Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1836-12-12
A continuation of the lovely weather we have had. I went to the Office and passed my time partly in writing Diary, partly in making up a semi-annual Account for T. B. Adams whose remittance does not arrive and partly in conversation with Mr. Walsh. I also set about an arrangement of my papers which are again in excessive abundance. Home where I read Livy. Afternoon, MS of James Warren and Swift, Battle of the Books. Evening reading to my Wife, and Paul’s Letters to his Kinsfolk.1
Thus I give an abstract of my day. An unsatisfactory one perhaps. 146T. K. Davis the other night quoted a just remark from Sartor Resartus that the Cobbler learns cheap to mend shoes, and the product is mending shoes, but I receive a dear education and what am I good for in product. This is however not to be avoided. A man cannot entirely create his opportunities for action and I am not sure that he ought incessantly to be seeking them. It is difficult to hit the precise distinction which should exist between confirmed idleness on the one hand and restless uneasiness on the other. I will strive to throw off the depression which inactivity causes, and employ myself as much and as creditably as possible.
By Sir Walter Scott. A copy of the Edinburgh, 1816, edn. is in MQA.
1836-12-13
A mild but cloudy day. I went to Market and from thence to the Office. Passed my time partly in assorting my papers and destroying superfluous ones, partly in making up accounts and partly in writing Diary. Nothing new. Short walk during which I called in and read the National Gazette which contains two remarkable papers. One the second letter of Mr. Biddle to my father upon the currency, which is certainly a very able one, and conclusively exposes the absurdity of the course of the Administration, the other Governor Ritner’s message which on some subjects is bold and equally conclusive.1 All the indications are that a vigorous opposition against Mr. Van Buren will be started at once and I do not think his party are very vigorous for the contest. The great security for him is in the implastic character of his opponents.
Home. Livy. Afternoon, walked down to an Auction room by request of Mr. Frothingham and employed the remainder of my Afternoon in assorting Letters. James Warren’s are not interesting. Evening at home. Read to my Wife. Mr. Brooks came in for an hour. After which, Paul’s Letters to his Kinsfolk which I finished and then wrote a letter or part of one to my father.
On 10 and 11 Nov., Nicholas Biddle addressed letters to JQA “on the condition of the currency of the United States and the Bank question in Pennsylvania.” The first of these had been published in Philadelphia in the National Gazette on 3 Dec., p. 2, cols. 3–6; the second in the issue of 13 Dec., p. 1, cols. 1–6, which also carried the Message of 6 Dec. of Gov. Joseph Ritner to the Pennsylvania Legislature, p. 2, col. 1 - p. 4, col. 1. The Daily Advertiser reprinted the two letters on 7 and 15 December. As so frequently happened, CFA was writing his journal entry a day or more afterward and must have mistaken the date on which he had read the second Biddle letter.