Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1837-03-08
Heavy rain. The winter appears to be breaking up at last. I went to the Office where Mr. Ayer soon came in for the purpose of examining a bill lately sent to me from Quincy for timber furnished for my House. He is given to long talking so that it was a good while before I got rid of him. I perceive one or two tendencies to extravagance about him against which I shall be compelled to guard. Mr. Walsh also came in and talked. On the whole however, I felt hurried and did not get home very early. Received a letter from my father respecting his affairs which did not assist my spirits very much.
1 My time was much engrossed by a business operation for the investment of a considerable sum on other accounts as well as my own.2
Afternoon reading Burnet and Forster. Evening, Moore’s Life of Byron which is very interesting. Went to Mr. Brooks’ to a family party. All there as usual, but to me it was very dull. I felt myself somewhat out of spirits without being exactly able to define the cause. I thought and was in hopes that this had passed away for this year. Home where I resumed Byron.
Receipt of JQA’s letter of 3 March (Adams Papers) is noted again in the succeeding entry, but without the revealing comment. The reference is clearly to the passage: “I must raise [before returning to Quincy] a sum of two or three 200thousand dollars by your means—Antoine Giusta has called upon me for the repayment of 1000 dollars of the debt which I owe him, and I want as much more to pay my household current debts here, and to pay my expenses in reaching home. You must contrive in some manner to supply me.”
In his reply of the 9th (LbC, Adams Papers) to his father’s letter, CFA, in recounting the difficulties he would face in providing the requested funds on such short notice, wrote, “My common practice heretofore has been whenever any sum of money belonging to you has accumulated in my hands ..., to invest it on your account in some shape or other bearing interest.... It so happened that only yesterday it was that I parted with all your money and indeed now you are nearly three hundred dollars in my debt. The present rates of interest are such that it is absolutely impossible to convert the security without a very great sacrifice. Under those circumstances, I know of no better plan, than to try and borrow a thousand dollars at the Quincy Bank on the pledge of Stock ... and I will try the first week in April to advance you another thousand in anticipation of the receipts of that month.”
1837-03-09
General Jackson has published a farewell Address which strongly partakes of the character of all the papers signed in his name. There is much good principle at bottom buried up in a mass of false application, and limited views of things. The paper will have some effect upon the growth of the radical party so called, but will not have great merit as an impartial and profound document. Perhaps it will injure Mr. Van Buren’s chances of success for another term rather than aid them, for there is a division impending which it will rather accelerate than retard.
I went to the Office. Received a letter from my father respecting his affairs which contained no very agreeable news. Mr. Walsh came in and then T. K. Davis. I had a long talk with him about his project of setting up a paper in which I tried to urge him on to the undertaking. He seemed to regard the obstacles however. He may be right but faint heart ne’er won fair lady. I think something might be done.
Home late. Afternoon occupied in answering my father’s letter, copying and sending it. In the evening to a small party at Mr. Franklin Story’s. Whist. I. Sargent and wife and J. O. Sargent and wife. F. Parkman, wife and child.1 Harriet Sumner. Supper very pretty. Home.
Mrs. Story, Mrs. Ignatius Sargent, and Mrs. Francis Parkman were all nieces of Peter C. Brooks.
1837-03-10
A sort of a wet day but it finally cleared away. I went to the Office, first however, calling in to see some furniture imported from France which is to be sold tomorrow. From thence I went to Beal’s Ware-201house and after much discussion struck up a bargain for a parcel of his furniture for my proposed building at Quincy. Thus I found myself much shortened at the Office for time.
Mr. Gibson then came in for advice respecting the Articles which have appeared in the Advocate in reply, as well as those of the Post in attack. I told him my opinion of the injudicious character of the smaller articles which make personal quarrels with the Post. He admitted it and complained of the course of Mr. Paine. The gentleman has the characteristics of his family strongly marked and occasionally indulges in fits of temper which render him an imprudent person to head an establishment. He has given to the Post great opportunity for reply, which my original article was intended to shut him out from. However, after going over the ground very fully, I told Mr. Gibson I would furnish him an Article by five o’clock in the Afternoon. I went home and was busy writing until after four when I returned to the Office and finished a draft in reply. Mr. G. called very shortly after and I read it to him. He appeared satisfied with it and took it away with him to publish in the morning, but he was disposed to talk a great deal which kept me until nearly six in the evening.
Home to tea, and then to the Theatre. Miss Tree as Violante in the Wonder.1 I have never before seen her in this or the piece itself. It is one of the very broad style of pieces which women formerly were able to hazard upon the stage without risk of an explosion, but is not without considerable dramatic effect. Hield as Felix was tolerable. The other parts very feebly supported. Afterwards, the Ransom, only the first Act of which we remained to see. Home by ten. Moore.
The Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret, a comedy by Mrs. Susannah Centlivre (Odell, Annals N.Y. Stage
, 1:123).