Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1838-05-06
The weather is constantly showery and unpleasant. I went out early this morning to call upon T. K. Davis at Mrs. Latimer’s. Found him sitting with the Prussian Chargé d’Affaires, the Baron de Roenne. Upon my entering, Davis said they had been talking of my pamphlets, and thereupon the Baron took occasion to speak with great politeness of them and said that he had procured them when at Northampton and forwarded them to his Government. This as the testimony of an impartial witness is the most gratifying thing I have yet met with. The Pamphlets have been smothered by party in this Country, but that they deserved a better fate I have hope in believing.
A. H. Everett spoke of my letters to Mr. Biddle, and of a notice in the Globe which I looked at. This is a trap. It alludes to my former pamphlet upon Executive patronage in such a manner as either to desire to draw me into the appearance of having taken a side or to get my father’s name associated with this answer to Mr. Biddle.1 I did not like the notice as well as that in the Journal of Commerce.
T. K. Davis accompanied me to see Mr. Fletcher, our representative whose position since his unfortunate affair has made me feel some sympathy for him.2 He was quite civil and although manifestly soured towards the Whigs and their leader in our State seemed to be in tolerable spirits.
From here we went to Church at the Presbyterian church formerly Mr. Baker’s.3 A young man preached from Isaiah 55. 2. “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not?” A sermon marked by the characteristics of this 37school, plain, dealing much in ordinary illustration, direct and delivered extemporaneously in a very animated manner, at the same time, very common place and a little minatory.
We returned home in a shower and then Davis and I called to see Mr. Woodbury. Found him at his door and was introduced into a room where was one of the Van Buren’s flirting with the daughter. A short visit. Woodbury is a good looking man but with a half closed, sneaking eye, which I would never trust. Dine early and conversation.
Davis went at five, and I spent the rest of the day reading a discourse of Buckminster’s. Luke 8. 18. “Take heed how ye hear.” Upon the little effect of pulpit instruction, it’s causes and remedies mainly on the part of hearers. I somewhat doubt whether it is not difficult to define the value of pulpit instruction. It runs into all the details of life with a current scarcely perceptible. We expect too much from it when we imagine it will rectify all the evil inclinations of man.
The comment in the Washington Globe headed “Mr. Biddle’s Letter” (5 May, p. 3, col. 3) read: “We have had occasion to allude ... to the able articles which appeared in the Boston Courier ... in reply to Mr. Biddle’s notorious letter to Mr. [J. Q.] Adams. They are attributed to the same vigorous and discriminating hand which dissected so skilfully, two years ago, Mr. Webster’s project for depriving the Executive of the appointing and removing power, in a series of papers which appeared originally in the Boston Advocate, and were republished at the time in The Globe. Mr. Buckingham ... is now laboring with might and main to shake off the responsibility for these articles.”
On Congressman Richard Fletcher’s difficulties, see entry for 18 Dec. 1837, above.
That is, the Second Presbyterian Church whose pulpit had been occupied by Rev. Daniel Baker; see vol. 1:77.