Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1831-02-26
Morning clear and pleasant. The Sun is gaining the Battle. I went to the Office as usual and received a letter from my Mother upon the 430matters relating to this Correspondence1 but no Letter from my Father which makes me suspicious that mine has produced a disagreeable effect. For this I feel sorry, but I cannot disavow the sentiments it contains. It may not have been judicious just at this time to express them, but this is at least doubtful. For this may be the very time when truth will have most effect and lead him to make a deliberate revision. I hope this may be the consequence but in the mean time I have no letter.2
I was occupied in reconsidering my argument for this evening and amending it in some passages. Drew up my Accounts also for the month and found myself correct. Returned home and in the Afternoon, Completed the last Oration against Verres, de Suppliciis which is a splendid effort. On the whole, I doubt whether in the way of accusation any thing, can be done beyond this. Whether in arrangement, force of argument, and power of expression, it is equally admirable.
Evening. Mr. Angier at our House. I went to the Meeting of the Debating Society. Owing to the absence of the other side no regular argument was made, the discussion such as it was, had salt enough3 in it. I took part in it, perhaps too much. We did not go home until ten o’clock after which I read the Tatler.
That is, to the Calhoun-Jackson correspondence. LCA to CFA, 21 Feb., Adams Papers.
See entry for 10 Feb., above, and the references there to CFA’s letter of 13 February. CFA’s fears that his father had been displeased by his comments on JQA’s “Reply to the ... Federalists” seem to have been groundless. JQA wrote: “Your observations are all kindly taken and shall be duly weighed.” His failure to respond earlier seems to have resulted from his absorption in the Calhoun controversy (JQA to CFA, 26 Feb., Adams Papers).
See above, entry for 19 Feb., note.