Browsing: Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 2

Returned to town with Abby in company. Weather cold but not unpleasant. At the Office. Found George had received a letter and was about to start for Washington.1 I think this a good plan. Morning read Blackstone. After dinner, some of Sir Joshua Reynolds with an Account of his Life.2 George came in and had some Conversation with me. He seemed very much disarranged. As usual delay has done him no service. He might as well have gone at first. Evening, reading, the Spectator.

Morning at the Office. Weather cold and chilly. Reading Blackstone, in the Court of Common Pleas and engaged in making a Writ. My professional business continues still. Conversation with George who goes positively tomorrow. I rode to Quincy after dinner in a sharp piercing East Wind. Gave some directions about the Garden and went up to see my Uncle. The family are very comfortably and prettily settled in their new residence and on the whole I think it more comfortable than the old one.1 Much conversation but there is something sticking at bottom which made them dull, which I could not at all understand. How great a similarity all sense of wrong creates in conduct in all men. George and my Uncle are both quivering under the fear of the merited reproaches which my father can though he will not give them. Returned rather later than I had expected so that it was nine o’clock when I reached my Office. Read the Spectator until ten.

Morning at the Office. George went positively this morning and left his affairs with me. I commenced making some arrangements to repair that Office in order to go into it.1 Did not pass the time very usefully. In Court a short time. Afternoon. Continued Clarendon and in the evening the Spectator. The East Winds have set in as usual and are exceedingly disagreeable.