Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 6
1835-03-06
The weather is pleasant and grows slowly more mild. My father has explained his course so as at least to show the absurdity of the charges made against him.1 I went to the Office though not feeling yet thoroughly well. My throat is still sore and my face feels the feverish heat of a cold. I was somewhat diverted from my regular occupation by a tedious interruption from Mr. Walsh. Yet I managed to make progress.
Walk and home where I finished the Consolatio ad Liviam which though not free from despicable servility has much of the spirit of poetry in it. Read a part of a mere Fragment upon Fish called Halieuticon. After dinner Grimm, Cuvier whose translator has not done remarkably well. I then read a little of Mons. Guizot whose work I do not think I shall go through with. There are so many things of more worth. Indeed when one thinks of time and of study one is reminded of the complaint of the Student in Faust and perhaps of it’s merited answer in the sneer of Mephistopheles. Evening, home. Mr. Brooks was out so that I read to my Wife from Barrow’s Travels in Norway.2 A slight book. Afterwards Musaeus.
On 26 Feb. Congress received from the President another message with supporting documents on the crisis with France. To the resolutions offered by the chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs (Cambreleng), JQA proposed amendments that the rights of American citizens to receive indemnity as stipulated in the Treaty of 1831 ought “in no event to be sacrificed, abandoned, or impaired” by any consent of the government; that if in the opinion of the President it be compatible with “the honor and interest of the United States, during the interval until the next session of Congress” to resume negotiations, he be requested to do so; that no legislative measure “of a hostile character ... is necessary or expedient at this time.” During the course of his speech in support of his amendments on 28 Feb. (printed “You will perceive by the Newspapers that Mr. Adams is in extenso on 2 March), JQA offered a full explanation of his position earlier on the President’s actions (National Intelligencer, 27 Feb., p. 3, col. 3; 28 Feb., p. 3, col. 2; 2 March, p. 4, cols. 1–3). His further remarks during the debate on 2 March were not printed in the Intelligencer until 17 March (p. 2, cols. 1–4). Meanwhile, LCA’s interpretation of the events in Congress would have been received:
only and has ever been for war only as a last extremity but it did not suit either party in Congress so to understand him and therefore use was made of his Speech for the purposes of both.... But you know that years ago in Congress it was declared that if 91Mr. Adams’s conduct and motives ‘were as pure as the Angels of heaven’ it would only be an additional motive of attack to those who ‘Had rather reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven’” (LCA to ABA, 2 March, Adams Papers).
John Barrow Jr., Excursions in the North of Europe, London, 1834, borrowed from the Athenaeum.
1835-03-07
Morning mild and pleasant but it grew thick and began to snow before evening. I went to the Office as usual. One or two calls. I wrote my Diary and devoted the remainder of my time to finishing the draught of my Essay which I did. The arrangement having been already pretty well made out in my mind I could write it off without much hesitation but the labour of the file will be very great if I ever undertake it. I read the whole over after finishing and thought I perceived many good points but much to be changed.
I did not gain any walk today. Read Ovid finishing the fragment of the Halieuticon which to the naturalist with Pliny to aid him must be curious. Mr. Brooks had a small company to dinner today. Judge Lyman of Northampton, Mr. R. D. Shepherd, Mr. Frothingham and Edward Brooks. It was quite pleasant. I lost the Afternoon and evening. Began a french modern Tale which Mr. Frothingham lent me as a specimen of their style. Evening short.
1835-03-08
Snow and sleet and general bad weather. I continued reading the French Author, Mr. de Balzac. He writes a Tale somewhat in the style of the Eastern inventions. His hero is a young desperate just about to drown himself, at which moment he is presented with a Talismen, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should upon it signifying that the owner of it should have every thing he wished but that his life would depend upon the contraction of the skin at each new desire until they became extinct together.
I attended Divine Service all day. Heard Dr. Lowell from Titus 2. 11.12. “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.” Sobriety, justice and piety, Duties to ourselves, to others and to the Deity. This was the substance of the very short discourse which according to custom Dr. Lowell delivered. He is a very good practical preacher calculated to disseminate good principles without ever entering into their 92reasons. Afternoon Mr. Frothingham. Genesis 41. 8. “And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed and in the morning that his spirit was troubled.” He gave a new version of the Words of the Butler which I had never heard and which I hardly believe in.
My walk today for the first time this winter on Sunday was passed. I read a Sermon by Dr. Barrow on foolish talking and jesting. Ephesians 5. 4. “Nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient.” The Dr. is not willing to consider this is a general maxim embracing all sorts of pleasant conversation. He enumerates exceptions which are broad enough to include much of modern conversation, and then specifies the objects, Scandal, obscurity, trivial nonsense, malicious wit &ca. A very good Sermon and equal to the Drs. character.
At tea, we were surprised by the arrival from Canton of my Wife’s youngest brother, Horatio. The vessel he was in went ashore near Nantucket and he and others of the passengers saved themselves in the boat to another ship. The probability is that the vessel is not lost but she is in considerable danger. Mr. Bradlee passed part of the evening here.