Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2

Tuesday. 24th.

Thursday 26th.

Wednesday. 25th. CFA

1829-02-25

Wednesday. 25th. CFA
Wednesday. 25th.

Morning at the Office and in Court. The place was crowded as it was expected that a case of defamation would come on between Mr. Fales and two Milliners who charged his Wife with stealing. It was carried up to the Supreme Court. I saw more of the practice in this Court than usual, today. Received a sweet Note from Abby1 which made me glad, and a short Letter from my Father together with the Washington Pamphlet of the Correspondence.2 Some of the papers are very astonishing. Afternoon, Adam Smith and evening, Pope. The weather very bad.

1.

Missing.

2.

JQA had been busy trying to collect evidence to refute the “thirteen confederates” (see entry for 7 Feb., and note, above). The only trustworthy recollection he could secure was that of William Plumer (1759–1850), a former Senator from New Hampshire, who claimed to know at first hand of a New England separatist movement in 1803–1804, which he believed had been revived in 1808 and in 1812. JQA had Plumer’s letter and other supplementary papers added to a new edition of the pamphlet of the Boston Federalists: Correspondence between John Quincy Adams, President of the United States, and Several Citizens of Massachusetts concerning the Charge of a Design to Dissolve the Union Alleged to Have Existed in That State. To Which Are Now Added Additional Papers, Illustrative of the Subject, Washington, 1829 (copy in MHi).