Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-05-26
Morning cloudy but it became beautifully clear by Noon. I went to Boston as usual. Busy in Commissions for the family, and in making 56up my Journal which by absence from town becomes burdensome, as I have two or three days to make up at a time. Went also to the Athenaeum, and was so generally engaged that I could not read at all. Such is the daily course of living out of town and such are the reasons that cause me to object to it. Wrote several dunning Notes which is my amusement. Returned to Quincy, having John Kirk with me who brought in a horse my father has been trying.
After dinner, I passed an hour in reading the Oration against Gabinius, and another in assorting Dr. Franklin’s Letters to my Grandfather. He had considerable difficulty with my Grandfather whose very uncompromising character did not suit him. And much of this History is a secret. And much of it is so debateable as to be dangerous matter to bring up.1
In the evening, I read a portion of Walter Scott’s book upon demonology,2 after which my old acquaintance, Baron Grimm and the Spectator.
JA and Franklin served together, not always harmoniously, as Commissioners on all three joint American missions from 1778 to 1786. See JA, Diary and Autobiography
, passim. Franklin’s letters to JA in the Adams Papers were written largely during those years.
Sir Walter Scott, Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft. The edition at MQA was published at New York in 1830, the year of its original publication in London.
1831-05-27
Morning for the first time for a considerable period clear. I started to go to town, as usual excepting that I got away unusually early. Arrived, I was busy for an hour or two in obtaining wood for my house, and also two or three articles wanted. This cramps my time at the Office considerably. Executed some business there also. Mr. Jackson the Painter called to see me, he has been quite sick. I asked him to come to a settlement, and present his bill, not having as I hope any further occasion for his services for a considerable time. My fathers Property is now in pretty good order, and I hope to keep it so. It has cost a large sum of money to put in repair but this has been owing to the inattention of a preceding period. The whole is now let, as I hope profitably.
Returned to Quincy and passed the Afternoon in reading Cicero against Piso, and in assorting Papers. I have nearly completed two cases. The evening was quite cold. We were quietly at home as usual. I read the Baron de Grimm and began the third volume of the Spectator.