Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-09-02
At home all day. The Neponset Company were fortunate on the whole, for this day was one of the most rainy I remember. It was my intention to have gone to town, but I fortunately saved a drenching by giving up the idea.
My first number on the State of the Nation was published today, so that I sat down and composed another which strikes me as bittersweet.1 I also read a part of the seventh satire of Juvenal which I liked. Also assorted more Papers. The alternations of my feelings with re-208gard to these are curious. Hope and fear. My father seemed much pleased with my new essay. He gives me much encouragement for the first time in his life.
Afternoon. I read La Fontaine’s Theodor, a pleasant story. I have rarely read books of more interest, and wonder a little that they so soon appear to have lost their currency. Evening quietly at home.
The series called “On the State of the Nation” and signed “A Calm Observer” consisted ultimately of five numbers in the Daily Advocate. The first four appeared on 2, 5, 8, and 12 Sept. (p. 2, cols. 3, 3–4, 1, and 1 respectively); the final number on 30 Oct., p. 2, cols. 1–2. The focus of the series was again upon the presidential election, but less concerned with Webster’s part in it than earlier. No. 2 was a consideration and rejection of William Henry Harrison as a candidate. In Nos. 3 and 4, CFA gave a first statement to his views on the unfortunate consequences upon the election stemming from the excessive Southern demands being made upon candidates living in the Free States and from related antiabolitionist excesses in Boston and elsewhere. These views he would develop more fully and positively in his “The Slavery Question Truly Stated”; see note to entry for 9 June 1836, below.
1835-09-03
As the younger ladies of the family were desirous of going to town and there was a vacant place in the Carriage I concluded to go in with them. We had quite a load as Catherine the Nurse and the two younger children accompanied us. The day was uncommonly fine, and I was exceedingly occupied. Corrected more proof and furnished the title page but to get the motto for it I was obliged to go to the Athenaeum. Stopped to get a Dividend upon the Lawrence Manufacturing Stock and was busy afterwards in Accounts and making up my Diary which goes constantly backward. Called to see Mr. Brooks and my time on the whole so much taken up that I had not at all finished when the hour arrived to return. Carried another of my numbers to the Advocate Office and they agreed to publish on Saturday. We got home in pretty good season and yet dined late, so that the Afternoon was made short. I read part of Theodor, and assorted a few papers. Nothing further of consequence.
1835-09-04
Fine morning. I read in continuation part of Juvenal’s seventh Satire and was much pleased with it. There is in it none of the coarseness which I have found in most of those hitherto. Amused myself writing another number of my papers in which I was very happy in being able to fix some quotations. I do not think there are many in the Community 209who are able to produce things equal and yet they do not receive one smile from friend or one frown from an enemy. They are pearls before swine most certainly. Assorted some papers too. Thus passed the morning.
Afternoon, continued reading Theodor. Auguste Lafontaine writes home-stories as well as any body I know. He paints the lights and shadows of life with truth and yet mingles with them brilliancy enough not to affect the mind as some of the English Stories of the same kind.
On yesterday was the anniversary of my wedding day. I have been married six years of great general happiness as well as worldly prosperity. It was not noticed at home and forgotten in my record which is bad enough. In the evening my Wife and Mary went up to Mrs. Adams’ to take tea and my father and I walked up afterwards. There were several there as is almost invariably the case. Mr. Beale and his daughter, Price Greenleaf, and afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their daughter. Conversation quite dull about factories and stock and profits. What else can you talk about in such society? Home early.