Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-12-22
Heavy rain and the Streets in such a condition from its freezing on the bricks as to be dangerous. I went to Meeting nevertheless. Mr. Frothingham, 1 Mark. 1. 3. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” An eloquent Account of the origin and progress of Christianity with a happy allusion to it’s first starting on this shore and the anniversary of it today. Mr. Emerson1 from Colossians 1. 9–10. Too long to quote, but the substance in the closing words, “increasing in the knowledge of God.” The destruction of Idolatry, and sacrifice, and the cherishing of the immortal principle within us, he considers as the great results of Christianity. His Sermons are always interesting though often paradoxical. Atterbury. Matthew. 7. 12. “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.” The explanation of this maxim on the Anniversary 233of the 5 November. On the whole the poorest Sermon of his I have read. Finished Mackintosh. Walpole in the evening to my wife.
Ralph Waldo Emerson during the year before had severed his connection with the Second Church in Boston. Now returned to Boston after an eventful period in Europe, he continued to preach in many pulpits but did not resume a formal connection with any congregation.
1833-12-23
The day was beautiful. I received from my father a long letter upon politics. He does not print his Address until after the election of Governor which avoids one great difficulty I had apprehended, influence upon the Electors. In other respects I must wait for his decision. His account of affairs at Washington and especially Mr. Rush’s course is unpleasant enough.1
Read the remainder of Burke’s speech upon conciliation with America, and took a walk. Afternoon, Bacon, Sylva Silvarum, a collection of subjects for experiment. Read several passages pointed out by Mackintosh, one in Pascal, one in Montaigne and Sir Samuel Romilly’s Essay on Codification in the Edinburgh Review.2 Evening, Walpole. My Wife suffering under a severe cold.
JQA to CFA, 19 Dec. (Adams Papers). By giving his support to Jackson’s attack on the Bank of the United States, Richard Rush had created consternation in JQA and confirmed for him the indications he had observed in the Boston Daily Advocate and other antimasonic organs of a developing adherence among Antimasons to the policies of Jackson and his party. The immediate effect upon JQA was to make his opposition to the election of the Democratic candidate in Massachusetts, Marcus Morton, absolute. However, contrary to the earlier impressions of his intentions held by CFA and by Hallett, JQA in the present letter, and again in another to CFA on the 21st (Adams Papers), gave explicit directions that the Address stating his support of Davis in preference to Morton was not to be published until after the Governor had been chosen by the State Senate: “My declared preference then will have had no effect upon the election. But afterwards, if Davis is elected it will shew that my opinion was in his favour, and if Morton is elected it will shew why I was opposed to his election. The chief reason is at least of no partial or temporary character; but such as I am willing to stand and abide by, under any possible event. You will understand that this determination is the result of my own convictions.”
For 1817 (vol. 29).
1833-12-24
We have within a week or ten days experienced prodigious alternations of weather. Today brought with it another Easterly rain which with the snow which fell in the night put the Streets under water. I went to the Office and passed my time quietly enough in reading and 234making up Accounts. No walk. Afternoon, Bacon, Silva Silvarum, and in the evening I was busy in reading over Mackintosh’s main positions together with the comments of the North American Review and looking over the first Alcibiades of Plato.1 What a field.
In MQA there is a copy of the Dialogues in French, 2 vols., Amsterdam, 1770, as well as editions in English and Greek of his collected writings.