Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1825-12-01
At home all day, weather cloudy, Reeves, Beaumont and Fletcher, quiet day, evening with the family.
1825-12-02
At home all day, nothing remarkable, Reeves, Beaumont and Fletcher, Burke, evening out.
1825-12-03
Morning at home, unwell, spirits low, Beaumont and Fletcher, letter from Richardson,1 death of my friend Sheafe, reflection, evening at home.
Missing.
1825-12-04
At home all day, low spirits, medicine, Beaumont and Fletcher, Burke, evening with the family.
1825-12-05
Morning at home, Reeves, Beaumont and Fletcher, De Lolme,1 Meeting of Congress, J. W. Taylor, Speaker,2 evening walk.
CFA’s copy of J. L. De Lolme, The Constitution of England, London, 1821, is in the Stone Library
Representative John W. Taylor, who had previously served as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1820–1821, was the candidate of the Adams forces. His election by a majority of only two, on the second ballot, was evidence of the weakness of JQA’s supporters in the House (Bemis, JQA
, 2:72–73).
1825-12-06
Morning at home, finish Reeves, Beaumont and Fletcher, President’s Message,1 Burke, evening walk.
JQA’s first annual message to Congress reviewed the state of the nation and advocated, among other things, a national university and support for geographical and astronomical research (Richardson, ed., Messages and Papers
, 2:299–317).
1825-12-07
Morning at home, Blackstone’s Commentaries,1 Beaumont and Fletcher, walk, John, evening with the family.
JQA’s copy of Sir William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England, 4 vols., London, 1791, is in the Stone Library. Among JA’s books in the Boston 23Public Library are two sets of the Commentaries; the Philadelphia edition, 1771–1773, 4 vols., contains JA’s annotations. See
Catalogue of JA’s Library
, p. 28.