Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-11-28
The day was a very fine one. I attended Divine Service all day, and heard Mr. Stetson preach a very able and useful Sermon upon the practice of Slander and Gossip which is so prevalent among us. I like that kind of address, for it is probable that not a single person sat in that Meeting house to whom his words did not in some degree apply. This is the true purpose of the divine Ministry as established on earth, and not the writing a mere collection of beautifully arranged sentences of morals.1 This does not derogate from beauty of style or speaking because only that style of speaking can be worthy of the name of most beautiful, which most perfectly executes the purposes for which the whole Institution is designed. The afternoon’s Sermon was more doctrinal and less valuable.
I amused myself during the rest of the day, dipping a little into Michel Montaigne, with whom I was more amused than ever before. He has much thought delivered in a rambling kind of way. Evening, Messrs. Jonathan Brooks and his son Saml., came up and passed the whole evening, tolerably pleasantly.
Both the sermon on slander and gossip and CFA’s strongly approving reaction to the choice of subject may have had a topical significance at this time beyond the general suitability of the lesson: “Boston has been in a state of consternation owing to a little scandalous peccadillo which has occurred and crushed all the interest of the European News and almost of internal politics. It is as high in its grade as the Knap murder and conducted with all the deliberation which rendered that incident so awful. The Lovelace began with bad 372books at the age of 12 and completed the Seduction at 14 and it has come out on the eve of the marriage of the lassy aged 22 because she would not agree to infringe the rights of matrimony. It is a New Bedford affair. The Mother gone distracted” (LCA to Mrs. JA2, 26 Nov., Adams Papers).
1830-11-29
Boston
The morning was cloudy and cold. It cleared away however in the course of the day. We returned to town with Mr. Brooks and had a pretty cold time. I got to the Office very late indeed so that I could do little or nothing, except write my Journal. Mr. A. H. Everett called to see me and gave a final answer about taking his Office. He agreed to begin upon the 1st of the month.1 This is well, and now I have only the small house unrented out of all my father’s property here. I hope this will not remain long upon my hands. Should it not, I should feel extremely gratified to have every inch of his Estate profitable at the same time. I walked down to see the repairs at the Wooden Tenements, and was glad to find that they were nearly finished. This has been a long and an expensive job.
After dinner I finished Cicero de Oratore, but the last has been read most superficially, so that I began the whole again for a final and thorough review. For this I am the better prepared as I have both the Notes of the edition d’Olivet, and a translation by Guthrie.2 I accomplished the first seven sections fully. Evening, Corinne, and Lady Morgan, interrupted however by Edmund Quincy who passed two hours here. Finished the tenth Book of Paradise Lost in review, began the eleventh and read two Numbers of the Tatler.
See above, entry for 9 October. The tenancy of a room in the 23 Court Street building as an editorial office for the
North American Review
continued until Dec. 1833 at an annual rent of $80 (M/CFA/3).
William Guthrie’s translation was published at London in 1742.
1830-11-30
Much to my surprise, I found the day as stormy as that on Thursday. The rain set in from the Eastward and continued with a high wind all day. I went to the Office as usual and was busy during my time in my German which I pursued with some success. At the same time I got my room prepared for Mr. Everett’s reception. I am still so little satisfied with my morning’s occupation that I am thinking of altering my arrangements, and resuming some review. My old undertaking of Williston recurs to my mind with a strong inclination. I will think about it.
Returned home and sat in the cold all the afternoon for fear of 373being overpowered with smoke, and though I suffered in feeling I gained in progress, for I accomplished Thirty Sections or one half of the first book de Oratore, which is by far the most amusing as I think.
Evening, the usual quantity of Corinne and then some of Lady Morgan. She is a vain, silly woman, and yet not unamusing—Though she fatigues from monotony. Afterwards, I read the remainder of Paradise Lost Book Eleventh and reviewed a part of it. After which, finished with two Numbers of the Tatler.1 It continued raining in the Night.
When CFA began his reading of the Tatler (above, entry for 11 Oct.), he also undertook to make a brief daily comment, sometimes no more than a word, on the subject or tone of each number or on his reaction to it. He entered these comments in what had been one of GWA’s commonplace books, continuing the practice until this day on which he read Nos. 88 and 89, though on 24 Nov. he had recorded, “I am almost tired of my plan.” (Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 294.)