Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-02-01
The cold was severe this morning. And the presence of the snow added much to the reality of the Season. It was however very clear, and being now so late, we cannot have a long continuance of cold. I went to the Office. Engaged upon business matters. Then wrote a letter to my father1 which was not exactly what I wanted to write but as I had tried twice before without success, I was resolved it should go. This consumed my time until one o’clock. I then foolishly went to the Athenaeum and thereby lost my walk. My health is now in so doubtful a state that I ought to have avoided this.
Afternoon, copied my letter and read Anquetil. The famous day of the barricades. Civil commotion. Men must fight about something. If one thing will not answer another does. Here in the midst of prosperity, we are getting by the ears. I am glad to see by the morning’s Newspapers some symptoms of retracting in Carolina.2
Read a Satire of Horace. I wonder I never read them attentively before. How admirable. Every sentiment so just in itself, so gracefully put in. I will read Horace perpetually, Make him familiar.3
Evening, a family party at Gorham’s where my Wife went to tea. Edward Brooks, P. C. Jr. and Wife, Mr. Frothingham and do., Mr. Franklin Story and do., Mr. F. Gray and sister.4 Not so pleasant as usual. More stiffness owing to the presence of the Grays who have little or no conversation. The Supper was one of far more form. I indulged more than usual and was apprehensive that my head would suffer for it. Home later than usual.
LbC in Adams Papers.
The Columbian Centinel carried reports from Charleston, S.C., of new indications of moderation from the nullification forces. A public meeting on 21 Jan. had passed a resolution of conciliatory tone, and an editorial in a leading organ of nullification declared 22that “South Carolina does not design ... either to use force, make war, or dissolve the union” (1 Feb., p. 2, col. 6, p. 3, col. 2).
CFA entered in his copy of the Opera by Horatius Flaccus (London, 1824), now at MQA, copious annotations, some of which are illustrated in the present volume; see also p. xiii, above.
These annotations were generally made after consultation with the scholarly edition of Dacier and Sanadon, 8 vols., Amsterdam, 1835, which was among JA’s books and is now at MB (
Catalogue of JA’s Library
); see below, entry for 12 June. Later, CFA acquired for himself another copy also with J. M. Gesner’s text but with notes by Zeunius (Horatius Flaccus, Eclogae
i.e. Opera
Mrs. Franklin Story (Elizabeth), Francis A. Gray, and Henrietta Gray, were the children of Peter C. Brooks’ sister, Mary Brooks (Mrs. Samuel) Gray (vol. 3:8, 107, 237).