Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1839-12-21
Moderating. Distribution as usual. Dine with Mr. Brooks. Evening at home.
I devoted my time to the usual course of morning proceedings. At the Office. Deacon Spear came in, and I had an application to repeat my old Lecture from the Managers of the Franklin Lectures, on Monday Evening at the Masonic Temple. These are now mere common place matters, that excite about as much attention as a Sunday Sermon.
Took a brisk walk round the Common and felt better for it. Then home reading Oedipus. Dined with Mr. Brooks. Nobody there but the family. That is Edward and Chardon and the three sons in law. Pleasant enough. The first dinner in the new house.1 Home to tea and quiet evening. Walpole, after which, on with the Lecture.
Peter C. Brooks had purchased the residence of Daniel Webster (above, entry for 4 May), along with the furnishings. Brooks’ former home on Pearl Street would become the residence of his son Gorham. Although Brooks took possession following purchase, he did not begin his occupancy of the house until his return to the city in November from his Medford residence (Brooks, Waste Book, 6, 14 June, 26 Nov., 31 Dec. 1839; above, entry for 13 Nov.).