Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 7
1836-09-05
John was better this morning and there is an appearance that his fever is reduced. I went to town earlier than usual and was much taken up in various matters. Accounts settled with one of the Tenants, Mr. Hurlbert, and with Mr. Stanwood who came to pay his Interest. Also 87Mr. Rufus Davis came with his daughter about his Pension Certificate which he has put out of his power and now wants back. I got rid of him by giving him a letter to the man who detains it. But if he neglects to observe this, I am somewhat doubtful how far I can proceed further. Mr. A. H. Everett also talked about my father’s Eulogy and seemed uneasy at an intimation of my father’s general disposition to discuss the great points of Mr. Madison’s life.1 Mr. Everett is of the class of politicians who see expediency with both eyes, but principle and duty with only one. All these visits and occupations consumed much time so that I had to hurry to get home to dinner.
Joseph H. Adams went out with me. The weather had changed from warm in the morning to quite cold in the afternoon with a north east wind and slight rain. But after dinner I went notwithstanding to Colburn’s Quarry, saw him and had a talk about my stone which he now offers cheaper than he did. I took him to a place where I thought he might get me out some stone easy but he thinks not. His own Quarry appears to work pretty well. I saw his man Mr. Dutton and gave him my Draught of his Lease which he is to read over and to call and execute on Wednesday afternoon.2 Evening quietly at home.
JQA delivered his eulogy on James Madison, who had died on 28 June, at the Odeon in Boston on 27 September. On 28 Sept. A. H. Everett wrote to JQA expressing his gratification at the address: “The subject was exceedingly delicate and when I heard from Charles that you intended to go pretty fully into the character of Mr. Jefferson and the causes of the war, I was apprehensive that you would hardly be able to avoid making some remarks that might be offensive to parts of the audience. I heard nothing however that struck me as likely to have that effect. The satisfaction, as far as I can learn, was universal” (Adams Papers).
The indenture between JQA and Dutton, witnessed by CFA and dated 7 Sept., is in the Adams Papers.
1836-09-06
The morning was clear but excessively cool for the season with a bright atmosphere and sharp North Easter. I did not go to town. Time passed in reading Livy and in examining MS until noon, when Mr. Price Greenleaf called and I accompanied my father and him to Squantum, it being the day of the annual dinner of the Neponset Bridge Company. We walked down which owing to the cold day was not unpleasant. The company here was not very different from what it usually is. Mr. Miller, Mr. Beale and his son, Messrs. Whitney and Lunt, T. Greenleaf, his son Price and Mr. Appleton, Captn. Quincy, Mr. T. B. Wales, Jos. Bass and Dr. Woodward, D. Greenleaf, my father 88and myself made with Jos. H. Adams the party. It was rather more stupid than usual, my father being somewhat indisposed and therefore silent, and his silence producing an effect upon the rest. We broke up early and hurried home on account of the cold. My father not wishing to remain and the Carriage being ordered to a later hour, he set out on a walk home. But I did not incline to overfatigue myself, and took a seat offered by Mr. T. Greenleaf to me, a decision I afterwards regretted as I felt the cold much more in an open carriage than I should have done walking. E. C. Adams and Louisa C. Smith spent the day here and returned in the evening, with Jos. who came for them.