Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1827-07-04
Of course, a great deal of noise and dust and heat. The President opened the House as usual, after the ceremonies of the day which I avoided. The people literally are the visiters on this day, and have fairly driven every body away from attending. I could not bear an existence for longer than two minutes among the heated and not very agreeable breezes of the Circular Saloon. My feelings certainly tend to the aristocratic opinions, and I have reasoned with myself enough to counteract it. But it is of no use. Early rooted opinions will probably have a material influence upon my future success. The weather which had been terribly warm all day, cooled off with the assistance of a thunder shower. A ride in the evening, and conversation with Mary.
1827-07-05
Exercises as usual. The weather has moderated very considerably. But little of interest happened today. Miss Mary Roberdeau left us today having exhibited herself in this last stay, much more foolish even than I had formerly thought her. The house seems dull however.
1827-07-06
Exercises as usual. I did not feel well and in exceeding low spirits. Received a letter from Abby, which I answered. The Marion Rifle Company from Baltimore took leave of the President to day. They have been amusing themselves for two or three days here.1 In the evening a ride and quiet at home.
The Baltimore rifle company, which was going to visit Georgetown, gave the President a “marching salute” in the morning and, passing the White House again in the afternoon as they returned, “gave it a salute of three cheers” (JQA, Diary, 6 July 1827).
1827-07-07
The days pass so quietly that I hardly think it worth while to record any thing in my Journal. It will not be so long. I received a letter from Richardson,1 and finished the first volume of Coke, otherwise nothing remarkable.
Missing.
1827-07-08
Morning occupied filing Papers much as usual and reading the News. The day passed without bringing with it any particular occurrence. The political world somewhat agitated by the production of a 143letter of General Jackson’s asserting a corrupt offer to him by the friends of Mr. Clay at the last election.1
On 5 June 1827 Andrew Jackson wrote Carter Beverley that during the recent presidential contest one of Clay’s friends, “a member of Congress of high respectability,” approached him with the suggestion of a coalition. If Jackson announced that he would not retain JQA as Secretary of State—and thus presumably would appoint Clay to that post—the Kentuckian’s friends “would put an end to the Presidential contest in one hour.” Jackson declared that he had spurned the corrupt offer. His letter was published in the United States Telegraph in June; Clay issued a denial and demanded the name of Jackson’s informant; on 18 July Jackson named Congressman James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, as the man. Then Buchanan issued a statement, which both sides claimed as favorable to their view of the case. See Andrew Jackson, Corr., ed. Bassett, 3:355–357.