Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1838-10-25
Fine day. Morning to town. After dinner, superintending trees and evening at the Mansion.
I went to town out of course today for the sake of seeing to the opening of the house for our approaching return. This is usually a melancholy process with me as I leave a place with which I have many sympathies to go to one where the world seems to move without reference to me. But the change is perhaps beneficial to me by making me value my present agreeable residence more.
I was engaged in giving directions, making purchases &ca. all day. Home to dinner. Afternoon, placed a few walnut trees in the room of some which have failed. The removal of the fence is a great improve-130ment. Mr. Price Greenleaf here this afternoon. Evening at the Mansion.
1838-10-26
A very fine Autumn day. Occupied by writing and company. Afternoon dinner. Evening at the Mansion, and Mrs. Adams’.
My time was much distracted this day. I wrote and finished the fifth of my papers and there was obliged to leave them to superintend the planting of some trees. I had hardly done when some visitors drove up, Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Tarbell1 and Mrs. Miller and her daughter. The object of the former appeared to be to invite me to dinner, he having been at my father’s to ask him. He seems quite enlivened by his renomination to Congress.2
My father and Mr. Lunt dined with me and remained in conversation until after sundown. The ladies went up to see Mrs. T. B. Adams in the evening and I accompanied them.
On Thomas Tarbell’s connections with the Adamses, see vol. 3:59.
CFA is in error. Richard Fletcher was currently serving as a Mass. representative in the 25th Congress, but perhaps because of the controversy that marked his term (see entry for 18 Dec. 1837, above) was not a candidate for renomination in 1838 (
Biog. Dir. Cong.
).
1838-10-27
Morning promised well but it clouded and finally rained hard with a sharp thunder storm. To Boston. Afternoon, reading. Evening at the Mansion.
I went to Boston this morning and passed my time in various little duties incident to the preparation of the house, but finding the rain threaten seriously I hastened home arriving at my door exactly as the first clap of thunder rolled over our heads. This is the second time within a few days that we have had lightning, and the rain poured in torrents. Mrs. Adams returned half an hour later who had been to the City in the Carriage and it was drenched by it.
I do not ever recollect a thunder shower so late in the Season before, for it cleared up afterwards and became a clear moonlight evening. The afternoons are now so short as to prevent any thing like occupation. I found the family at the Mansion whither I went dull for the weather is discouraging to their departure.