Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1830-12-29
The day was a very pleasant one, and seems to be paying with the rest of our present week for the severity of the past. I went to the Office as usual and performed my usual work besides giving some attention to what is now my amusement, writing Commentaries upon the sayings of the wise men.
Two interruptions. Mr. Veazie is the Carpenter at Quincy who came in to see about the Posts about which Mr. Beale and I were talking. I discussed with him many points in relation to the old House, and concluded by asking him to provide estimates for the Stone, after which I would talk with him. This is a good opportunity to make a permanent improvement in respect to the externals of the old house and one which I should think it not undesirable to embrace.1 Mr. Taylor called about my Uncle, the Judge’s accident and asked me to interfere in his favour, which I declined wholly to do. I wonder what people will come for next. If the Judge will not pay, I suppose they think his friends must.
I also drew my few bills for professional Services which I may claim on the New Year. I wish they were more. Afternoon, finished Brutus and began the Orator which Middleton says was designed as a completion of the whole subject in connection. It seems to me by far the most finished piece of writing. The commencement of it is beautiful, but there is a little repetition. Evening, L’Hermite with my Wife, and Evelina aloud to her, after which, I went on with my Catalogue, and read two Numbers of the Tatler.
392The wooden posts supporting the fence on the side of the Old House had been renewed, but when work was begun on the front fence it was found that all new posts would be needed. It was the opinion of Mr. Beale and CFA that it was opportune to replace the gateposts with stone ones; that at least estimates should be secured (CFA to JQA, 25 Dec., Adams Papers). In his reply JQA approved replacement of the posts with ones constructed of hammered stone (JQA to CFA, 30 Dec., Adams Papers).
1830-12-30
Another very pleasant day. I went to the Office as usual and spent my time in preparing my Accounts for the Quarter, in writing my Journal and in continuing the Comments upon the Wise Men. All this took up much time.
The European news seems to give notice of an impending War,1 the effect of which upon this Country remains to be seen. Probably it may be favourable for England though striving will hardly be able to keep perfectly clear.2 I went in to see how Stocks were affected, and was surprised to notice the rise. They are enormously high.
I went to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham where Mr. Brooks also dined. It was very well, returned in the afternoon and found a Client, Mr. Champney in search of me. He wished to secure a debt of his, due by a Cabinet Maker for whom he had been building. His business occupied me for the afternoon and part of the evening. I made two Writs for him, read a little French with my Wife, and a little of Evelina, after which I went on with my Catalogue and read the Tatler.
The latest dispatches from Europe indicated that affairs had assumed “a much more warlike aspect” and suggested that “a general war in Europe is at least probable.” In England Wellington’s ministry had fallen and there were disorders in London; on the Continent the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands had been effected with great destruction of property in Antwerp and a blockade of the Belgian ports by the Dutch, the death of the king of Naples had further unsettled matters in Italy, there had been further changes in the cabinet in France, Prussian troops were reported collecting along the Belgian border, and, most ominous of all, Russia was assembling a large army on her frontier and, it was rumored, had declared war against France, largely as a consequence of the overthrow of the monarchy and the accession of Louis-Philippe. Failures of banking houses in various cities accompanied the crisis. (Boston Daily Advertiser, 29 Dec., p. 2, cols. 1–2; 30 Dec., p. 2, cols. 1–5.)
Thus in MS. By supplying commas following “favourable,” “England,” and “striving” a satisfactory reading is attained. The meaning would be as follows: Probably the effect of a war in Europe upon this country would be favorable, for England, though striving to keep perfectly clear of such a war, will hardly be able to do so.
1830-12-31
Morning dark and rainy. I went to the Office as usual, and was very much occupied in preparing my Accounts due at the close of this 393Quarter and in drawing up my Letter in explanation of the Affairs of the whole year,1 which engrossed all the time I had at my disposal, and more too, for I was taken up for two or three hours with an attempt to arrange the difference between my Clients and the person they had sued, but the whole conversation resulted in nothing, and I returned home some time after my dinner hour. The Afternoon was spent in the same manner copying what I had done in the morning. This work is on the whole rather tedious and somewhat exclusive, for it puts an entire stop to the regular train of study which is my delight.
Evening, we were just going on with our usual French studies when we were interrupted by Chapman my Classmate who came and passed a tolerably agreeable evening. I went on afterwards with my Catalogue and read two numbers of the Tatler. How different from the evening of last year. Yet to me how much more pleasant.
CFA to JQA, 31 Dec., LbC, Adams Papers. For the most part the review was a comparison of the physical condition of JQA’s Boston real estate holdings at the end of 1829 and of 1830, of the income received from them, and of the cost of repairs.