Browsing: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 2

Morning passed at home. Copying before breakfast and talking afterwards. Received the news of the Baltimore election and were a little depressed by it’s result.1 But I obtained a letter from Abby which was much more calculated to affect me. I do not know what has got possession of her but it seems to me as if she does not consult my feelings as much as I wish she did. My spirits are exceedingly variable and this brought them down quite low.2 I conversed on the subject with my Mother who did her best to soothe me. But I wanted much more than it was in her power to give. Took a ride with her and Mary in the little Carriage, the other having gone to be painted.

On this day, we were invited to dine with Mr. Vaughan, the English Minister, and accordingly we went at five o’clock. A very large Company. Genl. Ver Veer and his daughter from Holland on a mission to Nicaragua for the purpose of a survey of the isthmus, were the Lions. Mr. and Mrs. Huygens, daughters and son, Mr. and Mrs. Clay, Mr. and Mrs. Rush and two sons, Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn,3 Mr. and Mrs. Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. Bankhead, Genl. Harrison, and son, (a cub), Mr. Gilmor of B.,4 Mr. Brent, Wallenstein, Stackelberg, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, and some others who may have escaped me. The dinner was as usual though not so good, and nothing remarkable occurred to me between Wallenstein and Stackelberg, excepting that I came near losing my seat. Returned soon, finding the news from Maryland much changed for the better. Evening with the family.