Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-04-20
The day was cloudy and warm, with occasional showers. I continued Schiller until I went to the Office. Received a long letter from my father in answer to mine. He writes without much spirits, and endeavors to show wherein he has done better by choosing his course of life as a Politician. For him it may be better, but I cannot agree with him as to the positive quantity of happiness that exists in his “better.” He asks me if I think it is more advisable to accumulate riches which is a sly point at me and which I will fully answer.1
Wrote my Diary and felt so uncontrollably lazy that I lounged over some pages of the North American without any profit. Walk, after which I went into the Athenaeum for the purpose of looking into some English publications lately arrived. Having become interested in the politics of the moment by the Quarterly Review.
Afternoon, finished Mr. de Grimm and continued Thiers. The first is the best chronicler of the passing literature that I have known for his judgments are impartial and his criticism just. Most writers for the press are influenced either by views of personal popularity, or individual friendship. They are afraid to hurt themselves by a bold opinion or their acquaintance by a harsh one. Grimm was writing privately, and although he is it must be admitted biassed by private friendship 121yet it looks amiable and does not carry him far enough to praise bad things. Evening, Autobiography of Sir Egerton Brydges of which I mean to speak hereafter.
In CFA’s letter to JQA of 7 April (see entry of that date and note to entry of 11 Feb., above), to which JQA’s of the 16th (Adams Papers) was a reply, CFA, in providing a Boston addendum to JQA’s recitation of the political developments of the preceding months, included indirectly an allusion to the impact of the political warfare upon himself: “It is a matter of regret to me here to see the extent of the prejudices existing against you — prejudices inherited from father to son and appearing to strike root in the very constitution of society.... [T]hose prejudices exist and strike root against others who are succeeding you in the same career with equal if not greater force.” To this JQA responded: “That you and your interests should be in some degree affected by my unpopularity in your immediate neighbourhood gives me more concern than any thing that has happened or can happen to myself, but you like others must be the maker of your own fortunes, and if you are frightened or disheartened by the turbulence, and dangers and disasters of all political adventure, learn to number your days so as to apply your heart unto wisdom. Turn your attention to making money. Get rich, apply all the faculties that God has given you to hoarding up treasures, and see if that will secure to you a happier state of existence than that which has been the lot of your father and grandfather.” For CFA’s answer, see below, 23 April and note.
1835-04-21
Morning fine and promising to remain so. In consequence I went up to my house and was exceedingly busy in attending to the workpeople who are now engaged in painting and cleaning. The process of restoring a house that has been shut up is almost discouraging. I gave all the directions I could think of and then returned to my Office. My time here was necessarily short and interrupted by two or three applications from the Stone Cutters at Quincy who are in a tremendous fever about Stone. I have given them all the same answer as yet, although I foresee that it will not last and that the Affair must be conducted with considerable delicacy. I took a walk and called in at Clark’s where I made a foolish purchase of a marble slab for a Centre Table which will involve me in considerable expense. Home.
Afternoon, Finished the second Volume of M. Thiers in which he goes further into the dreadful scenes of the period. The affair of the 14 June and that of the 10 August. The unfortunate policy of the king. He is after all responsible. His weakness disarmed his friends. The historian makes a single and I doubt not a true remark, that explains the whole history. Had the king upon either occasion mounted his horse and led on his friends the Revolution would probably have been stopped.
In the evening, I accompanied my Wife and her father a short visit 122to our next door neighbour Mrs. Perkins, a woman with property but without much that contributes to adorn it. She is however very respectable. She had one son who is dead leaving Grand children. Home early.