Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 3
1831-02-22
Morning mild and tolerably pleasant. I went to the Office as usual and was engaged in my avocations, writing and reading all the morning. Nothing of any particular importance occurred, and after sending out some accounts which are due to the Estate of my Father here, I sat down to reflect upon what I might be called to say at the Meeting of the Debating Society this week, as I had in some measure pledged myself to reply. I proceeded not far when I was reminded to take a walk. But this was half prevented by meeting with the publication of Mr. Calhoun’s Pamphlet—Where I read several of the letters with some interest. It is however a poor concern on the whole.1 A short walk and return home.
Afternoon, Began the next Oration against Verres and accomplished thirty Sections. It is easier and much more pleasant than the preceding though still nothing but an account of Robbery and Rapine. Such a Scoundrel never was seen on the face of the Earth. The Account must be exaggerated.
Evening quiet at home. Mr. Edmund Quincy came in and passed a couple of hours after which I continued with the Greek Grammar and the Tatler.
428In the preceding week Vice-President Calhoun had caused to be published a pamphlet containing Correspondence between Gen. Andrew Jackson and John C. Calhoun “on the subject of the course of the latter in the deliberations of the cabinet of Mr. Monroe, on the occurrences in the Seminole War.” In addition to a prefatory letter to the People of the United States by Calhoun and supporting letters to and from a number of persons, including JQA, the pamphlet’s core consisted of Calhoun’s letter to President Jackson of 29 May 1830 in which he set forth his position. On the background of the controversy see entry for 22 Jan., above.
Upon the appearance of the pamphlet, newspaper publication of its contents, in whole or in part, followed at once. The National Intelligencer printed Calhoun’s preface in the issue for 17 Feb., p. 3, cols. 3–4, and in its next issue printed all the correspondence, including JQA’s letter to Calhoun of 14 Jan. (19 Feb., p. 1–4). The documents as published by Calhoun are in Calhoun, Works, ed. Crallé, 6:349–445.
1831-02-23
Morning rainy and warm. The Snow began to go off in quantity and gave us some intimation of the decline of the Winter. I went to the Office and received from my brother the Pamphlet upon Mr. Calhoun’s affair. Conversed also with Mr. Peabody upon an article in a Baptist paper criticising my Article in the Review. It is rather severe and in some particulars correct.1 I read over some of the Correspondence again and on the whole passed my day pretty lazily for I am not sensible of having accomplished any thing.
Took a short walk though the weather was bad and returned home. Mr. Frothingham and Mr. Peabody dined with me upon venison. Tolerably pleasant. Mr. Angier, Abby’s friend came in immediately afterward. I went to my study however at four o’clock and read twenty sections of the Oration de Signis. They were not difficult. This has more of the elegant fluency of Cicero’s manner than any other of his upon this subject that I have yet read.
Evening at home. Miss Adams went out to spend the evening and I resumed the Jealous Wife to my Wife when interrupted by a visit from Mr. Degrand, who remained and talked Politics all the evening. No time afterward except to read the Tatler.
In the issue of the Christian Watchman (the organ of the Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts) for 14 Jan., a communication signed “Secundus” (p. 2, col. 2), and in that of 18 Feb., another signed “Tertius” (p. 2, col. 5), took the author of the
North American Review
article on Grahame’s History to task for the inaccuracy and unfairness of his comments on Roger Williams.
1831-02-24
Morning cold again. These alternations of weather are not so pleasant. The Winter still struggles for it’s hold and sometimes gains a victory. I went to the Office as usual and occupied myself almost the whole morning in an examination of papers and authorities in relation 429to the business of Saturday Evening’s Argument. I made a sketch of my remarks and tried to consider them over so as to avoid the trouble of a long Speech. This examination will not be useless to me. For the information it contains will do to lay up. How much information upon every subject a man must hunt after.
I took a long walk to J. D. Williams Store to try some Wine for table use and finally bought some. I find that it is too expensive to adhere to the plan I had fixed upon, to purchase first rate wine. So I bought some good middling quality. Returned home to a Capital dinner of venison. After which I finished the Oration de Signis and began that de Suppliciis, which the Commentator praises far above the rest.
Evening at home alone with my Wife. Finished the Jealous Wife and began the Critic.1 Miss Adams was spending the day at a friend’s. She returned at eight. I read some of the Greek Grammar and my usual Numbers of the Tatler.
Sheridan’s comedy.