Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-05-26
Morning fine and rather warm. I went out with Louisa who seems languid. Then to the Office where I was occupied with Diary and Accounts. Wrote a short answer to a notice of my fifth number of Political Speculation, which was inserted in the Advocate.1 It is just like every thing which proceeds from the friends of Mr. Webster, a gross perversion of the true state of facts. I endeavour to avoid altercation.
Wrote a Note to Spear requesting him to procure me a woman to air the House at Quincy.2 I do not feel as if I can go out at this crisis. Called to see Mr. Hallett but did not find him in. Then went home. Read Juvenal, Gifford’s Translation of the second Satire. His Notes are extremely valuable. After dinner. Worked upon my Pamphlet Catalogue, and read Duclos whom I have gone through with getting about as little from him as was ever got from any Author.
Took up Crabbe’s Poems and read the second part of the Village together with the first of the Parish Register. There is great vigour in his lines and truth in his delineation, but the view of human nature is painful. We have always loved so much the innocent delusion which attaches all the happiness of primitive life to a Cottage that we cannot 146easily reconcile ourselves to the painful reality. Evening at home. Conversation with my Wife. After which Wilhelm Meister.
A letter writer in the Advocate signing himself “A real friend to Daniel Webster” took issue with CFA’s assertion that if as seemed likely the election of the next President were thrown into the House of Representatives Webster’s chances would be negligible (26 May, p. 2, col. 3). In his reply CFA maintained his position equably and expressed a desire to avoid any course that would cause the election to be decided in the House (28 May, p. 2, col. 3). To this, the same correspondent entered a rejoinder which elicited a further response from CFA (29 May, p. 2, col. 3; 30 May, p. 2, col. 3).
Letter missing.
1835-05-27
I was aroused very early this morning by my Wife with the announcement that her confinement was at hand. This made it necessary for me to go down and see Dr. Bigelow who happened to have an engagement to deliver a Lecture before the Medical Society today. I thought it doubtful whether he could give his services and called for the purpose of ascertaining. He said he was at liberty excepting for one hour and would make an arrangement for that. I then went to Medford to see Mrs. Reed the nurse engaged and brought her in with me. All of which before breakfast. Afterwards I was on and off at home all day. Calling in from hour to hour. Nothing material done on that account.
The Afternoon and evening devoted to the seventh number of my speculation. This morning the sixth appeared and is well written. But what the effect of these Papers will be I do not know. The Atlas contains a short and spiteful notice of my last which shows anger rather than the power to resist. All that I must expect.1
I sat up very busily writing until midnight so that my anxiety was in a measure kept down until my Nurse came to inform me that my Wife was safely delivered of a fine boy,2 and had suffered less than usual. I could not realize it, so great has been the tension of my mind for months past, and could not retire until I had the Drs assurance as well his action by retiring to bed for her safety. I poured out my soul in gratitude.
The letter to the Daily Atlas signed “A real friend to Daniel Webster” (p. 2, col. 2) was essentially the same as that which had appeared in the Advocate of the day before.
The second son of ABA and CFA would, at his baptism on 31 Oct., be named Charles Francis; in
The Adams Papers
he is designated as CFA2. Destined for a long and full life, which he would chronicle himself in
An Autobiography
, issued posthumously in 1916, he is the subject of a perceptive biography, Kirkland, CFA2; see also, Adams Genealogy. His activities would encompass military service during the 147Civil War, railroad regulation and entrepreneurship, educational reform, the writing of history, and the presidency of the Massachusetts Historical Society.