Diary of Charles Francis Adams, volume 2
1827-01-15
I walked to the Capitol today. In the Supreme Court I found Miss Brooks and Mrs. Everett and as I had nothing to do more interesting, I attended upon them. We went to the House of Re
From D/CFA/5.
Biog. Dir. Cong.
). A Mr. Coster was also present (D/CFA/1); he was probably John G. Coster, the wealthy New York merchant.
1827-01-16
Morning, walk to the Capitol, Supreme Court, House of Representatives, No interest, evening at home, Executive Record.
From D/CFA/1.
1827-01-17
Morning, walk to the Capitol, Supreme Court, Argument on the Insolvent Law, Mr. Ogden and Mr. Wheaton,1 evening, a Drawing room.
In this and later entries CFA refers to the celebrated case of Ogden v. Saunders (12 Wheaton 213), which involved the respective powers of the federal government and the states over the subject of bankruptcy. The Supreme Court in United States History, Boston, 1947, 1:686–690.
1827-01-18
I went to the Supreme Court and heard the commencement of the argument involving the Constitutionality of the State Bankrupt laws. Mr. Ogden opened the case in support of the laws, and Mr. Wheaton replied. It is a very important case. The day was terribly cold and we were much distressed by the account of a fire in Alexandria which ravaged half the place. We had an alarm here, but the danger was avoided. It was
From D/CFA/5.
This was “the greatest fire that ever happened in Alexandria” and caused damage estimated at $200,000. About one thousand persons from Washington went to help put out the blaze (Washington Daily National Intelligencer, 19 Jan. 1827).
William Turnbull, the soldier and engineer, had recently married Jane Graham Ramsay (
DAB
). Abigail B. Brooks also attended the party (D/CFA/1).