Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-12-18
The rain and wind continued through the day. I went to the Office. Engaged in my usual occupations—Writing and Parliamentary Debates. Nothing of consequence. Could not walk.
Home. Afternoon, Bacon de Augmentis and Walpole1 and Virgil and Mackintosh. Thus I give in brief my various pursuits. But they 231all fill me with despair. Walpole alone is a small literary fop. The rest are masters of their Art. What a dog am I, to think of publishing to the world my thoughts after such as these.
Horace Walpole’s Letters to Sir Horace Mann, 3 vols., London, 1833, had been borrowed from the Athenaeum.
1833-12-19
The weather cloudy but the wind has ceased. I went to the Office and was engaged in reading and writing. Received a letter from my Mother by which being informed that she had sent some Curtains to me,1 I had them
I wrote all the Afternoon.3 In the evening my Wife and I to the Theatre. Mr. and Mrs. Wood. Der Freyschutz. Weber’s music. The choruses with one exception failed. Mr. Wood’s voice is as a whole the best I have heard here. It is not so well trained as Garcia’s. She sings very well but I do not relish her style. Too much dashing and not that delicacy which struck me in Mrs. Austin, nor the deep intonations of the Signorina.4 Yet it is decidedly pleasant to hear such music. Comer fails in serious parts. The Orchestra pretty good. Music wild and wonderful. Home and to bed early.
LCA to ABA, 11–14 Dec., written in journal form at ABA’s suggestion, and continuing an earlier letter, 8–10 Dec., in the same form (both in Adams Papers).
To B. F. Hallett, 16 Dec. (LbC, Adams Papers). Principally a defense of JQA’s proposed course against the charge that Hallett had predicted would be raised: that once again JQA had shown disregard for the claims of party.
To JQA, 19 Dec. (Adams Papers). A renewed plea to that made in CFA’s earlier letter of the 16th that JQA remove from his address any mention of election by plurality and any endorsement of Davis. The same points were further urged in two letters of the 19th from Hallett to JQA (both in Adams Papers).
On CFA’s recollections of Manuel Garcia, his celebrated daughter, Signorina Maria Felicita (Mrs. Malibran), and Mrs. Elizabeth Austin, see below, note to entry for 24 April 1834.
1833-12-20
Fine morning. I went to the Office and passed my time very quietly reading and writing and making up Accounts. Mr. Ladd called in and 232we had a talk. He is the least punctual of my Tenants, and the most requiring in repairs. I talked to him plainly and he promised much better. I should like to get rid of him as a Tenant, and would let the House to the Steam Doctor if he would take it.
Walk. Quiet afternoon copying my letter which is a critical one. Then read more of Bacon’s admirable Treatise. Evening at home—Mackintosh his account of Hartley, Tucker and Paley. Read Walpole to my Wife.