1[January 1788] (Adams Papers)
Pass’d the day and evening at the office. Read at my own lodgings till one o’clock in the morning. I feel every day a greater disposition to drop this nonsense. It takes up a great deal of my time, and as it is incessantly calling upon me, I can never have any respite: in the extreme cold of winter I have no convenience, for writing, and was it not for the pleasure of complaining to myself, I...
2[February 1788] (Adams Papers)
Pass’d a great part of the fore noon at Mr. Thaxter’s. He is now quite in the family way: he dined with us at Mr. Shaw’s; as did Leonard White and Sam Walker. In the afternoon we rode in a couple of sleighs about 6 miles down upon the river, and return’d just after dark. The party was agreeable; but Walker was an object of great pity. He has ruined his reputation irrevocably; the fairest Life...
3[March 1788] (Adams Papers)
The weather is very severe: The month comes in like a Lion, and according to the farmer’s proverb it must go out like a Lamb. I passed my evening in contemplation, and in writing at home; and have very Little to say for this day. We had no meeting at Parson Carey’s. I was employ’d in writing all the forenoon; but after dinner, went to hear Mr. Spring. The speculative sentiments of this...
4[April 1788] (Adams Papers)
The Court sits this day at Ipswich. Mr. Parsons went in the afternoon, I dined with him. Pickman gone to Salem: so that for two or three days I have been wholly alone at the office: Putnam took a long walk with me; he has been amusing himself with Stacey this day by the prescriptive privilege of deceiving. The manner was imprudent, and the thing itself beneath his years: but there is a...
5[May 1788] (Adams Papers)
Pickman returned this afternoon from Salem. The Club were in the evening at my room: Young Fowle, Thompson’s poetical Class-mate spent the evening with us. Pickman went off quite early. He attended a ball in Salem, last evening, and what with the fatigue of dancing, and that of riding this day he was tired out. After passing the day at the Office, I stroll’d with Pickman, as far as Sawyer’s...
6[June 1788] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Allen preached for us this day; and I attended to hear him. His Sermons are judicious and sensible; but his manner of delivering them is very disagreeable. In the evening I took a long walk with Doctor Kilham; and pass’d the remainder of it at home. Pickman returned this day from Salem, where he has been for ten days past. I began to read Wood’s Institutes; a book written upon a similar...
7[July 1788] (Adams Papers)
It was nine o’clock before I could get away from Braintree this morning, and I arrived at the Colleges just before the exhibition began. A Latin Oration was spoken by Kirkland and was very well. The Forensic between Palmer and Waterman was tolerable, but I forget the subject. The english Dialogue between Thacher and Gray was well spoken, but rather stiff. The greek Dialogue between the...
8[August 1788] (Adams Papers)
The day was spent in the usual uninteresting manner: indeed it may be generally observed that the more advantageously the day is employed for myself; the less I have to say at the close of it. I walk’d in the evening with Stacey till after nine o’clock. JQA notes, in his line-a-day entry, Blackstone’s Commentaries , which he presumably read this day (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel...
9[September 1788] (Adams Papers)
Rain. Pass’d the evening with Stacey. Finished Hume and Blackstone. Little &c. I went over the river with Stacey and Romain upon a shooting party. We had tolerable success. It was very windy; and with a heavy boat and only one oar, we had some difficulty to get across the river. Bridge arrived this day in town. I proposed to him to go with me to-morrow: and he has partly promised to accept my...
10[October 1788] (Adams Papers)
“Oh gentle sleep Nature’s soft Nurse, how have I frighted thee That thou no more wilt weigh mine eye lids down And steep my senses in forgetfulness.” In the present situation of my health I cannot possibly attend at all to study, and this circumstance with some others has determined me to spend some weeks, perhaps some months at Braintree. I spoke for a place in the stage which goes to Boston...