2114th. (Adams Papers)
The weather was extremely warm, all the forenoon. Rambled about, upon Mr. Cranch’s farm with my cousin. In the afternoon, I went into the water with him: towards evening the weather began to grow more comfortable: a letter was brought me, from Mr. Belknap in Boston. Terminal punctuation has been supplied. On this letter and JQA ’s reply of the 6th, see entry for 18 July, note 9 (above).
21218th. (Adams Papers)
The weather in the morning look’d stormy, and was showery at different times all day. I attended however Mr. Wibird’s sermons forenoon and afternoon; he was this day remarkably short, and did not either time keep us more than an hour and an half: A shower fell just as the afternoon meeting, was over; and Mr. Tyler and myself went over the way, to Mrs. Church’s. We borrow’d her Chaise of her,...
21325th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Mellen, preach’d here: he was a Tutor two or three years since. His forenoon discourse was from Psalm, c. 3. Know ye that the Lord, he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his People, and the sheep of his Pasture. The afternoon, from Acts X. 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway....
2148th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thaxter spent half an hour with us in the forenoon; after dinner my Brother and myself went gunning, from 3 o’clock till dark. The only game to be found here, are Larks and Robins, and black birds: there were great numbers of them. We brought home 17 and should probably have had many more, had I been as good a marksman as my brother. At length the long expected trunks are come; and Mr....
21522d. (Adams Papers)
This morning I sent down a Cart with my two trunks that are going to Haverhill. I intended to go myself in the forenoon, but at length resolv’d to go and dine with Mrs. Quincy, and from thence go forward to Boston. My two good Cousins went in the Chaise; I walk’d it, with Mr. Tyler. We were not expected, and somewhat late: we found Parson Wibird there, who ask’d me abundance, of questions,...
21622d. (Adams Papers)
My father went to Versailles. Mr. Short went with him to be presented at Court. Variable Weather: much Snow in the morning, fair weather at noon, and Stormy again, in the Evening. The Duke of Dorset said to my father, while they were passing from one chamber to another “what nonsensical business all this noisy parade is!” My father said it was curious that a person like him, who had from his...
21713th. (Adams Papers)
Miss Nancy, My Brother and myself dined with Mr. Dodge, to day: Mr. Thaxter was there. He went two or three days ago to Newbury and return’d last night. Mr. Dodge is a person of extensive reading, and is fond of enquiring, which is always very agreeable to a traveller. In the afternoon I went with Mr. Thaxter to Mr. Osgood’s Store, and afterwards to his own office. We return’d and drank tea at...
2185th. (Adams Papers)
Dull, and low spirited, somewhat, but it did not last long. Mr. James, gave us a piece of Latin to make: the first the Class have had since I have been here. This is the last week that we attend the Latin Tutor, and last week we closed with Mr. Jennison. In the Senior year there are no languages, studied in College. It is very popular here to dislike the Study of greek and Latin, but it...
2197th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at the Marquis de la Fayettes. The Chevalier de la Luzerne dined there has been in the Country for some Months past. M: de Camaran a young french gentleman who went to America with the Marquis the last time was asked by Mrs. B. what part of America he liked best. He did not know from what part she was, and answered Boston. “I never was there” said Mrs. B. The Gentleman was embarass’d...
2202d. (Adams Papers)
Young Mr. Symmes lodged here last Night. This morning before breakfast My Brother Charles left us, for Cambridge, as the fall vacancy ends to day. He went with Leonard White, and Walker, and several other Gentlemen and Ladies who were going to Boston. I have lost in Leonard and Charles two good friends who in my leisure hours were great sources of pleasure to me; but the separation from them...
22128th. (Adams Papers)
Dull weather. Wind Northeast. It began to rain a little after noon, and continued all the rest of the day. I pass’d the evening at Dr. Swett’s. We play’d whist, and I was somewhat unfortunate. Little came home and lodg’d with me; the weather being so bad, that he could not conveniently go to Newbury.
22225. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thaxter’s. Miss Hazen. Eve at Mr. Bartlett’s.
22318th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. McKeen of Beverley preached at Mr. Carey’s this day. I attended to hear him. His discourses were, though sensible, calculated to please the generality of the audience; I did not like them so well as those of Mr. Barnard, the last Sunday. After meeting Pickman called upon me, and I went up with him to see Mr. Jackson, where we drank tea, and pass’d the evening. Mr. McKeen, and Mr. Farnham...
2248th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Webster from Salisbury preached for us this day: a venerable old gentleman who has been subject to many misfortunes, and whose countenance is expressive of the sensibility which has so often been wounded. I took a long walk in the evening with Stacey; a young fellow who has been very imprudent; but whose disposition is I believe very good. Rev. Samuel Webster, minister of the West Parish,...
22522d. (Adams Papers)
I was up before eight, and had not slept well, even the short Time I was in bed; I felt stiff and unfit for almost every thing. I read but little at the Office; and omitted one thing, which for three weeks past has claimed my attention, very constantly: The Club, were at my lodgings this evening; Stacey however went away somewhat early; to meet some of his friends from Andover, and we were all...
22628th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Williams gave us an astronomical lecture this afternoon. The sodality met, in the evening at Putnam’s chamber, and play’d till nine. Spent an hour with Mead after I return’d. Benjamin Beale was 18. the 6th. of June last. His father was from Braintree, but he was born at Liverpool in England. He entered the Class just before they commenced sophimores. His disposition is amiable, and he is a...
22725th. (Adams Papers)
The town is not so much crowded this day; as it was yesterday. That Class of people which is called by some persons the rabble , (by which word is meant people, who have neither a fortune nor an education at our university, alias a liberal education) went off chiefly last night: and there now remains nothing but the genteel company, or otherwise people who have no business, to call them from...
22812th. (Adams Papers)
Townsend arrived in town this forenoon: I called at Mrs. Hooper’s to see him immediately after dinner: he looks better than he was when he left this Town; but his situation still appears to me to be critical. Club met at Pickman’s. Putnam appeared rather sober. Townsend was obliged to retire just before Sun-set. Farnham too was not in the highest Spirits, for Mr. Prout marries Miss S. Jenkins...
22928th. (Adams Papers)
Mrs. Shaw went over to Bradford in the afternoon, and pass’d it at Mr. Allen’s. Read Locke, upon the Question whether the Soul always thinks: he endeavours to prove that it does not: he has not however satisfied me, so well as upon the Subject of innate Ideas. His principal argument is, the improbability, that we should think several hours together, and not recollect what it was we thought of....
23018th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hilliard preached for us the whole day: his text in the afternoon was in these words, “righteousness exalteth a nation.” A political Sermon; upon the present situation of affairs; the first Mr. H. has delivered since I became one of his hearers. We had this evening a meeting of the A B. for the first time this quarter. We chose officers, to continue, untill our Class shall cease to meet at...
2312d. (Adams Papers)
The weather was extremely warm. I amused myself part of the day in reading, and part in shooting. The cherry trees which are quite full at present, are so inviting to the birds that, there is very good sport with little trouble.
23218th. (Adams Papers)
All day within; the weather uncommonly mild. Mr. Thaxter spent the Evening and supped here. Began the 2d. volume of the Essay upon the human Understanding. There are many things, somewhat abstruse, in this book, and I have not at present time to read them with sufficient attention, but there is one thing, which I never heard of, and which surprized me. He seems to adopt the opinion of the...
2338th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Burr preach’d to us this afternoon, a pretty good Sermon. In the evening I attended the meeting of the A B. and read an essay. Several other pieces of the same kind were presented but the Oration and forensic were omitted. Freeman requested a dismission from the Society, and it was granted: Cranch was chosen in his stead to deliver the anniversary Oration on the 12th. of next month. It was...
2345th. (Adams Papers)
I attended at the Office. Amory was there. Return’d yesterday from Salem. Townsend went to Boston last week, and has not yet return’d. In the afternoon, we attended the funeral of Mrs. Dav enport a sister of Mr. Parsons. She died of a consumption a few days since. Little, and Thomson pass’d an hour with me in the evening, after which, I went with the latter to Mr. Atkins’s. Thomson was much...
23522d. (Adams Papers)
Fast day. Attended Mr. Hilliard the whole day; but to no great purpose: in consequence of the late severity of the College Gov ernors, there has been yesterday and this day, a subscription paper handed about among all the Classes, to procure a meeting of the whole college to-morrow evening in the chapel, every person having a pipe, a glass and a bottle of wine, and there to convince the...
2368th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. White’s family, and Miss Sally McKinstry, drank tea here. This young Lady has been all the Winter at Boston; she is very genteel, and was it not for a little twist in the Position of her eyes, would be uncommonly handsome. Notwithstanding this blemish her Countenance, is pleasing, and frequently dimpled with a smile. She is sociable, but unfortunately I cannot be so with a stranger, and...
23722d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. and Mrs. Allen, and Eliza, stopp’d here on their way to Kittery, at about half after 8. I was not up. I cannot study in the morning, because there is always so much stirring; but when every body else in the house is in bed, I have nothing to interrupt me, so that I seldom retire before 1 in the morning, and rise, between 8 and 9. I have endeavoured to sleep less but have not been able. The...
23812th. (Adams Papers)
By using so little exercice, as I have done for these 18 months; and leading a sedentary life; I have got into a very indifferent state of health: and have determined to attend to nothing further this vacation, than to get into a better way: for this purpose I have begun to take much exercice, from 9 to 1, and from 3 to 6, I was rambling about with my gun. Mr. Gannett and his Lady, got here...
23912th. (Adams Papers)
Went all day to hear Mr. Smith. I had never heard him before. His text for the whole day was from Solomon’s song II. 14. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see, thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. The discourse in the forenoon, was entirely taken up in a description of the...
2402d. (Adams Papers)
This morning I went out with Forbes and Mason, on a gunning party. The game was very scarce, but among us all, we kill’d a large variety of birds. We dined at one Richardson’s, living beyond the fresh pond, and did not return till almost six o’clock; pass’d the evening with Cranch, and was much fatigued.