Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 5
1833-01-10
My head was relieved this morning, but I felt my cold oppress me still very much throughout the day. It was warm and rainy but I nevertheless went to the Office. I have very few interruptions there now, and have an opportunity of passing my time much more profitably than formerly. I go through every day the usual routine of Accounts, Diary, and Lingard with occasionally a mere glance at politics with which 8however I am at present not much engaged. This makes my morning, excepting only an hour for exercise. The rain prevented my taking this today.
Afternoon consumed at home in reading parts of Hallam’s Constitutional History1 and in writing more of my Article. I will go through this as rapidly as possible and then make a full stop in composition for this Winter. My occupations will then take some other direction—Principally to some light literature I believe.
Received a letter from my Mother. She is better and talks of nothing but the Washington outrages.2 National affairs are in a poor condition. Evening, Ourika and the very odd Memoirs of a very odd Woman, the Margravine of Anspach.3 I do not mention the Bible because this like the World must be always understood when we are at home.
Constitutional History of England by Henry Hallam.
Probably LCA to ABA, 5 Jan. (Adams Papers). She concludes, “Crime is tolerated, immorality publicly sanctioned and unblushing impudence is the great passport to success. We are indeed enlightened.”
Both Ourika, by the Duchesse de Duras (Paris, 1826), and the Memoirs of Elizabeth Berkeley Craven, Margravine of Anspach (2 vols., London, 1826), were borrowed from the Athenaeum.
1833-01-11
A severely cold morning. I went to the Office. The Child appears to be better, but my cold affects me considerably. Engaged in writing. Received a curious letter from Mr. Foord, Register of Dedham, which I answered before night.1 I also finished Lingard’s eleventh Volume which is on the whole as good as any of them. Took a half hour to read Mr. Everett’s article upon Nullification. He is not powerful upon Constitutional Law. His mind embraces no great principles.2
Took a walk but the cold and the wind were so very intolerable, I was induced to shorten it. In the Afternoon, looked over Hallam and made considerable progress in my Article which I hope two or three more days will finish. It is totally different from the former one, perhaps better, but I do not know. Evening passed quietly at home. Read the rest of Ourika, a little trifle with but one idea in it, and more of Lady Craven’s very absurd and good for nothing book.3 Read a little of Hallam. The winter shows it’s face at last.
To Enos Foord (LbC, Adams Papers); the letter from Foord is missing. CFA had objected to the charges made for registering a deed.
A. H. Everett’s article on nullification is in the
North Amer. Rev.
(vol. 36:235).
The book which CFA sometimes refers to as Lady Craven’s and sometimes as the Margravine of Anspach’s is the same, her Memoirs.