Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-01-19
Cooler. I went out a little earlier. Read my No. 1 in the Newspapers and notwithstanding an error or two in the printing it pleased me pretty well.1 Office where I finished my No. 2.
I then went into State Street and attended a Meeting of the Directors of the Middlesex Canal previous to the Annual one. The Report of the Agent was read and proved satisfactory. A Dividend was also declared of thirty dollars on a share. This is very great, and owing to the interference of the Lowell Rail Road will probably be diminished in future. But I cannot yet help hoping that this will be some support to my father in his falling fortunes. Yet this fluctuation of all property of this sort in America is a great lesson against all such enterprizes.
Walk. Read a good deal of the first book of the Fasti. In the afternoon, attended a Meeting of the Directors of the Boylston Market previous to the Annual one. Accounts of the Treasurer to be settled &ca. Nothing more. Home. Evening Travelling book and d’Israeli.
CFA’s series of articles generally directed against the presidential candidacy of Daniel Webster bore the title “Political Speculation” and the signature “A Whig Antimason.” Though numbered consecutively and consisting of nine articles and a postscript, the series was written and published at two distinct periods, Jan.-Feb. and May-June in the Boston Daily Advocate (No. 1, 19 Jan., p. 2, cols. 3–4; No. 3
1835-01-20
I went to the Office this morning with the intention of looking over the great Thelluson case for the purpose of understanding its principle, but I had papers to make up to go to Washington, letters to write and Accounts enough to keep me well engaged during my whole time.1 Then a walk and finishing the first book of the Fasti of Ovid. It wants unity of interest, but its parts are occasionally poetical. I have a French translation under a mountain of Commentary which is occasionally useful.2
Dr. Swan of Medford dined here. Afternoon, the Correspondence of W. Vans Murray which for its dimensions is far the most valuable I have read. It relates to the Treaty with France upon which my father3 59divided with his Secretaries. Evening partly at home and partly Company. The Miss Inches with their Father and brother. Nothing of peculiar interest.
Of the letters, a LbC of that to JQA, 20 Jan., is in the Adams Papers. On the Thelluson case, see entry for 28 Jan., below.
Traduction des Fastes, avec notes ... par Bayeux, Rouen, 1783–1788, had been borrowed from the Athenaeum.
Slip of the pen for “grandfather.”