Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-09-26
The day was cloudy and dark with occasional heavy rain though not cold. I occupied myself as usual. Finished the third Olynthiac of 146Demosthenes. I propose now to devote some time to a careful review of them—So that I may know them at any time at sight, without difficulty in construction. They are all specimens of a style but very little known in our day. The concise, persuasive, popular style. I wonder that somebody or other has not studied this manner for use in the present day. Our haranguing style is very indifferent. Read some numbers of the Federalist upon the arrangement of the Senate, and then examined an old volume of Debates in the Convention of Massachusetts that diverted me.1
Afternoon, read the eleventh Book of the letters to Atticus, which is another scene of trepidation after the defeat of the Pompeian party. Who would have been Cicero with all his glory and all his weaknesses? For my part I should prefer to remain what I am, a quiet, inoffensive mortal. Read Bacon’s Essay on Masques and Shows.
Evening with the ladies, after which I continued Gillies, and read two of Addison’s Essays upon the Imagination.
This was presumably Debates, Resolutions and Other Proceedings, of the Convention ... of Massachusetts, Convened, on the 9th of January, 1788, ... for the Purpose of ... Ratifying the Constitution Recommended by the Grand Federal Convention, Boston, 1788. A copy is among JA’s books in the Boston Public Library (
Catalogue of JA’s Library
, p. 161).
1831-09-27
The morning was dark and we had rain at intervals throughout the day. So that I could not execute my intention of going to Boston. Instead of it, I occupied myself in reviewing a large part of the first Philippic of Demosthenes. I find it quite easy, though as usual I perceive more beauty and more connexion, in this perusal. I then read several numbers of the Federalist upon the powers of the President which contain much strong reasoning that I never noticed before, upon the feature of the system restraining the election to four years of Office and admitting a continuance. I have been very much inclined to the other side, but these arguments are certainly worth considering.
Continued the Debates in the Massachusetts Convention, and was struck with the Speech of Mr. T. Dawes of Boston who was decidedly in the opinion that Manufactures were to be protected.1 I think I can make use of this, some time or other.
Afternoon, the twelfth book of the Letters to Atticus in which I made considerable progress. Also Bacon’s Essay upon Men’s Nature. Thus passed a day as quiet as they generally go here.
Evening with the Ladies, after which Gillies and two of Addison’s Papers.
147The speech of Thomas Dawes Jr., of Boston, was in support of the adoption of Article I, sect. 8, giving Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises. On Dawes, see further,
Commonwealth Hist. of Mass.
, 4:36, 41.