Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1827-04-23
I took a bath but decided to postpone a repetition until a proper season. It is too cold as yet. Morning duties as usual. After breakfast only two hours of law. Received a letter from Abby with feelings which I will not describe. She complains, but without cause so far as I am concerned.1 She ought to have received a letter on the day she wrote. Employment of time rather desultory and spirits rather low. General Wool called to see me, he has just returned from one short trip of Inspection and goes again to morrow. Dined at Mr. Vaughan’s. The celebration of St. George’s day, which is meant as a celebration of his Majesty’s birth day, which does not come equally convenient. At least so it would seem. Present, the Corps Diplomatique, the Cabinet Ministers who are in town, Mr. Brent, Mr. Thos. Law,2 Dr. Huntt and ourselves (J. and I). Dinner dull as I drank no wine. Sat between Brent and Law. The latter very amusing. He is a character entirely original. But I was glad to have it over and return home.
His fiancée complained of not hearing from CFA: “Oh I begin to feel as if I was forgotten. . . . They insist at home upon telling me that Charles is quite tired of me . . .” (Abigail B. Brooks to CFA, 18 April 1827, Adams Papers).
One of the original proprietors who bought land in the District of Columbia, Thomas Law was a land speculator, a manufacturer, a versifier, and a charter member of the Columbian Institute (Constance McLaughlin Green, Washington: Village and Capital, 1800–1878, Princeton, 1962, p. 19, 28, 35, 51, 67, 69).