Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-03-26
Morning delightful—The air being soft as Midsummer. After reading an hour in Kotzebue and finishing the Voyage which ended in nothing, compared to the preparation that had been made for it, I went to the Office and found there a letter from my Father covering the Certificates of the Mass. Fire and Marine Ins. Shares. I therefore went directly and obtained the repayment of one fourth part of the Capital upon my Fathers and T. B. Adams Jrs. Shares which I deposited. This business being over I went back to my Office and sat down to answer my Father’s letter which did not appear to me to be exactly the thing I wanted. He never should have meddled with that Mill. I am afraid before he has done with it, the thing will ruin him.1 In this manner I was so much occupied that I was unable to do any thing else.
Returned home, and after dinner, Started for Quincy, with my Man Benjamin. Found the House in great disorder, as they were painting it, and in setting the new Posts they had unfixed every thing about the Fence very much. I went to find Mr. Veazie and talked with him in regard to the Work to be done.2 It seems Mr. Beale has been very labouriously expressing his Opinion about these matters. I think the interference of Neighbours very gratuitous. Went up to see the 17Judge and his lady and took Tea with them. After which I returned home. The former was sick.
Stopped at Mrs. Frothingham’s where my Wife and Miss Julia Gorham were spending the Evening. After sitting a little while, returned home. Read the Spectator and retired early.
JQA’s instructions were to deposit to his account in the U.S. Branch Bank both the money repaid to Thomas B. Adams Jr. from his investment in the Massachusetts Fire and Marine Insurance Co. and that portion of Abigail S. Adams’ legacy which she wished to have invested. JQA proposed to pay interest to each until the principal was called for or was otherwise invested. CFA’s assumption, probably the correct one, was that JQA intended to utilize the funds to reduce the heavy indebtedness incurred earlier in the year in unproductive speculation in flour. CFA countered therefore with arguments to support his proposal that JQA should advise Abigail S. Adams to place her funds in an annuity at the Massachusetts Life Office in trust. Further, that Thomas B. Adams Jr.’s funds should be used to meet the outstanding obligations incurred in the maintenance and repair of the Old House until the income from rentals, &c., could be built up to a sum sufficient to equal those demands, and that interest be paid to Thomas B. Adams Jr. from 1 April. JQA to CFA, 21 March; CFA to JQA, 26 March, LbC (both in Adams Papers).
On George Veazie, of Quincy, carpenter, see vol. 3, entry for 29 Dec. 1830, and below, that for 8 April.