Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-04-02
Morning clear and weather fine. I began my morning’s studies, by seriously reviewing the Oration for the Crown by Aeschines upon 21which I propose now to study one hour every morning. Then to the Office where I was engaged in my Accounts, until eleven, when I went to call for my Wife and Mrs. Frothingham to go and see Audubon’s Engravings of American Birds.1 They are of the natural size and certainly splendid as well from the Ornithology as the Botany they display. We remained an hour.
I returned to the Office and was worried afterwards by Tenants coming which now annoys me exceedingly. I wish I could afford to throw up the thing. A short walk. Afternoon, pursuing the study of Cicero, but owing to low spirits and listlessness I did not progress very far, with the Oration for Flaccus. Evening, reading Parry to my Wife, and began Weddel’s Voyage to the South Pole.2 He went farther than any body and says he saw a clear Sea, which is extraordinary enough. Read the Spectator upon Wit—Some valuable papers.
Perhaps Audubon’s engravings were included under the rubric “Domestic Birds and Animals, colored” in the collection of “Beautiful Engravings & Lithographies” to be sold at auction at the Julien Auction Rooms, Milk and Congress streets, and on display there (Boston Daily Advertiser, 2 April, p. 3, col. 6).
James Weddell, A Voyage towards the South Pole ... in ... 1822–1824, London, 1825.
1831-04-03
Morning clear, but a cold Easterly Wind rather produced chill in the Air and hurt its pleasantness. My Wife and I attended Divine Service at Mr. Frothingham’s, where we heard him deliver a Sermon upon the Communion, it being the regular day for that service. After which I took a long walk.
Finished Weddell’s Voyage. It is the Account of a Man not much versed in Science who made a daring Voyage in pursuit of Commercial Speculation. He gives An Account of the South Seas somewhat varying from that of his predecessor Cook. And he says he penetrated to 74 degrees South with a clear Sea. I see no reason to disbelieve him. If so however, the question of land might easily be settled.
Attended Service in the Afternoon alone and heard a Sermon upon the invisible nature of God as a reason for scepticism. It appeared well handled as far as I listened, but I felt tired with my Walk. Commenced reading Hearne’s Journey to the Mouth of the Copper Mine River and accomplished a large portion of it.1 Evening, Parry, and the Spectator upon Wit.
Probably CFA is referring to Samuel Hearne, A Journey from Prince of Wales’s Fort in Hudson’s Bay to the Northern Ocean, Undertaken ... for the Discovery of Copper Mines, a North West Passage ... 1769–1772, London, 1795.