Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1829-09-11
Morning after a deal of trouble at home, to the Office. One of the troubles of Housekeeping—My Wife not being accustomed to keeping her things locked, most unluckily left her Jewels exposed and the consequence has been that she has lost several things. Suspicion rested upon the Servants, and I thought it necessary in consequence to examine them all. I went through the form of searching all their things without any idea of finding any thing, for it would be absurd to 11suppose that Servants would not make away with things immediately that suspicion rested in the least upon them. This was as disagreeable a thing for a little affair of life as any I ever went through. I can fix suspicion upon nobody, but it is very certain that the things are missing.1
At the Office, I wrote my Journal, and a letter to Mrs. Longhurst.2 We keep up a brisk correspondence by which I am in hopes of receiving her rent in time. But she is slow, though not quite so impudent as formerly. This and a few Commissions took me all the morning and I returned to dine. My spirits were rather depressed, as I was actually suffering from my old trouble.3 I am a singularly fated man. The Afternoon was passed at home with the exception of a walk to the Office of the Daily Advertiser in order to put in an Advertisement for the lost rings. This done I returned and found my Furniture returned home. I am much pleased with it, and hope now soon to enter into a new system of life. The past week has been a kind of delirium which must soon pass off and leave us sober and quiet. I hope shortly to be able to start well in what I have undertaken, although I confess that at this moment of time, I am a little in a maze, which ought not to last very long.
The Evening came and with it, the recollection that we had been invited to a party at Mrs. Quincy’s at Cambridge. As it was made for us, I could not decline the civility although we felt it to be irksome. We accordingly dressed and rode to Cambridge with Blake and Henrietta Gray. It was the first time that I had put my foot into that house for years. My old prejudices were so powerful that while my situation in life was doubtful I could not bring my pride to submit to the disagreeable style of the family.4 But now at least, I feel free from any scruples and do not therefore make such resistance to patronage. We reached there at nine and found quite a collection of Cambridge people. I saw several of them and made my bow in the old way. How changed since I stood in the same room four years since. Incidents have rolled over me wonderful to think of and singular to relate. Let me pour out my soul to God in gratitude for his mercies and in the earnest and humble prayer that he will support me in prosperity as he has in adversity for they are equally hard to bear. Returned to town by eleven.
Since the theft took place on 7 Sept. the likelihood is that it was during or just preceding the time ABA “received her company.” On the 9th three rings, along with other things apparently of less value, were missed. One was a pearl ring, the second had three garnets set with pearl, and the third was the “Cameo ring with two hands joined” which JQA had given his daughter-in-12law on the preceding Friday. See above, entry for 9 Sept.; Boston Daily Advertiser, 12–19 Sept. 1829, p. 2, col. 5.
To Mrs. M. B. Longhurst (LbC, Adams Papers); see also vol. 2:415, 430.
CFA had long been subject to headaches and digestive disorders, minor illnesses usually accompanied by melancholy; these are frequently mentioned in his early diaries.
Josiah Quincy (1772–1864), president of Harvard since Jan. 1829, and Mrs. Quincy, the former Eliza Susan Morton (1773–1850) (vol. 1:150, 2:339; Adams Genealogy), were living in Wadsworth House, which still stands in Harvard Yard. It would appear that CFA by “that house” is referring not to the home of Harvard’s presidents, but rather to the Quincy household. The last time that CFA had noted in his diary that he had been to the Quincy’s was on 4 Sept. 1824 in Boston. He then recorded that the evening had been a pleasant one despite the airs of Mrs. Quincy and her daughter Susan (vol. 1:311–312).
1829-09-12
The morning brought with it better spirits and more contented feelings. I went to the Office after having advised Abby in some of her household misfortunes consequent upon the loss of her rings. One of her servants leaves her and deprives her of the expected gratification of going to Medford. I went to the Office and occupied myself in my various methods. I arranged my Money Accounts, and paid for my Father, J. H. Foster’s bill—it was large and I felt a little qualmish about having given so much for the repairs upon Hancock Street, but it was passed and unavoidable and so I paid the Money.1 Mr. Curtis called upon me to see about applying for Administration upon the Estate of Thomas Boylston in order to recover some Money which has been obtained on the other side of the Atlantic. He intends applying on Monday. I passed the rest of the morning in looking up the case and in trying to find a proper form but I could not succeed. Our law in this branch is very deficient to young beginners.2
Returned home and dressed to ride to Charlestown to dine with Mr. Everett as by agreement.3 They having invited my wife to a dinner as a bride. The company consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Hale, Sidney Brooks his wife and her sister, Edward J. Lowell and ourselves.4 It was tolerably pleasant although a little too boisterous. Abby suffered her spirits to run away with her, which I regretted although I have seen but little of it, to annoy me, since my marriage. How much women gain by tenderness and affection and softness, and how much they lose when they depart from the character although an artificial soft woman is least of all to my taste. It should be pure nature.
Owing to our arrangements, we returned to town and Abby being fatigued and retiring early, I seized the occasion of going for the first time into my study and arranging my books and writing papers a little. I then took up the first volume of Laharpe’s Course of Literature 13and read some pages of the Introduction,5 feeling more decidedly comfortable in a literary way than I have before since I left Washington. The gaiety of today puts a stop to our share as I hope and in future we shall attempt to resume a little of the old course of things in families. I care little about dissipation for time has made me sick of it. I have had more than my dose, and now I am anxious to look to ulterior and more honourable objects in life.
James Hiller Foster (1773–1862) had a large upholstery and wallpaper store or warehouse at 224 Washington Street (
Boston Directory, 1829–1830). The bill paid was for $123.53, of which $41.64 was for “repairs–papering” in August at 55 Hancock Street (M/CFA/3). Foster was married to AA’s niece, Elizabeth Smith (1771–1854); see vol. 1:155 and Adams Genealogy.
The executors of W. N. Boylston’s will (see above, 7 Sept., note) found it necessary to assume the administration of the estate of his uncle Thomas Boylston (1721–1798), on whom see Adams Genealogy. W. N. Boylston had administered the estate skillfully but much was unsettled when he died, most importantly—and as it turned out, most unfortunately—the matter of recovering upwards of £10,000 sterling which had been collected by an English agent, Petty Vaughan, under a claim against the French government (JQA, Diary, 25 June; 8, 9 July; 1, 4, 11 Aug. 1829). The immediate problem was to draw new letters of administration in such a way as to satisfy the English courts that the executors of W. N. Boylston could deliver to Vaughan a full discharge on receipt of the funds and to satisfy the Massachusetts courts that the powers being conferred were properly limited and that jurisdictional issues were resolved. CFA was engaged in drawing papers during Sept.—Nov. 1829. When presented to the Suffolk County Probate Court in Boston they provided, by agreement of the executors, that letters of administration were to be issued in the name of JQA alone, with the other two executors named as bondsmen in the amount of $80,000. (JQA, Diary, 17, 28–30 Sept.; 31 Oct.; 9 Nov. 1829). On the later history of the claim, see below, entry for 13 Jan. 1830.
At this time the Edward Everetts had their home at Winter Hill in Charlestown (Everett, Diary, 12 Sept. 1829).
Nathan Hale (1784–1863) was the publisher of the Boston Daily Advertiser at 6 Congress Street. His wife was the former Sarah Preston Everett, sister of Edward Everett. Their home was on Tremont Place; see vol. 2:169 and
Boston Directory, 1829–1830.
Mary M. Dehon was the sister of Mrs. Sidney Brooks (vol. 2:185).
Jean François de La Harpe, Lycée ou cours de littérature ancienne et moderne. CFA continued his reading in La Harpe on the ancients until 14 November. JQA owned an edition published at Paris in 16 vols., 1820, now in MQA.