Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1831-02-13
The weather is steady and cold. No material variation in the Thermometer from about eight or ten, at sunrise, which is severe winter. I attended divine Service and heard Mr. Frothingham deliver a very clever Sermon upon the Eclipse of yesterday. The subject was a good one and he managed it well. Afternoon went alone and heard Mr. Gannett who is a shocking Proser. I like him less than ever since he has ceased to be regularly inflicted upon me,1 yet he is not so bad as most people find him. He has good intention and earnest zeal, without tact or taste.
Returned home late but felt it my duty to sit down and write a Letter to my father at once, as I found by his of yesterday that his eyes are in bad condition.2 This engrossed all my spare time. And I did not accomplish copying it either. This is a business which I feel as if I ought to do and yet as if I could hardly spare the time.3 Evening, 422French, and a little of Buffon upon the Earth which is interesting. Afterwards, Latin Grammar and Tatler.
During the latter part of 1828 and the early months of 1829, CFA had attended services regularly at Dr. Channing’s church in Federal Street, where Rev. Ezra Stiles Gannett, Channing’s assistant, often preached; see vol. 2:314–358
passim.
JQA to CFA, 6 Feb.; CFA to JQA, 13 Feb., LbC; both in Adams Papers. For CFA’s letter see above, entry for 10 Feb., note, and below, entries for 17,
The copy of CFA’s long letter in his letter book is in ABA’s hand. From soon after their marriage ABA served intermittently as copyist, but CFA generally made his own copies for many years.