10217th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Bartlett’s. There were 15 persons at Table, of whom I was not acquainted with Mr. McCard, Mr. Parsons, and Mr. W. Codman, from Boston. Mr. Parsons, is a great wit; but not a Christian. He is very fond of ridiculing the Bible. He pass’d a number of jests upon it, at Table. There was no man, he said in this Town, who read the Bible more, than he did, or who made less use of the...
10228th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams, the Minister of another Parish, belonging to this Town changed with Mr. Shaw, and preached here in the forenoon, from Matthew XI. 21, 22. Wo unto thee Chorazin! wo unto thee Bethsaïda! for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and...
10239th. (Adams Papers)
Was all day at home, and in the evening, closed my Letter to my Sister, as the Post goes for Boston, to-morrow, one day sooner than common, and Captain Lyde sails in a few days, for London: it kept me up exceeding late, or rather till very early, for it was near 2, in the morning, when I finish’d; I burn’t my fingers, bruised my toes, and went to bed: but what was worst of all I affronted Miss...
102410th. (Adams Papers)
Leonard White came up in the morning, and proposed to me, to make one of a small slaying party to Ham p stead, where Mr. White has an house, and farm. At about 10 o’clock, the slay stopp’d at the gate, and we immediately set away; Eliza, Peggy White Mr. Moores, Leonard, and myself. It was half past 11 before we got to the Place, although only 8 miles distant; on ac count of the great number...
102511th. (Adams Papers)
Finished in the forenoon, the second Book of the Cyropaedia; which I began, the 2d. of this month, and in the afternoon I began upon the book of Luke, in the Testament. I finish’d Matthew, last Thursday, and passed over Mark, in which it is supposed there is no difficulty, and which I may go through, in case, I have leisure. Miss Nancy, went in the afternoon with a large Party on slaying; and...
102612th. (Adams Papers)
Began in the forenoon upon the third book of the Cyropaedia; Eliza Duncan, Miss Stevenson and Mr. Bil. Osgood spent the Evening here. Nancy has been very much in the dumps, these two or three days. I hope she is not offended with herself; for though she has many very great foibles (the lot of humanity) yet, upon the whole she is really a good girl.
102713th. (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Payson pass’d the afternoon here. A Daughter of Mrs. Sargeants who was a Coquettish young Widow, and married, about 9 months since; she is in some measure the arbiter of Taste and fashion here: and makes very smart and severe Remarks, upon every one, who does not happen to dress or dance, according to her Taste. I went down with Nancy to Mr. Duncans, and was there all the Evening; there...
102814th. (Adams Papers)
I was up late last Night, to finish the fourth book of Horace’s Odes; and found my Eyes, this morning very sore indeed, so that I could not write or read. Mr. Storer, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. W. Smith arrived, at about 10 in the morning, and my time was taken up, in going about with them. Visited Mr. Stoughton for the first time: Mrs. Stoughton is by no means fond of this Town. The sudden...
102915th. (Adams Papers)
Snowy weather all day. We attended however both the meetings. The forenoon text was from Isaiah VII. 13. And he said, Hear ye now, o house of David, Is it a small thing for you, to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Somewhat of a foul weather Sermon, pretty short, and upon a subject of which little can be made. The field for expatiating, was much wider in the afternoon from Acts X. 38....
103016th. (Adams Papers)
The gentlemen left us this morning for Portsmouth. The weather very cold. At home all day. Began the book of Epodes in Horace in the Evening. Between 1. and 2 in the morning before I retired. 9 10 in the Evening, is the professed bed hour, here: but there are Circumstances, which 19 times out of 20 delay it, till after 11. and it is a disagreeable reflection to me, that from an useless,...