Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 4
1831-06-24
The day was bright and absolutely cold making a singular change from the past. I rode to town as usual and spent my morning pretty quietly at my Office. Nothing of any consequence happened. I had several calls. One from a man presenting a Draught upon T. B. Adams, for his Son J.Q.A. Jr. which I paid. One from Mr. Ayer the 75Carpenter about Repairs. Having finished these, I read a part of the Ami des Hommes, which appears to contain some good things.
Returned to Quincy with another Horse. My luck this Season has not been good with them. Afternoon, read the thirteenth Philippic of Cicero, upon the letter of Antony to Hirtius and Caesar, and upon the course of Lepidus. This is peculiar as being Criticism, Paragraph by paragraph, sharpened by the venom of political and personal hatred. Cicero affords examples of the varieties of invective and perhaps it is well for a man to have them as studies. But I do not fancy the strain. It is degrading to the character of human nature. Evening at home. I resumed Baron Grimm and read the Spectator.
1831-06-25
Morning clear and cool with an Easterly Wind throughout the day. I went to town for the purpose of avoiding my Father’s invitation to go and see Mr. Bailey which I knew would come and place me in all the heat of an Antimasonic Conversation.1 I was engaged much as usual, though I had more time on my hands to read Mirabeau’s Ami des Hommes. I finished it once and began a review. The first book is upon Agriculture and Population, tolerably good. Returned to Quincy as usual.
Afternoon finished the fourteenth and last Philippic upon the Victory gained by the Consuls and Caesar over Antony, persuading further measures. Shortly after this, the triumvirate was formed, and Cicero fell an early victim to political expediency. This Oration is a graceful close to the series of his Oratorical labours. A series not equalled in the two thousand years which have passed since his death. I had a little time left to assort papers, which I do now at every leisure moment as my period for staying here is rapidly closing.
Evening, the ladies remained out until quite late. It was cool and I took a solitary walk. After which I continued Grimm and read the Spectator as usual.
John Bailey, currently active in Antimasonry, is identified at vol. 1:444. JQA’s intended visit to him was apparently postponed. Two days later he visited JQA at Quincy in order to request a letter to Albert Gallatin supporting Bailey’s candidacy for a professorship of Moral Philosophy at the new University of the City of New York, of which Gallatin was president of the Council. JQA, Diary, 27 June; John Bailey to JQA, 28 June; JQA to Gallatin, 11 July, LbC (both letters in Adams Papers);
DAB
, under Gallatin.
1831-06-26
The Weather was cool and pleasant all day. I attended Divine Service and heard Mr. Whitney preach. His afternoon Sermon was an 76attack upon Miss Wright for her doctrines with a general defence of the immortality of the Soul as established by revelation.1 Nothing material took place.
My Mother with her usual benevolence of intention, thinking to assist I. Hull has interested herself with the higher powers to get him a place in the Navy. She has obtained it and it seems he is averse to the proposition. The Warrant has been offered to his youngest brother who springs at it.2 This family is a thorn in our side. It is craving and ungrateful. I am willing to give my best advice to the children who help themselves, but I would not raise a finger for father or mother or gentlemen youths. My father’s life has been one constant series of benefits forgot. But I must say, the course he pursues is a premium to misconduct.
I filed Papers a considerable part of the day. In the evening had a conversation with my Father upon the character of Milton’s Poetry. The first since I have been out here embracing any thing like general literature. Such are the expectations of life. Read Grimm and the Spectator.
DAB
,
DNB
). Rev. Peter Whitney, frightened by the spread of Universalism, identified her with that sect in the hope of blackening it. JQA’s misinformed account of her may reflect his own views or may be wholly or in large part simply a report of Whitney’s characterization:
“Fanny Wright an English female Atheist who has been delivering Lectures in the principal cities of the United States, against Slavery, Marriage, and Christianity. She has every where gained numerous Proselytes, and there is a party scattered all over the Country, who call themselves the working men’s Party, but who are generally called by others Fanny Wright’s Party. Fanny makes no pretension to believe in a future State; nor even in the existence of a God; but she has an inveterate aversion to Slavery of all kinds—To African Slavery—Matrimonial Slavery—Religious Slavery. She declaims against them all, and never wants an Auditory. There is a Religious Sect rapidly growing in this part of the Country denominated Universalists who approach very nearly to the doctrines of Fanny but they profess to be Christians. They suppose the Soul and body to perish together ... and particularly that there will be no future State of punishment. This is a compound of Atheism and Superstition well suited to the inconsistencies and absurdities incident to the reasoning faculties of men; and the Sect is spreading marvellously. They have had preachers here for these two years, and have taken from Mr. Whitney about one third of his Parishioners.”
(JQA, Diary, 22 May, 26 June.)
The warrant for Joseph Harrod Adams was secured through the good offices of Commodore Isaac Hull, after whom the reluctant Hull Adams had been named. LCA to JA2, 26 June (Adams Papers).