Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1832-08-05
Morning very warm with clouds, and in the afternoon some rain. I attended divine Service all day and heard Mr. Whitney. His morning Sermon upon the nature of the Saviour as a Communion Sermon. Some observations upon the inaccuracy of the Text. For my part, I think the substitute proposed is as expressive. I was not attentive however, my mind being somewhat in vacancy.
Read today, a part of the life of Canning. His biographer claims an undue share of credit to him for his influence in South American 341Affairs. Mr. Canning recognized the independence of these States, not from any sympathy with them, nor from any regard to the question which had been existing for so long between the Colonies and the Mother Country. He did it because it suited the interest of Great Britain, because the commercial interest was to be consulted, and more markets were to be secured for the consumption of British Manufactures. Mr. Cannings principles were somewhat of a singular character. A stiff supporter of the aristocratic features of the Government of his own Country, he yet knew how to use the popular doctrines in his intercourse with foreign nations, when they availed his single purpose of benefitting England.
1832-08-06
Cloudy with an Easterly Wind, which in the afternoon produced heavy rain. I went into town, accompanied by James Field, the son of Mrs. Field, the child’s Nurse, who had come from Boston to see her. I had a quiet morning reading Major Hordynski and one or two of the Essays by Mr. Southey lately published in a separate volume. They are very amusing.1 I also read Mr. Slade’s Speech in the House of Representatives which is a severe invective upon the Administration of Gen. Jackson.2
Notwithstanding this account of my time I feel sensible that I am doing nothing for the benefit of myself or of others. But I do not clearly see any mode of amending my ways. The thing must be endured until some opening shall take place by which my labours can have a direction.
Dined at the Tremont House and went from there in a shower of rain to the Boylston Market, where a Meeting of the Directors was held according to custom. As usual a discussion arose which lasted until nearly six o’clock without any prospect of a termination. I was obliged to make a move, so that the business was transferred to a Committee.
Heavy rain during my return to Quincy. Quiet evening. There was an alarm respecting the Cholera in Boston in consequence of sickness at the State Prison.
Robert Southey’s earlier periodical contributions were collected and published as Essays, Moral and Political, 2 vols., London, 1832. Dr. George Parkman had lent the first volume to JQA a few days earlier. JQA’s opinion of the essays differed from CFA’s initial response to them: “They are like the withered flowers of a hortus siccus. Like stale Champaign wine. Like an almanack of a year long gone by. Like an old letter of my own writing. Like anything that once was fresh and lively and brisk and now is obsolete, flat and unprofitable. He 342republishes them as if they were the vaticinations of Cassandra” (JQA, Diary, 7 Aug.).
The Speech on the Resolution Relative to the Collector of Wiscasset (Washington, 1832) by William Slade of Vermont in the House of Representatives on 5 May, which proceeded from a consideration of the case of the Wiscasset, Maine, collector to a general attack on official corruption, was listed in CFA’s catalogue of his pamphlet collection (Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 326).