Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-08-04
Morning clear but rather cool. I read my portion in review of Aristotle and went to the Office. Time occupied there mostly in copying the first of my father’s series of Bible letters. Had but one or two visitors and those unwelcome ones. One man on this miserable business of the Pamphlet—Another application for money. The man did not come from Farmer, but he might destroy this edition. Of what avail this? Since the Pamphlet itself shows that three editions have been made one after another without any cessation of purpose.1 This has been a regularly arranged scheme from the first to draw Money by operating upon Family pride. I gave him the same answer that I give universally—That we must not flinch. Returned home as usual.
Afternoon read more of Cicero’s Letters. Those to Trebatius are very amusing, having all the Salt which belongs to the Style. The familiar style of letter writing is perhaps as rare to excel in as any, it requires wit and playfulness, which is a combination not very frequent. My Mother and Wife went to take a ride. I read this Evening the first Act of Racine’s Iphigenie, and the Spectator.
105The relevant passage in the
“It was then distinctly stated that “I then wrote out the facts, contracted with a printer to execute the work, over my own signature, which having been completed, judge what was my surprise when I called to obtain the copies, to find that the whole edition printed, Farmer-Storer Trial
pamphlet relating Farmer’s earlier attempts to publish an account of the proceedings begins with his introduction of a reporter into the room in which the Reference was being held:
this reference was to be strictly private! ! ! ! ! ... Of course the Reporter was obliged to withdraw, and the task of telling the public my simple story devolved on me.had been destroyed between two days! ! ... Who caused this to be done? The task, however, is again accomplished”
On another effort to suppress, see above, entry for 21 April.