A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Diary of Charles Francis Adams, 1863

Monday 20th

20 July 1863

Wednesday 22d.

22 July 1863
21 July 1863
416
Tuesday 21st
London
CFA

1863-07-21

AM

The incredulity is yet considerable. It is the strongest proof how deepseated is the passion in the English breast. It was doubtless one of the great purposes of this struggle to place in the clearest and most indisputable prominence the fact of the disposition of the British towards us, so that we should never forget it. The consequences of this in the distant future, it would be hard at this moment to estimate. The course of history will doubtless be much turned by it. I had more persons to visit me. Many Americans are coming over. Mr Joseph Lyman and Reseverd Mr Weiss called today. The former had been charged with the telegraphic communication from Mr Seward. I went out with Mrs Adams to see Church’s picture of the Icebergs. It is very striking, and yet in imagination rather bald. The accessories are well managed, coloring, perspective, composition very superior, but failing of permanent interest from its unavoidable monotony and absence of life. In the evening with Henry and Mary to Her Majesty’s Theatre to witness the performance of Wieland’s Oberon. The music rich, varied and charming. The scenic effect good. The acting indifferent, though the cast was strong. There was a hitch throughout which indicated either imperfect rehearsing, or the viability of some of the full execution of their parts. The Orchestra was excellent. The attendance very full for so late a period in the season. The plot of the piece founded on Wieland’s poem but devoid of all its merits. No opera is fortified by words.

Cite web page as:

Charles Francis Adams, Sr., [date of entry], diary, in Charles Francis Adams, Sr.: The Civil War Diaries (Unverified Transcriptions). Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2015. http://www.masshist.org/publications/cfa-civil-war/view?id=DCA63d202