Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1828-07-24
Morning in the Nursery before breakfast, and then a pleasant ride to Boston. The weather quite warm all day. Passed the greater part of the forenoon in the Court of Common Pleas listening to the course of practice. This is the last term of this Court previous to my admission. Dined at Mrs. Frothingham’s. Had some conversation with Abby but found myself in rather an unpleasant situation. If my own condition improves as it has done for the last six months for three more, it would be ridiculous folly to defer the marriage any longer. Called with her at Mrs. Dehon’s to see Miss Mary after her return from New York. Then returned with her and from thence immediately to Quincy. Took a bath in the evening and sat till sleep overcame me. Quite dull.
1828-07-25
The weather being warm and my horse not having had a day’s rest for some time, I concluded upon remaining at Quincy the whole day. My time was mostly occupied in study. I read a large part of Cicero’s Oration for Roscius over and then took a bath at the wharf. Passed the remainder of the morning in reading some lives in the Biographia Brittanica.1 Mrs. Foster, sister of Mrs. T. B. Adams, and some of her children dined and passed the afternoon here. My College Classmate, Charles, was of the number.2 In the afternoon I read part of Voltaire’s Peter the First and passed a short time in the Nursery. The Chesnuts are at last forthcoming. Captains Morris and Patterson3 of the Navy called here in the evening. The moon was bright after the thunder shower which occurred in the afternoon, and made the piazza delightful.
In the Stone Library there is a set of Biographia Britannica: or, the Lives of the Most Eminent Persons Who Have Flourished in Great Britain and Ireland, from the Earliest Ages, 6 vols., London, 1747–1763. Another set owned by JA is among his books in the Boston Public Library (
Catalogue of JA’s Library
, p. 28).
Phineas Foster, a Boston merchant, and Frances (Harrod) Foster were the parents of Charles Phineas Foster, Harvard 1825.
Capt. Daniel T. Patterson (
Mass. Register, 1828, p. 209).
1828-07-26
Went to Boston expecting a cold day but it turned out one of the warmest of the season. Went to Mrs. Frothingham’s to see Abby and spent two hours with her. Received a short letter from my Mother inclosing one to Abby and answered it as usual. She as yet expresses no intention of coming this way. In the afternoon, rode with Abby to 261Medford having intended to drink tea at Winter Hill with Mrs. Everett but found her gone to Medford with Mr. Webster where they were when we arrived. Mr. Brooks had been unwell this week and seemed in quite low spirits. Evening very warm.