4517th. (Adams Papers)
I have been rather idle, this week, and this day entirely so. This evening I went down with Mr. Andrews to Judge Dana’s, and spent a couple of hours there. Invited Miss Ellery and Miss Nancy Mason, to the dance to’morrow. John Andrews, Harvard 1786, who was studying divinity at Harvard at this time. Almy, daughter of William Ellery ( JQA to AA2 , 14 Jan.–9 Feb. 1787 , Adams Papers ).
45224th. (Adams Papers)
It seems as if there is to be no end of this Stormy weather. It does not look more likely to clear up, than it did, a week agone; Charles and myself lodg’d down at our house; it is almost 7 years since I pass’d a night there before this.
45321st. (Adams Papers)
The second division of the Class, read a forensic, upon the Question, whether the destroying of inferior animals, be a violation of the Laws of nature. Where so much may be said on one side, and so little on the other, there cannot I believe, be derived, much instruction from a debate. The pieces were almost all short, and I do not recollect, that any thing new was said. Mr. Wigglesworth, gave...
4547th. (Adams Papers)
Went in the morning to Church: Mr. Harrison who is always with the Ladies squired them there A gentleman preach’d from a text in the Psalms. He spoke well, but was so slow that the first part of a phrase was lost before he finish’d the last. After Church I paid a visit with Mr. D. Le Roi and Captain Kortright, to Miss van Berkel, who arrived two days agone; she was not within, and to Miss...
45514th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Thatcher of Boston preached in the forenoon from John XX: 13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him, and in the afternoon, from Ephesians V and 11. And have no fellowship, with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather, reprove them. This is the best Orator, that I have seen in...
45611th. (Adams Papers)
We recite this week in Burlamaqui, to Mr. Burr, but he did not attend this day. I am reduced to the necessity of being idle; for I have no wood left, and must live where I can. Foster went off this morning to Boston, and I have for the present taken up my quarters with Bridge, who has a little wood left. Meeting of the ΦBK, this evening at Burge’s chamber; the performers were absent: so there...
45711th. (Adams Papers)
Breakfasted on board the Packet, which is to sail for L’orient next monday; from thence I went a shore on Long Island, and paid a visit to Madam de Marbois, which I ought to have done before. People here are much more attached to ceremony and etiquette than I expected to find them. I found Mr. Chaumont there and we read part of Phedre together. Mm. de Marbois speaks french very prettily: I...
4584th. (Adams Papers)
Attended meeting all day. It was very uncomfortable, the weather being so warm, and we are crowded there so thick. The Parson for our Comfort was very short. In the forenoon he preach’d from I Ep: John V. 11. And this is the record, That God, hath given to us eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son, and in the afternoon from, I Corinthians VII. 31. And they that use this world, as not...
4597th. (Adams Papers)
Company to dine. The Abbés wrote a billet to excuse themselves.
460Thursday September 1st. 1785. (Adams Papers)
Went and sat with Mr. de Chaumont a couple of hours, and afterwards accompanied him, and Mr. Toscan &c to Concert hall; to see Mr. Turner’s scholars dance. Once every fortnight, there is such a forenoon ball, from 1. o’clock to three. There were a number of minuets and country dances performed pretty well: and all the beauties of Boston seem’d to be assembled there in one bright constellation....
46126th. (Adams Papers)
We have been left alone again this day. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard went away this morning. I employ most of my time at present in reading the Abbé Millot’s elements of history. They are well written but very concise. He is quite philosophical: in some pas sages perhaps too much so. At least he calls in question many historical facts; without sufficient reason, I think. His reflections which seem...
46230th. (Adams Papers)
Snow’d all the morning. Mr. Cranch went to Boston and Charles with him: he return to Cambridge. As the supreme judicial Court is to sit there this week, there will be two or three companies of militia, in order to prevent riots; for the insurrections of this kind, are not yet quelled, and indeed I know not when they will be. There is not sufficient energy in the government, and the strength of...
46324th. (Adams Papers)
Went in the forenoon to St. Paul’s church and heard Mr. Doughty preach a sermon upon a text in Corinthians, concerning the knowledge of ourselves. He spoke to the general satisfaction of the Congregation. I afterwards went with the Captain on board our packet, and dined there. Saw Mr. B. Jarvis who invited me to go over next Sunday to Long Island. We went and engaged a Phaèton at Brooklyn, a...
464[11th.] (Adams Papers)
Wednesday went from Boulogne to Amiens.
46527th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hutchinson sailed yesterday for Ireland. The weather for several days past has been quite moderate; but this afternoon blew up very cold again. I pass’d the evening with Townsend and Pickman at Dr. Sawyer’s. Play’d quadrill with Mrs. Sawyer and Mrs. Hay; the family is very agreeable.
46624. (Adams Papers)
Gunning in the morning with Charles. Tired.
46728th. (Adams Papers)
Dr. Crosby came and paid me a visit in the morning. I went to see Mr. Jay, and staid about an hour with him. Dined at Cape’s tavern with the Captain and officers of the Packet. The stage for New Haven leaves this place every Monday, and thursday; it goes from Cape’s: I wish much to get away by next monday but fear I shall not be able to. Saw Major L’Enfant, and Mr. van Berkel in the Evening....
46817th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Parsons held a court this forenoon at ten; and at the same hour I attended at Mr. Atkins’s, with several actions, brought before him. Mr. Parsons in the afternoon went from home to return to Boston. I pass’d the evening at Mrs. Hooper’s. Play’d quadrill as usual. JQA adds, in his line-a-day entries, “Townsend unwell” (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 16).
46914. (Adams Papers)
Justinian’s Inst. Foster’s Cr. Law. Gibbon &c. Justinian’s Institutes , a textbook of Roman law and a foundation of continental law, originally issued by Justinian I in 533.
4707th. (Adams Papers)
I went with Thompson, to Mr. Atkins’s, to answer to an action which we had brought before him this day. The first Monday in April, being the day appointed by the Constitution for the choice of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Senators The Town meeting here began at ten in the morning, and the poll was closed at four in the afternoon. Mr. Hancock and General Lincoln, had a great majority in...
4714. (Adams Papers)
Very cold. At Mr. Cranch’s. Dr. Fogg. Mr. Thayer.
47221st. (Adams Papers)
I can read tolerably well when I am alone in the office, and make as much progress in one day, as I can sometimes in a week, when all the other gentlemen are here. I have read through the first volume, and have made some progress in the second of Blackstone... And I read it I think with more advantage, than I did the first time; but my progress is slow; too slow. JQA ’s ellipses. In his...
473Friday Novr. 21st. (Adams Papers)
Dined with Mr. Fitch at the St. Albans Tavern. The Tavern, on St. Albans Street, Pall Mall, was renowned for political and fashionable dinners and meetings ( Wheatley, London Past and Present Henry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions , London, 1891; 3 vols. , 1:12).
47411th. (Adams Papers)
I set out with Pickman this morning at about nine o’clock: the weather was clear though rather windy: before twelve we arrived at Haverhill. I went immediately to Mr. Shaws; and Pickman, went to the tavern to meet a carriage, which he expected from Salem; but very unfortunately he found the Carriage, had past through the Town, not more than a quarter of an hour before he got there: such...
47529. (Adams Papers)
Tea at Mr. Adams’s.
47617th. (Adams Papers)
My Chum went to Boston, but return’d early in the afternoon. After tea we went down to Mr. Dana’s. Miss Ellery was there, and Miss Jones with her; Bridge accompanied this Lady home, and after they were gone, I had a deal of chat, with Miss Ellery, who has a larger share of Sense, than commonly falls to an individual of her sex. We conversed upon diverse subjects, but I can never give any thing...
477Thursday May 1st. 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.
478Wednesday Novr. 26th. (Adams Papers)
Went again to the Covent Garden Theatre, and saw the Magic Picture with the Quaker. The Magic Picture , London, 1783, by Henry Bate Dudley; The Quaker , London, 1777, by Charles Dibdin ( Biographia Dramatica David Erskine Baker and others, eds., Biographia Dramatica; Or, A Companion to the Play House ... , London, 1764-1812; 3 vols, in 4. ; DNB Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee, eds., The...
4797th. (Adams Papers)
This morning I returned to my old quarters N: 6. My Brothers and Cousin got here just before dinner. There were commons at noon, but it is most generally somewhat confused in the hall, the first day in the Quarter: I preferred not attending: Miss Ellery dined at the professor’s: After dinner I took my leave of the folks of the house: in the evening White arrived from Haverhill. Very few of our...
4804th. (Adams Papers)
I this day concluded the first volume of my author: and employ’d all the afternoon in copying from it, under heads. As Parsons goes to Boston next week and will stay there so long, that I shall probably finish the book I am now reading before he returns; I enquired of him, what would be best to take up next. He recommended, Sullivan’s lectures, then Wright’s tenures, and then Coke Littelton....