Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1838-12-08
Fine day, time divided as usual. Evening, Mr. Brooks at home. At the Office nothing new.
But the political accounts are very interesting. The departure of the District Attorney of New York for Europe in the Liverpool gives rise to conjectures of new deficiencies in Revenue.1 And the accounts from Harrisburg appear to be of a last appeal to force. The workings of our system are peculiar, but the occasional appearance of this popular feature is somewhat ominous. It remains to be seen how they will get out of the scrape into which they have got.
I read a good deal of Alcestis which is quite easy and very touching. Coins as usual. Mr. Brooks spent an hour with us in the evening after which I read Crevier. Rather out of work now.
William M. Price, district attorney for New York, faced with the obligation of supervising proceedings taken against Swartwout, pleaded inability to do so because of his prior relations with the defendant, resigned his office, and took passage on the Liverpool for Europe. There followed reports of his great gambling losses and rumors of further defalcations (Boston Courier, 10 Dec., p. 3, col. 2).