Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1828-11-18
Morning at the Office. Commenced reading regularly the Massachusetts Reports and propose now to pass my Mornings in devoting myself to the Profession of the Law. I have been made to drink so much of the bitterness of dependence, that I hope now not to cease my exertions until I am on my own ground. But independence would bring to me 311none but sad reflections, as it would proceed from the consciousness of having been forced to it when others who had no better claim than I are equally assisted without the labour. This is a very incorrect system of education. It checks the well disposed for it gives them little encouragement to meet the labour of life. Afternoon reading Burke and some of the History of the United States.
On my return home in the evening, I took up the Boston Daily Advertiser and noticed a piece signed a Yankee Farmer, attacking my father on the old score of 1807
After the publication of Jefferson’s letter to W. B. Giles (see entry for 19 Oct., and note, above), JQA authorized the National Intelligencer to publish on 21 October a statement in his name which corrected some obvious errors in Jefferson’s recollections but which reaffirmed his belief that Massachusetts Federalists in 1808 were seeking the cooperation of Great Britain with a view to the “dissolution of the Union, and the establishment of a separate confederation” (HA, New-England Federalism
, p. 23–26). The former leaders of the Massachusetts Federalist party were much disturbed, and one of them, probably Boston Daily Advertiser, 18 Nov. 1828).
There are three sets of Milton’s Poetical Works in the Stone Library, the earliest published in London in 1731, 2 vols. In addition, the Library contains six copies of Paradise Lost, four of which bear JQA’s bookplate.
1828-11-19
Morning at the Office. Copied out the piece of yesterday evening and showed it to George who advised me to print it, and accordingly took charge of it for the Massachusetts Journal. This is the first article I ever wrote for a Newspaper. It will be good as a matter of practice, if for nothing else. The remainder of the morning passed in reading Law. My Journal will again fall now into a Record of the monotony of life. Little can occur in common affairs to make it interesting, and as my soreness on the subject of my marriage is gradually healing over, nothing else will occur to vary the sameness of a series of regular occupations. This formerly was my day for going to Medford. It will be so no longer. I thought of it many times but without much regret, for it brought with it as many hours of gloom as it did of pleasure. Afternoon at the Office, but instead of going in the evening, I remained at home on account of the dull weather.