Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-01-04
We returned to town as early as we could make it out, which was not however before 11 o’clock. The heavy rain which had fallen in the Night gave us a beautiful day, and the ride was pleasant, but I had not reached my Office before I found that my business called for me. A Number of persons had called to receive their dues upon the arrival of the first of the year. I was very busy in making up my Accounts, but a little disappointed in my receipts which were not very considerable. My Uncle, T. B. Adams called in and made the usual settlement at the Commencement of the Quarter. Mr. Gilson came in and settled with me as to the little Law business I had done for him.1 My Cash Accounts do not please me over much. There seems a deficiency in promptitude of payment, which I do not at all admire.
In the afternoon I called at Mrs. Foster’s to see Miss Abby S. Adams and pay her the Quarterly Interest. Stopped in at Miss Oliver’s but found her unprepared to settle with me. This business being done, I had barely time to go home and read a few pages of Sophocles, before it became time to go to the annual meeting of the Proprietors of the Athenaeum. This was the first which I had attended. There was little or nothing remarkable which happened. Col. T. H. Perkins was chosen President instead of Mr. Quincy who withdrew.2 I returned home and passed the Evening in reading Clarissa Harlowe to Abby, after which I saved time enough to finish my Letter to my Father.
Perhaps Asa Gilson of Gilson & Foster, stablemen, of Hawley Place or Joshua Gilson of Gilson & Livermore, grocers, of West and Mason streets (
Boston Directory, 1830–1831).
President Josiah Quincy of Harvard had resigned the presidency of the Athenaeum because of his “transfer to Cambridge.” On Col. Thomas Handasyd Perkins, see vol. 2:151. CFA took his elevation to the presidency as a mark of the shift taking place in the direction of civic enterprises to those who had acquired wealth in commerce, remarking that since the institution “is now supported by the wealth of the Merchants, it is but fair the most liberal among them should have the credit” (CFA to JQA, 3 The History of the Boston Athenaeum ..., Cambridge, 1851, p. 70, 96–97). Abel Bowen’s engraving of the buildings is reproduced in the present volume; see above, p. xiv–xv.
1830-01-05
Morning at the Office. Occupied as usual in arranging my Accounts which take up considerable time and in writing my Journal which takes more. This ought to be changed for they neither of them merit quite so much attention as I give to them. I found time however to read several very interesting Speeches in Williston’s Book, many of which on the Judiciary in 1802, I had read before.1 They do not much vary the views I have taken upon the general question. My time passed rapidly and after dinner, having paid a visit at Mrs. Foster’s, and settled with Elizabeth2 for the Quarter, I returned and read a considerable portion of Aeschines with relish. Finished my despatch to my Father which was somewhat long, and as Abby was out I wrote something more upon my Dissertation. It is a little too bold to publish I fear, and not good enough. I have not yet made up my mind whether to offer it for publication. But if I do, I must make it up to have it rejected.
I was soon reminded of the necessity of going to Edward Brooks’ to the usual meeting of the family. Chardon and his Wife were not there and our Meeting was much the pleasantest we have had this Winter. I see clearly that the misunderstanding with them is the cause of all our disagreements and I regret it. We remained until ten, and I then came home quite pleased with my evening.
The speeches of Stephens T. Mason and Gouverneur Morris in the Senate and of William Branch Giles and James A. Bayard in the House in 1802 on the repeal of the Judiciary Bill of 1801 appear in Williston’s Eloquence at 2:82–235.
His cousin ECA.
1830-01-06
Morning at the Office. As Miss Oliver this morning sent me a portion of her rent I was again occupied in arranging my Accounts, though they did not take up quite so much time as usual. I was engaged in reading Williston and the sharp Speeches of Mr. Giles and Mr. Bayard upon the Judiciary Bill of 1802. Mr. Beale of Quincy called in to see me having heard I had made inquiry respecting the meeting of the Quincy Canal Company. He told me that the meeting would be held at six o’clock on Tuesday next which is a very inconvenient hour to me. But I agreed to attend as my Father is desirous that I should. He gave me also the unwelcome news that the Neponset 126Bridge Company made no Dividend this Quarter. I am somewhat disappointed at the State of my father’s funds, this month, and am thus taught the necessity of never anticipating too much. This Company is a rarely failing source of revenue. But so it is, it fails when most calculated upon.
After dinner I was as usual occupied reading Aeschines in his close where he attempts to anticipate the objections of his Adversary and so evidently exhibits the great dread he entertains of him, but I did not finish the Oration. As Abby was again out I continued my Essay upon Eloquence. Although I get dissatisfied as I go on, yet I am resolved to persevere, and after my whole plan is finished I will then look it over to criticize. This evening I was not in the spirit, being oppressed with a bad cold upon my Lungs. I left off to call for Abby at her sister Anne’s, after which, I read over the Lives of Demosthenes and Cicero by Plutarch.