriotism, so long as it was for his interest to be patriotic and public-spirited. For some of his selfish atrocities within the last two years, he ought to have his ears nailed to the pillory; and we could look upon him in that position with undiminished complacency, if Gen. Jackson and Mr. Van Buren were permitted to enjoy the same dignified and elevated station on either side of him” (Boston Courier, 21 April, p. 2, col. 1).
The letter, addressed to “A Citizen,” attacks CFA’s position as having “a most unpleasant smack of locofocoism; it looked too much like—cant.” The writer professes no admiration for Biddle either. He identifies himself as being in the mercantile business “in a small way, some eight or nine years” and signs the letter “C.” (same, p. 2, col. 3).
Despite the indication that Count Celestini failed to sell his paintings in Boston, he did succeed in disposing of nine of them to the Boston Athenaeum. The particular works that CFA had admired on his several visits to the Gallery were not among those purchased (Mabel M. Swan, The Athenaeum Gallery, 1827–1873, Boston, 1940, p. 128).