Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 8
1839-07-18
Warm day. Morning to town. After dinner at home. Evening at the Mansion.
266Although not my day, I went to town this morning, partly for the purpose of accommodating my father who wished to go in and partly to attend to my house in Acorn Street which has lost the best tenant I ever had. The weather extremely warm. And as has often happened with me, I had more to do in walking than usual.
Returned as usual. Afternoon Tacitus book 3d of Annals, c. 20 to 40. I find this particular book is one with which I am not so well acquainted. Grimm and Le Comte, finishing the first volume of the latter.
My last paper upon South Carolina was published this morning with which I am inclined to think I shall terminate my labours for the Courier. It is a little observable how tenaciously the press adheres to it’s rule of entire silence respecting any thing I write. It carries it so far as in the case of what I write under my name for the New York Magazine, to omit my particular article in the general notice of that publication which has that signature whilst they notice the one I wrote anonymously.1 There is something rather complimentary in this, but it is uphill work. I believe I am beyond the day of discouragement. Evening at the Mansion.
Notices of the first issue of
Hunt’s Merchants’ Mag.
had been printed in a number of newspapers since its publication in June. None, apparently, that had come to CFA’s attention singled out for mention his signed article that had appeared in the issue (above, entry for 25 June). The irony that impresses him here probably derives from the praise recently given his unsigned and misattributed
North American Review
article (above, entry for 4 July). His second signed article in
Hunt’s
(below, entry for 25 July) would be praised as “a lucid, practical, and philosophical exposition” in the Quincy Patriot (10 Aug., p. 2, col. 4), but this would receive no mention in the Diary, nor would it assuage the bitterness he felt over his neglect in the Boston press.
1839-07-19
To town, not returning until evening.
This was a day of great heat. I went to town accompanied by my Wife. Passed the morning much as usual, various commissions requiring an unusual portion of exercise from me. Walk up to Acorn Street but found the house shut up.
Mrs. A. had agreed to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brooks today and I joined her there, where we were met by Mr. Brooks the elder. Pleasant time enough, but after it I undertook to walk to the Athenaeum to see the Gallery, which was rather uncomfortable, the Gallery itself was over warm so after running over the newspaper files in the reading room to find notices of any thing done lately by me, without success, I went back and immediately after tea returned home.
267The evening at home was delicious and I could not help thinking how much better it was not to stir from it. The very first summer evening we have had and in itself perfectly exquisite.