Browsing: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 2

I performed my duties quite tolerably this morning and wrote a letter to Abby in the afternoon. Nothing else remarkable however occurred. This monotony of life, though very terrible in the journal, {p. 134} is a certain sign of the happiness which attends it. In the evening the ladies retired very early on account of fatigue.

My eyes and teeth trouble me. The first having been injured by the water, fishing and by the reading, the second being as usual in bad order. I went to the Dentist this morning who promised to do his best, which will not be much I am afraid. I received a letter from Richardson,2 but was occupied almost all day in pasting my name to my books. Evening at home as usual.

I did nothing to day but write my record and go to see the Dentist who filed some of my teeth, but I have lost all hope of saving them. I received a letter from Abby and wrote a large part of one to Richardson2 which completed all my useful occupation.

I arose very early this morning and wrote my portion of Record as usual. The day was very rainy and unpleasant. My time was occupied in reading Cook’s account of his last Voyage, in filing Newspapers, and in completing my letter to Richardson and writing one to Abby. Evening at home but the family are dull.

Bath and Executive Record as usual. But my eyes being in a condition not to allow me to study, I was but little occupied in any thing but arranging my books, and making an attempt at painting in Indian Ink as I have some curiosity to learn colouring.

I did not occupy myself much today as my time was taken up in walking into the City on some little affair for my Father relative to an Auction of Mr. Ironside’s books, which took place in the evening, and where I attended to make some purchases for him and for myself. I {p. 135} received a very pleasant letter from Abby today. Poor Ironside, among things which I say [saw? ] brought up vivid recollections of ancient days and made me feel the reality that he had ceased to exist.1 But one short year since and in this journal, in this very book, he plays a very different part. I bought some few things merely to remember him and was glad to find things generally sold well, on account of the distressed condition of his family.