Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1836-12-09
A lovely day with the sun quite warm. I went to the Office and passed my time in finishing off an Account current with a letter to Mr. Johnson.1 This business I am glad to have off my mind. I purchased a bill on Messrs. Welles Paris for the amount of his second Quarter’s Income and inclosed it. Looked over my own accounts in order to understand my position. Mr. Walsh came in and talked and I afterwards walked with him. Home where I read Livy.
Afternoon, I occupied myself partly in commencing upon some other papers which promise to be interesting and partly in continuing Swift’s Tale of a Tub, which is a very singular medley but partaking too much of the coarseness of mind of the Author. Evening, finished reading to my Wife the second volume of Slidell’s book on England,2 a thing I am excessively disappointed in. Indeed a very poor book in every way you view it. My child Louisa was sick all day today with one of her old turns.3 Goguet.
To Thomas B. Johnson, 10 Dec., LbC, Adams Papers.
The reading of Alexander Slidell [Mackenzie’s] An American in England had been commenced earlier in the year; see vol. 6:334.
Louisa’s early years were marked by illnesses during which CFA described her as “drooping.” She was also troubled repeatedly by sore throat and by severe coughs. CFA’s descriptions of her attacks lack precision, reflecting uncertainty also on the part of the physician: “she is delicate and easily put out of order”; “she seems to be subject to severe turns of a complaint the nature of which I do not know, but which takes the intermittent shape.” See vol. 6:61, 357 and Index.
1836-12-10
The weather continues very fine. I went to the Office and occupied myself as usual. Visits from Mr. W. Spear who brought me a message from my Mason saying that I was disappointed of my bricks and must pay more for them. So it is in building. I do not know how to account for the revulsion in my feelings but I am now sick of my scheme.
Mr. Walsh came in and we talked. I then went down to the Athenaeum to look up an old volume of Newspapers and trace my grandfather’s first communications to the press. Home. Livy. Afternoon, Swift and these numbers. I found three pieces signed U, very much in his style of writing, but bearing not very directly upon any given object. They are dated in 1763, and allude very calmly to politics.1
As I was going on Mr. T. K. Davis came in and passed the evening. Mr. Brooks also passed a couple of hours. Mr. Davis talked of the possibility of starting a Press. I have often thought of it myself and am not 145sure that at this moment there is not a possibility of an opening of the kind. I should exceedingly like the occupation it would give me and we talked of
There are five pieces by JA signed “U” in the Boston Gazette of 1763. For the single pieces appearing in the issues of 18 July and 1 Aug. there are drafts among JA’s MSS in the Adams Papers (Microfilms, Reel Nos. 327 and 343). For the two pieces published in the issue of 29 Aug. and for the piece in the issue of 5 Sept., no MS has been found. The texts are printed in JA,
Papers
, 1:66–81, 84–89; JA,
Diary and Autobiography
,1:245–250.