Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-10-03
Fine morning. I went out with my little girl on the Common to enjoy the morning air. Called at Mr. Sharpe’s to look at my furniture but he was not there. Home, then to the Office.
The Whig Newspapers are out with absolute fury upon my father for his letter to D. J. Pearce which that contemptible fellow has published without leave.1 Better open war than hollow peace. Better meet all the anger of a party than be subject to the silent backbiting which has been going on for years. I think my father wrong for indulging his passions so much occasionally but I think the party more wrong for the uniform hollowness of the support they have given him. In all controversies, both sides are wrong. Politics are in general a very disgusting business. I have the misfortune of being a descendant of two great men and must do something to avoid the charge of utter degeneracy.
I passed my time in making up arrears of Diary and dispatching many of my pamphlets. I propose to send to the Senators in a few days. Home. Mr. Spear called to talk about Quincy and I promised to go out there on Thursday, to look at a Quarry, which is applied for. Afternoon busy in arranging my room which has got into disorder and in copying some of the valuable papers I brought from Quincy. Evening at home. Conversation with my Wife. Afterward, writing Political papers.
On 7 Sept. JQA had written to Dutee J. Pearce, Representative in Congress from Rhode Island (LbC, Adams Papers), congratulating him joyously on his reelection and on the election as his colleague of William Sprague over Tristram Burges, despite their political differences with JQA, because “the party which has been these two years struggling to break you down, the base compound of Hartford Convention federalism and Royal Arch Masonry, is ... rotten with the corruption of both it’s elements.... Of that party treachery is so favourite an instrument that I have heard Mr. Burges complains that they have used it even with him. It is their nature and their vocation.... They betrayed Mr. Burges by not electing him to the Senate.... They have no honest principle to keep them together. Their only cement is a sympathy of hatred to every man of purer principle than themselves. Towards Mr. Burges himself I cherish a friendly feeling ... he has brilliant parts ... and too much honesty for his party.” Pearce had asked for permission to publish (to JQA, 18 Sept., Adams Papers), but before JQA had replied Pearce gave the letter to the newspapers. It received national circulation by being reprinted in
Niles’ Register
, 49:93–94 (10 Oct.).
1835-10-04
Morning pleasant but it afterwards clouded up. I continued writing all the morning. This new incident of attacking my father has re-235newed my spirit. Attended divine service and heard in the morning Mr. Frothingham from John 9. 34. “Dost thou teach us.” The vanity of wisdom. The over confidence of man in the mere accessories of strength. I have lost much even of my feeble power of keeping the thread of a discourse, but I am confident I have heard this Sermon before.
Afternoon Mr. Lothrop from Matthew 22. 37. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” The same subject with that of the two Sermons I heard a fortnight ago at New Bedford. It is curious to observe how different minds treat it. The present gentleman strove to deduce from it a certain application to the three great attributes of the Deity, power and wisdom and goodness. It was ingeniously done and on the whole the best discourse I have heard from Lothrop. I have not yet quite
I returned and read a sermon of Dr. Barrow upon Patience. 1. Peter 2. 21. “Because also Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps.” He inculcates the duty of patience and presses the example of Christ—A most valuable practical discourse upon one of the most important of virtues. I take this to myself. There is much to be done by me before I shall be able to arrive at any merit in this respect.
In the evening, we paid P. C. Brooks and his wife a visit. They are about to change their abode and make their father’s house their home. He is quite over the mark with exultation, and pushed his roughnesses too far to be agreeable. We returned home in good season.