Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1838-11-09
Clear. Ride to Quincy for the day. Return home to tea and evening to the Theatre.
The mud was quite deep today but I went to Quincy and was occupied in various little matters which required my attention. The town was thrown into a great state of excitement today by the arrival of accounts from New York of the triumph of the Whig party.1 This was not anticipated by either party and puts a very different face upon the aspect of political events. Mr. Van Buren now has to face the probabil-137ity of a majority in the next Congress against him and the prestige of the democratic strength is much more broken. Well, it only keeps up the bubbling. One thing is pretty clear to me that nothing holds up the present Administration one bit but the little hold on the popular feeling of the other side.
Returned home by the old road through Milton and Roxbury as being more dry. Found Mr. Brooks at my house to tea. Went to the Theatre with my Wife and heard an Opera by Rooke called the Love Test, somewhat German in its character but with rather feeble music. The parts however very respectably sustained. After piece Truth or a Glass too much, better than usual.2
The whig sweep was featured by the defeat of C. C. Cambreleng, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and by the election of William H. Seward as governor (Boston Courier, 10 Nov., p. 2, col. 5 – p. 3, col. 2).
Amilie or The Love Test and Truth!, given at the Tremont Theatre, had as performers Edward Seguin, John Wilson, and Jane Shirreff, current favorites in the New York theater (Boston Atlas 9 Nov., p. 3, col. 3; below, entry for 30 April 1839).