Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1828-05-27
Weather cloudy and disagreeable. Morning at the Office. Letter to my father. Blackstone. George. Afternoon, Dwight and Chapman at my room. The former is exactly what he was, and strikes me as having altered less than any man in the number of our class whom I have seen. We had a tolerably pleasant conversation until five o’clock when he was obliged to go. Davis came in and sat with me until evening. We drank some Champagne and on the whole did very well. I then took a walk and in the evening read part of Cicero’s Oration for Quintius.
1828-05-28
Morning at the Office, but found it impossible to read. The motion that is going on around one and the idea that you are alone while all about you are gone to amuse themselves renders attention to a book difficult. This is commonly called Election day for it is the day upon which the old political year ceases and the government for the new one is constituted. This is done by the meeting of the Legislature, an address or rather Sermon after the old style, &ca., all which to those who are mere lookers on in Venice, is excessively tedious.1 I stood on my feet much of the morning conversing with many young men, but was glad to return home to dinner. Afternoon, Executive Record, a short walk, being already much fatigued, and evening, Cicero.
The General Court assembled at 10 o’clock, and, after the Senate chose Sherman Leland President and the House elected William B. Calhoun Speaker, both bodies proceeded to the Old South Church for the traditional election day sermon by the Rev. James Walker (Columbian Centinel, 31 May 1828).
1828-05-29
Morning at the Office, Blackstone. Conversation with George. Went to the Gallery of Paintings and lounged away an hour in examining them. It is rather a pleasant way of passing time, and I was a little dull, owing perhaps a little to the fact that I do not hear from Abby. After dinner, occupied myself in copying Executive Record, finished Voltaire’s Age of Louis 14th, took a walk and in the evening, read part of Cicero’s Oration for Quintius.
1828-05-30
Morning at the Office. Finished Blackstone’s Commentaries which I have read carefully over and it has taken me five months. I do not 242feel as if I was master of it all either, though this is the third reading I have given to it. Conversation with George. Report concerning Russell Jarvis sent me by John. Reflections upon Mr. Stetson’s testimony.1 Afternoon passed in reading and in copying Executive Record. The weather damp and rainy with thunder so that I did not walk. Evening finished Cicero’s Oration for Quintius.
See entry for 21 April, and note, above. Caleb Stetson, to whom JA2 had addressed his hostile remarks about Russell Jarvis, testified that on the next day he had asked a friend “to state to Mr. Jarvis that I had no personal concern in that conversation with Mr. Adams.” At the same time he rather weakly disavowed having expressed his “disapprobation of Mr. Adams’ conduct” (Report on the Assault by Russell Jarvis, House Report No. 260, 20 Cong., 1 sess., p. 29).