Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1837-06-15
The weather is singularly changeable, now and then clear, but more often hazy and cloudy with cold Easterly winds. I went to the House as usual to superintend. Nothing however remarkable to note.
Read Homer, fifty odd lines, but I do not find that my hold of the Greek language increases much. The extraordinary variety of words, and the multiplicity of forms of derivation appear to be the great obstacle. But perhaps a greater one is my present state of mind turning upon other things. To study requires equanimity and produces it when exclusively pursued. My own prospects appear to be study
Read parts of the book written by John Taylor of Caroline, which I accidentally took up, in opposition to the argument of my grandfather’s Defence.1 It is Virginian, ingenious but not solid, written with some negligence but a good deal of natural sense. Taylor lived to doubt his doctrine and to write to my grandfather a personal apology for his hostility.2 Afternoon, working. Nothing very particular. Wieland. Humboldt, Voyage to South America.3
John Taylor of Caroline co., Va., An Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of the Government of the United States, Fredericksburg, Va., 1814. The copy owned by JA and bearing also JQA’s bookplate is among JA’s books at MB. The Inquiry grew out of notes and speculations first made in 1794 in response to JA’s A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States, 3 vols., London, 1787–1788. Also contained in the Inquiry is the first printing of that 262version of JA’s Thoughts on Government that JA had sent in 1776 to John Penn, a N.C. delegate and the father-in-law of John Taylor of Caroline (a full account of the composition, influence, and later history of this and of the other versions of Thoughts is in JA, Papers
, 4:65–68).
CFA is not entirely accurate here. His reference is to Taylor’s letter to JA, 8 April 1824 (Adams Papers), to which CFA attached such importance that he gave it a prime place in the volume of transcripts of documents relating to JA that he made in 1833 to insure their survival (M/CFA/31.7–8, Microfilms, Reel No. 327; on the transcripts and CFA’s purposes, see vol. 5:132). The letter, Taylor’s last surviving one to JA, is a testimonial of lifelong regard and an expression of regret for his part in unfair attacks made by Jefferson’s partisans against JA during his presidency. The differences between Taylor and Adams that emerge in the Inquiry are philosophical differences and speak no “hostility.” Upon the publication of the Inquiry, JA from 15 April 1814 to 5 March 1815 wrote a series of letters to Taylor continuing the dialogue on government (CFA included 32 of these in JA, Works,
6:447–521). Taylor valued these comments so highly that he intended to publish them along with the Inquiry in a 2d edition of that work (Taylor to JA, 20 Feb. 1819, Adams Papers).
A copy belonging to JQA of F. H. A. von Humboldt’s Voyage aux régions équinoxiale du nouveau continent, 2 vols., Paris, 1816, is at MQA.
1837-06-16
Morning fine but the wind soon after became easterly and chilled us. I went to town and was engaged much as usual. I devote all the time I have from a great number of commissions I always have to execute to the settlement of my general account for the year.
A. H. Everett came in for half an hour and we had an argument about the effect of Bank credits which amused me. He is a thorough loco foco which I am not. He is clinging to the skirts of the democracy with the hope that he shall be buoyed up. This is but poor nourishment and I will none of it. I have no fancy for the parties which divide the Republic and do not now care ever to have much to do with either.
I called over to see Mr. Brooks and there found Sidney whom I had not seen before. He looks well and seems in tolerable spirits. Home. Afternoon at the House where their progress is tolerably rapid, then reading Humboldt, a philosophical traveller who finds nothing barren. Evening, called with the rest of the family to see Mr. T. Greenleaf and his family. He seems declining. Conversation dull and return early. Wind cold and cloudy.
1837-06-17
Morning cold and cloudy, with fog and mist through the day. I passed some time in a walk to the Village on business matters. First, calling at Mr. Brigham’s as well about my glass as the Note that remains due from the Canal. It seems he has been unable to supply my 263order, and he wished me to see whether such glass as had been sent would answer. I thought not as I wished that below to be good. He paid me a portion of the Note and I went with it immediately to the Quincy Stone Bank for the purpose of redeeming my father’s Note due on this day. This business arranged I returned home.
Read fifty lines of Homer as usual, and attempted to write but without success. The Quincy Patriot has my little article which fills up a side respectably with the theological dissertations of the clergy.1 Afternoon, Humboldt and Wieland. It was so cold that I was glad to be in the parlour, close to a good fire much of my time.
“Calm Thoughts Upon Our Money Affairs,” signed “A.,” occupied cols. 4–5 of p. 2, Quincy Patriot, 17 June 1837. It was preceded by articles entitled “Scripture Exposition” and “Biblical Illustrations.” At the outset Adams wrote, “I ... find it so difficult to suit partisan newspapers that I have given up the attempt to write for them. Your paper seems to be quiet, impartial, and well disposed to receive the truth from whatever quarter it may come.”