Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
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.
1833-12-25
Christmas day. The desire to consider it as a day of celebration is increasing very fast in this Community.1 I think if it would tend to amusing and innocent relaxation and social intercourse, it would be beneficial. The tendencies here are too grave. Religion is at all times a subject of such portentous magnitude to mortals that unless mingled with much cheerfulness it oppresses the intellect. Money the other great pursuit strains the faculties in a different manner. Is not the increasing number of suicides in some measure connected. It might be a subject of very useful inquiry to look back upon the ostensible motives of those who have lately committed the act. How many are led to it from religious gloom? How many from the pursuit of money? How many from dissipation and extravagance?
Office. Drawing up Leases for the Boylston Executors. Athenaeum. Afternoon, reading Bacon, and Plato’s Alcibiades. Began some sketch of a new Essay, upon the History of the United States.
Supper party at Mrs. Samuel Gray’s, family—Mr. Brooks and three daughters. Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Henshaw,2 the daughter of the first and son of the second, Mr. and Mrs. F. Parkman, Mr. and Mrs. Story and Miss Henrietta Gray of course. Pleasant enough. We returned a little before eleven.
“Nearly every newspaper in the city, in course of the present week, has had an article recommending a more marked observance of Christmas day” (Columbian Centinel, 25 Dec., p. 2, col. 3). Characteristic was a communication printed in the Centinel endorsing the idea “that this interesting anniversary should be suitably commemorated” and suggesting that the “Congregational Churches may be opened and services be performed the same as they are on the annual Thanksgivings” (20 Dec., p. 2, col. 3).
Mrs. Thomas W. (Lydia) Ward was a daughter of Samuel Gray by his first wife; the identity and relationship of Mrs. Henshaw to the rest of the group are not known to the editors.
1833-12-26
Fine day again. Office. I was about to go to work, when Mr. S. Conant from Weston came in about his Lease. He was followed by 235Brown the Steam Doctor on a Lease also, Mr. Nathl. Curtis came in upon a similar subject, and then Mr. John Bailey with whom I had conversation upon politics. I read to him my father’s letter, and conversed with him upon the state of the case.1 No conclusions however. My walk was in this manner shortened.
Afternoon, Bacon Silva Silvarum. He discusses the force of imagination not only upon persons themselves but upon those upon whom it may be directed. This is one of the most curious and least investigated of mental phenomena. Evening at home.
We were wakened in the night by the child, which seemed to be labouring under heavy oppression of the lungs. It took an emetic and kept us up.
JQA in his letter to CFA of the 19th (above, entry for 23 Dec., note) had specifically excepted John Bailey from those Antimasons he charged with allying the movement to Jacksonism, “Of this new conspiracy, I am very sure that Mr. Bailey has no suspicion.... I still place unlimited confidence in him.” He authorized CFA to show his letter to Bailey.