Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1839-02-05
Cool and clear. Distribution as usual. Evening visit Mrs. Bates at Papanti’s.
At the Office I am often bored by countrymen who come in about the farm at Weston. They seem to have little or no idea of the value of time. I suppose a farming life rather begets indolence.
Continued Burr, and today wrote a note to Dr. Palfrey proposing to him a review of the same.1 So now my head is in for it. The truth is that I am conscious of being eaten up by indolence and luxury.
Home reading Electra. Average about 110 lines of review in the hour. This is slow. But I read most of the Greek Scholia.2 Finished the private Journal of Burr. Quite a tragedy finale. A case entirely unexampled in America and perhaps in the world.
The ball at Papanti’s was as splendid as money could make it, and on the whole quite pleasant, although by no means so much so as the Assemblies. We returned at one o’clock in the morning of
To J. G. Palfrey, Adams Papers.
Marginal notes to Sophocles’ text, commenting either on language or subject matter, and originating in the first century B.C., or earlier. N. G. L. Hammond and H. H. Scullard, eds., Oxford Classical Dictionary, 2d edn., Oxford, 1970, p. 960–961.
1839-02-06
Severe cold. Time much as usual. Evening at home.
The morning was devoted to Burr. The whole account of the Presidential Election of 1800 is interesting although it may be questioned whether the time has yet arrived to analyze it critically. I shall not begin until I get an answer from Palfrey.
Continued Electra which I probably finish tomorrow. Devoted the afternoon to writing an answer to my Mother, the first letter I have written to her this winter.1 My time has galloped away in a most remarkable way, and I have done nothing but the Athenaeum coins. In the evening, a quiet time at home and being fatigued, retired betimes.
Adams Papers. A reply to LCA’s letter to him of 22 Jan. (Adams Papers). Passages from CFA’s letter are quoted in the Introduction to the present volumes and in notes to the entries of 26 Nov. 1838; 17, 28 Jan., above.
1839-02-07
Very severe cold, but moderated afterwards. Time passed as usual. Evening at Mrs. Parker’s.
Morning devoted to Burr, excepting always time given to applicants for farm at Weston. Called by request at the Suffolk Insurance Office to see the return of the Appraisers and to vote on the subject of the dissolution. The deficiency is estimated at 71,000 dollars or about twenty four per cent of its capital, and yet the list of those who wish to go on is so large that I think they will carry it. It is hard to kill a corporation. The vitality is greater than one would at first sight suspect.
Finished Electra, a play of much power. There is an idea afloat that the Greek drama is cold and statue like, which I hold to be very erroneous. Electra for example is the personification of intense passion.
After dinner, wrote a letter to Mr. Peacock condoling with him. He has lost his Wife and one daughter since the period of our journey.1 At a small dancing party at Mrs. D. P. Parker’s given to Mrs. Appleton. Nothing particularly interesting, the company appearing rather languid. Home early.
On James Peacock and his family, companions of the Adamses on their trip to Niagara, see the entries beginning 30 June 1836, above. CFA’s letter to Peacock is missing.