Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2

4. VII.

Friday. April 6th.

Thursday. April 5th.<a xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" href="#DCA02d614n1" class="note" id="DCA02d614n1a">1</a> CFA

1827-04-05

Thursday. April 5th. CFA
Thursday. April 5th.1

Fishing and study have constituted my most general amusements for the last week. Now and then, a sitting to Mr. King, and a letter to Abby which form my varieties of life. And in the evening, Conversation or cards with the family—and strange to say I find great pleasures in this life.

But I am tired of this way of writing my Journal. And I have now another plan. My intention for the summer is to study according to 117 image the following plan. Premising that my rising hour is to be six o’clock, a great change from my old habits.

Immediately after rising, I write the Executive Record until four pages are completed and devote the rest of the time until breakfast to Maltebrun, and his study of Geography. At ten I commence Law and continue until one o’clock. At two I read Miscellany or write letters until four. And from four until five read a Classic. The remainder of the evening to leisure and the family—excepting only that after ten, it is my wish to record nightly how far I have kept my original determination. For after all, this is the only plan by which a journal can be carried on. In order to form a clear view of my proposition I subjoin it in numerals.

Rise at six o’clock 6.  
Executive Record, two hours to 8. 2.
Maltebrun’s Geography, one hour to 9. Morning. 1.
Breakfast, one hour’s recess 10. o’clock  
Law, three hours to 1. Noon. 3.
Luncheon, one hour’s recess 2. o’clock  
Miscellaneous reading or letter writing to 4. 2.
Study of Classics, one hour to 5. Evening. 1.
Leisure, Amusement, & Conversation, five hours   5.
I have in this manner sketched a plan which I am anxious to pursue as closely as possible—and note my omissions as they occur. That they will be numerous I do not doubt. If however my performances exceed my negligences, it will be doing enough for a beginning. On some days, I shall do nothing, on others other engagements will interfere, but still it is something to have a plan—and so be it from this time forward.2

1.

From D/CFA/5.

2.

On this day, at least, CFA stuck closely to his schedule, spending the rainy morning at home working on the Executive Record, reading Starkie’s Treatise on Evidence, and studying geography. He spent the evening playing cards with his family (D/CFA/1).