Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-09-14
Morning cloudy and cold, with a drizzle from the Eastward. Went to town as usual. My first business was to go to my House to look at it’s condition and being there I made several alterations in my Library to meet the new acquisition of Buffon—My father having sent one of his Copies for my use.1 I feel always a great deal of pleasure in being in my study. It seems to be a literary atmosphere, in which I can indulge my favourite pursuits. But I could not stay at present. One fortnight will I hope see me back there.
One or two applications for the Tenements, a little of Hutchinson, and Accounts consumed the greater portion of the morning. Returned to Medford and found Mr. and Mrs. Everett with their children there to dine. Our dinner was pleasant as usual. My afternoon passed without any material occurrence excepting the doing nothing. A business of all others the most easy and least profitable.
Evening, Rollin upon the Eloquence of the Pulpit. He quotes much from the Fathers but on the whole his account is dry. The criticism of the Dictionnaire Historique appears in this case to be correct. His doctrine is superficial leaving no impression upon the mind. A mere 320series of passages from distinguished authors will hardly suffice, to get an understanding of style. They are various and confuse rather than teach.
The Histoire naturelle of George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, published at Paris in 1800 in 74 volumes is in MQA and bears JQA’s bookplate.
1830-09-15
Morning extremely fine, one of the first which we have had, for I rarely recollect a Season in which the Weather has been so cold. The Fruit has not had time to ripen and the foliage bears marks of it’s influence. Rode to town accompanied by Mr. Frothingham and went to the Office, from thence to my house where I sent1 and arranged the copy of Buffon, already spoken of. Felt as if I wished the time for my going there was come, but patience must be my guide.
Returned and read a portion of Hutchinson. Was detained in the Street for half an hour by an applicant who wanted one of the Tenements, but bored me upon every subject. He is a thoroughgoing democrat of the first water, and however much I may like the party, this specimen is not the most attractive portion of it. Glad to get away. Returned to Medford.
Afternoon broken by the arrival of Edward Brooks and his Wife who took tea here as well as Messrs. C. C. Emerson and J. Lyman.2 Mr. Brooks was not at home, having gone to attend the funeral of Mr. Bridge in Charlestown.3 Evening quiet. I finished the second Volume of Rollin.
Thus in MS.
Charles Chauncy Emerson (1808–1836), Harvard 1828, the son of Rev. William Emerson, was a lawyer (Records of the First Church in Boston, Col. Soc. Mass., Pubns.
, 40 [1961]:467). J. Lyman may have been Joseph Lyman, Harvard 1830.
Samuel J. Bridge of 16 Summer Street, Boston, died in New York City on 6 Sept. (
Boston Directory, 1830–1831; Columbian Centinel, 11 Sept., p. 2, col. 4).
1830-09-16
Morning fine but cool. I rode to town as usual and was occupied at my Office. Went to the Athenaeum for a few moments, with the view of looking at the Courier which nominated my father for Congress but there was no Copy there. I took the opportunity to obtain some books to assist me in my Catalogue, and returned. Found what I was looking for at the Reading Room in State Street.1
I worked a little upon my Catalogue but found myself stopped for the want of several things only to be obtained at my Study. I then 321read a little of Hutchinson, and the time came to return to Medford. My Wife was quite unwell all day and confined to her bed. I read Rollin although I do not feel so much interested in the historical portion of the work. It is matter a little too simple for me, it brings me back to rudiments so often worked over as to have become disgusting.
Mr. Theodore Lyman came to pay Mr. Brooks a short visit. I saw him only for a moment. He is rather a favourite with Mr. B. but I confess I see nothing in his character attractive or pleasant. And my mind is not given to bend in devotion to wealth, without any other quality.2 I had a very quiet evening.
The Reading Room was located in the Old State House at the head of State Street (
Boston Directory, 1830–1831, p. 34). The issue of the Boston Courier for which CFA was searching was that of 6 September. In it (p. 1, col. 4) there appeared a paragraph, unsigned but apparently the work of J. T. Buckingham, the paper’s editor and proprietor, as follows: “We would not wish to be considered meddlesome, but we take the liberty of suggesting to the National Republicans of Norfolk, that they would do well to elect Mr. ADAMS, the ex-president, as their next representative. There are many considerations which might make such an election desirable to them as a party, and, unless we mistake entirely Mr. Adams’s disposition, there are as many which might render an election agreeable to him.” At first JQA dismissed the suggestion. “As the Editor of the Paper has been uniformly hostile to me, I supposed this nomination was made with the same Spirit, and did not imagine it was seriously thought of by any one” (JQA, Diary, 17 Sept.). However, he was soon visited by a number of persons including A. H. Everett, John Brazer Davis, and Joseph Richardson, the incumbent who refused to be a candidate for reelection, all presumably bent on urging JQA to run (JQA, Diary, 17, 18 Sept.).
Theodore Lyman Jr., wealthy merchant, federalist, and lately a supporter of Andrew Jackson, was a fellow director with Mr. Brooks of the Massachusetts Society for Agriculture. His extensive estate was in Waltham. See vol. 2:103, 323, 326; also entry for 27 Jan., above.