Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1828-01-20
Attended Meeting this morning. Heard a Mr. Farley, a disciple of Cambridge, and better than usual.1 Little else during the day, read the North American and allowed myself to get foolishly dull which affected Abby. This will not do. Mr. Angier,2 Dr. Swann,3 Miss Mary Hall and her brothers, all of Medford, passed the evening here.
206Presumably Frederick Augustus Farley, Harvard 1818, who graduated from the Divinity School in 1828.
Presumably John Angier, who later married Abigail Smith Adams, daughter of TBA. See Adams Genealogy.
Daniel Swan, Harvard 1803, who was invited by Medford citizens to become their town doctor in 1816 (Brooks, Medford
, p. 307).
1828-01-21
Returned to Boston with Mr. Brooks. The weather began to grow cold. Arrived early and found a letter from my father which was very pleasant. Passed the morning without doing much. Looked over a Chapter of Blackstone and examined the American Law in relation to native allegiance, but did not find any thing satisfactory. Copied Judge Howe’s Lecture, who by the way died to day in this City. The weather turned cold but I, in pursuance of an agreement made with Richardson, commenced a practice of evening walking. This was a pretty severe trial for a beginning. The night was colder than any we have yet had. Attended the Moot Court and heard a pleasant debate between Emerson and Dorr for there was not much legal acquirement in it.1 After this I went home and read Middleton and was otherwise busy until quite late. The cold was so severe as to affect me even in bed.
The debate concerned whether “during Coverture a husband receiving property by his wife shall be liable to pay for the support of her parents who have become paupers since her marriage” (CFA, Law Miscellanies, M/CFA/17, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel 311). Edward Bliss Emerson was one of the attorneys; his opponent was either Ebenezer Ritchie Dorr or William B. Dorr (
Mass. Register, 1829, p. 41).
1828-01-22
The coldest morning we have yet had this winter. Wrote a letter to my Father but it took me four hours to do it and copy it. Which shows my want of resolution and my perseverance in the same deed. Office later read Blackstone. Afternoon copying Judge Howe’s Lecture. Took a walk as usual with Richardson. Had half determined to go to the Play but determined differently on looking at the Box book. At home read Middleton and Plutarch. It was too cold to copy Executive Record.
1828-01-23
The weather was so cold I did not get up as early as usual, so that I had only time for a short reading of a Dissertation upon Plato. I am now seriously occupied in Study with plenty of subject before me. Morning at the Office reading Blackstone. Examined a number of 207points of law. In the afternoon Richardson called in for a few moments. Desultory conversation. Copied as usual. Evening at home reading Middleton and Plutarch.