Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-11-07
My father left us this morning at 1/2 past 6 o’clock. I regret his going although in the present disturbed condition of our political affairs in this State, it cannot be disagreeable to him to be out of the State.1
209I went to the Office and read some of Milton. He is coarse but nervous. His style is not genuine English, because he had written in Latin and this is a translation. Notwithstanding all of this, he can furnish us very clever hints.
Took a walk. Afternoon and evening, engaged in a review of my Article upon Hutchinson asked for by Mr. Everett again yesterday. I wrote over two pages and revised all but the close. I think I could do better if I were to write anew. But the labour is too much for these times. Who thinks of doing so much as I commonly do in this way? I read a little of the Fair Maid of Perth, but my Wife was fatigued from the child’s restless nights.
The Columbian Centinel (7 Nov., p. 2, col. 2) reported JQA’s departure on the eve of the election as indication of his awareness that “he has not the slightest prospect of being elected Governor.” By the 9th it reported further that his departure was said to reflect his “despairing of success” and, on the authority of an “intimate” friend, that JQA did not wish to be elected Governor (p. 2, col. 2). A broadside issued by partisans of JQA in answer to the deductions unfavorable to his candidacy drawn from JQA’s departure is reproduced in the present volume; see also p. xiv–xv, above.