Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-05-11
Morning clear and mild. After reading a part of Demosthenes as usual, I went to the Office and spent my time in writing out the last Number of Cimon. The idea strikes me to be good but I feel out of spirits about Newspaper writing. The second Number appeared today. On reading it over, it seemed to me well written.1 One or two interruptions. One for the purpose of voting for the lower House which took place today. I went for the regular ticket as far as I could, but I could not swallow Mr. Buckingham.2 Found at the Probate Office the return of the Commissioners upon Mr. New’s Estate, reducing the Dividend to 25 cents on the dollar, and payment not to be made until the ninth of June. Walked down to see Mr. Forbes and contract with him for a horse and gig. Then to the Tenements to see them and make inquiries concerning Mr. Libby.
Afternoon finished the Oration for Sextius and read that against Vatinius. A continual invective in the shape of a series of questions. This method has much power in itself but it tires by its weight very soon. Man requires variety in every thing.
Evening took a short walk with my Wife to Mr. Frothingham’s, so that we had little time at home. After my Wife retired, I read with great pleasure, one half of Horace’s Art of Poetry,3 and after it, Two Spectators.
CFA’s second letter on “The Resignation of the Cabinet” addressed itself to an inquiry into the true, as distinct from the announced, causes. Primarily, the letter is an historical exposition of the competing forces arrayed one against the other during the second administration of President Monroe, of the ambitions thwarted by the compromise choice of JQA for the Presidency in 1824–1825, and of the uneasy alliances created in 1828 to elect a President whom none respected. “The hidden animosities now erupt.” Boston Patriot, 11 May, p. 2, col. 4.
Sixty seats in the state House of Representatives were at stake. The National Republicans offered a full slate; also on the ballot were candidates from the Working-Men’s Party, and others running on Antimasonic, Jackson, and Independent tickets. In the voting 53 candidates, all National Republicans, received a majority of the votes cast and were elected. Joseph T. Buckingham, publisher of the Boston Courier, was among the seven National Republicans who failed to receive a majority. A second election was called for 14 May to complete the representation. Boston Patriot, 11 May, p. 2, col. 2; 13 May, p. 2, col. 1; Columbian Centinel, 14 May, p. 1, col. 3.
Apparently, CFA was reading Horace’s poem in the Abbé Batteux’s collection, Les quatres poëtiques d’Aristote, d’Horace, de Vida, de Despréaux; see below, entry for 11 August.