Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1832-12-29
Fine day notwithstanding a little flurry of snow that fell early in the morning. I went to the Office as usual. Time taken up in drawing off my Accounts for the beginning of the year. My father’s funds never were so much in the Minority.1 My fifth number appeared in the Advocate with a recommendation of special attention from the Editor.2 I think I have already expressed an opinion that it was the 431best of the series. Whether they succeed or not in attracting attention, my duty is done. And in all future time, I shall endeavour to follow in that line which my conscience points out to me to be right, without any consideration of the mere results to myself. It may be that my interests may not be served by any such Quixotic course. But I feel as if there were other considerations than these to sway a man even on this earth. Difficult as it is to look constantly to the point of duty, yet I know no reason why I should not even consider it my interest to attempt it. Read some of Lingard and took a walk.
Afternoon, began the History of the Ligue by Anquetil.3 A portion of the French Annals of great interest as displaying the manner by which the Reformation affected that people in contradistinction to the English.
As my Wife was out in the evening, I also read a part of the second Philippic of Cicero. Powerful it is indeed. The Attention coming to it fresh again relishes it much more. Mr. E. Price Greenleaf took tea with us. He has much pleasant conversation. Principally upon South Carolina which State is going perfectly mad. God only knows the consequences. Called for my Wife at Mrs. Gorham’s at nine o’clock. Read German afterwards.
The meaning would seem to be that never before was the income for the quarter so much less than the expenditures.
The editor’s note inviting “special attention to the 5th No. of our valuable correspondent ‘F’” is at p. 2, col. 2, the article itself at cols. 3–5. Copy for No. 5 in CFA’s hand, differing substantially from the printed text, is in the Adams Papers along with copy for Nos. 6–9 and notes for additional numbers (Microfilms, Reel No. 319). Publication of the series stopped for a time with No. 5 but was afterward resumed (CFA, Diary, 21–22 May 1833).
Editions of Louis Pierre Anquetil, L’esprit de la Ligue ... les 16 et 17 siècles, published in 3 vols. at Paris in 1771 and in 1783 are at MQA. The edition of 1771 has JQA’s bookplate and an inscription on the half-title of each volume: “George Washington Adams from his Grandfather 1825.” Also at MQA is CFA’s set of Histoire de France by the same author, 15 vols., Paris, 1817.