69124. (Adams Papers)
Very warm; rainy, disagreeable weather.
69217th. (Adams Papers)
Fast day. In the forenoon I remained at home, and spent my time in writing and reading. In the afternoon, I heard Parson Wibird. Mrs. Cranch and Miss Lucy came home this evening; a person from Boston brought us some Letters which came from Europe. Callahan was to sail, about the first of this month; which will probably be extended to the fifteenth. By this time I suppose my friends will be at...
69314. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Ware. Preach’d admirably. D. Atkins.
69431st. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Parsons held a Justice’s Court for the trial of a trifling action of trover and conversion. The dispute was about 600 feet of pine boards. The witnesses on both sides were examined and after a trial of two hours; Mr. Parsons advised them to settle the matter between themselves without any judgment; which they accordingly did. The weather for a day or two past has been very mild and...
6957th. (Adams Papers)
The weather was very fine; I took a long walk in the evening with Thompson and Putnam. Thompson left us, and went to see Parson Spring. Putnam came home, and past the remainder of the evening with me. I have used myself for several days past to rise very early, and should wish to do so through the Summer: but my propensity to sleep is so great, that it is almost always impossible for me to...
69621st. (Adams Papers)
We were again confined all day to the house, by the badness of the weather. Mr. Cranch however went to Boston. I find, as I always have found, great inconveniences in writing here, and indeed, there are no small inconveniences in thinking; I wrote however a little, and read a few pages in Gilbert’s treatise of Evidence, it being a Law book. W. Cranch is reading Bacon; but makes no great...
69727th. (Adams Papers)
Fay was here this morning, and Freeman return’d this day from his Tour to visit his friends. Part of the company of militia in this town, march’d this morning towards Worcester. Dispatches were expected this evening from Genl. Lincoln, but none appeared.
698John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 25 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
This is the eighth day it has rained and stormed without intermission, the weather is worse than that of England commonly is. The parson has been here to-day. Smoked some pipes, was sometimes witty, and always ready to laugh at his own flashes. The vacancy expires tomorrow. The weather has been such that we could not stir out of doors. I have employed my time in reading, writing and taking...
69911th. (Adams Papers)
I attended meeting to hear Parson Barnard of Salem. He gave us two very excellent Sermons. And his prayers were admirable; which is something very uncommon. I am told indeed that he regularly composes this part of the service; as well as his Sermons; an example worthy of imitation. His address for Mr. Carey, was tender and affectionate, and the manner in which he spoke it was truly affecting....
70017th. (Adams Papers)
Was at Kendall’s chamber after dinner; and likewise drank tea there. At home all the evening reading and writing; a number of junior’s had quite a frolic in Clarkes chamber. Samuel Angier from Medford, was 20 the 8th. of last November. Although his chamber is directly opposite to mine, I have but little intercourse with him. His character is far from amiable. Envy and vanity appear to me to be...
70114th. (Adams Papers)
I wrote two long letters this day. One to J. Forbes, and the other to W. Cranch. Went with Putnam in the afternoon to Mr. Tucker’s meeting, and was much pleased with the doctor’s preaching. Putnam spent an hour or two with me after meeting. Not found. Owned by Miss Margaret DuBois of New York in 1957. A transcript, possibly in the hand of MCHA , is in M/CFA/31, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel...
702Sunday June 1st. 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.
70331st. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Harris arrived this afternoon from Springfield, but did not bring any further accounts of consequence from that quarter. He saw on the road several of the insurgents who had returned home, sick of their expedition. Bridge and I drank tea at Mrs. Forbes’s, and spent the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard, Mrs. Willard, and Mrs. Miller were there. After tea, Cards being proposed Mr. Hilliard...
70417th. (Adams Papers)
An extreme cold day. I regretted much, not having my thermometer with me, to see the Proportion, between the severity of the weather in St. Petersburg, and here. My Brother Charles, and Cousin Cranch, arrived here in the forenoon. They came yesterday from Braintree, as far as Andover. My Brother’s coming, was the more agreeable, for being in some measure unexpected. We pass’d the Evening at...
7057th. (Adams Papers)
At about 11, in the morning I set off, with Foster and White, for Haverhill. At half past one, we got to Dick’s tavern in Wilmington; we dined there, at three we started again, and at a quarter after five arrived in Haverhill: we rode in the snow the greater part of the Time. The slaying is very good; but we could not trust to its continuing so, three days at this Season of the year: I stay’d...
70621st. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Williams gave us a public lecture this afternoon, containing, an account of the different constellations in the Heavens. We had at Little’s chamber a meeting of the ΦBK. Mr. Andrews read a dissertation, containing a panegyric, upon the Ladies. A Letter from the branch of the Society at New-Haven was read, containing some queries respecting the granting a charter to Dartmouth, and an...
7077th. (Adams Papers)
Drank tea, and spent the evening at Mr. Payson’s. His lady, who has had two daughters by a former, takes, as I believe, the shortest possible method to ruin them. She made one of them this evening, mimic, the peculiarities, of several respectable persons in town. The Child, would first examine particularly, to see if the persons she was to ape was not present, and when satisfied they were not,...
70821st. (Adams Papers)
Finished the Epodes of Horace, and the third book of Xenophon’s Cyropaedia. There is no poem of Horace’s, that has ever pleased me more, than that which closes the odes: the Carmen Saeculare. The beauty of language, and of numbers seem very well united. And of all the kinds of verse, that are used by this Poet the Sapphic, I think has the most dignity. The Saecular Games were celebrated in...
70911th. (Adams Papers)
Attended meeting all day. Mr. Hilliard preach’d; but not very much to the purpose: what with the fatigue of my yesterday’s ride, the little sleep I had last night, and some soporific qualities in the discourses which were read, I was much refreshed by a couple of naps which I took; one beforenoon and the other after. In the evening I went down to Judge Dana’s, but did not see him: the...
71028th. (Adams Papers)
Rode out in the morning with Mrs. Cranch. It rain’d hard all the afternoon—chilly north-east wind. The fruits of the earth are at this time extremely backward, on account of the little heat, and the great rains that have prevailed this summer. The productions of our lands require frequent, rather than plentiful rains, and great heat, as the summers are so short.
71111th. (Adams Papers)
Eliza spent the day at Mr. White’s; went down and drank tea there, with Mr. Thaxter, who was here part of the Evening. Mr. Shaw preaches to-morrow at Boxford, and is to be supplied, by a Mr. Howe, who came here this Evening. An extraordinary Character. He adopted a degree of familiarity, as soon as he came into the house, which, did not in any measure prejudice me in his favour. Indeed by the...
712Sunday April 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
Attended meeting the whole day, to hear Mr. Hilliard; and had moreover the supreme felicity of waiting on the amiable Miss Williams to her home. After meeting, at night, I wrote part of my forensic, for next Tuesday. Attended the meeting of the A B. in the evening: not many of the members present. Two or three pieces however were read, and a forensic dispute between Abbot 3d. and Dodge, upon...
71319th. (Adams Papers)
The equinoctial storm, which has been gathering in the heavens for a week past, has now appeared, with all its violence and rage. Stedman arrived in town last evening, and has attended in the office this day. He brought me no letters from Cambridge, but left all friends well: we had a violent debate in the office, between Stedman and Townsend upon a point of law. The contest began by a...
71421st. (Adams Papers)
Cold, disagreeable Weather, all the morning. In the afternoon it storm’d. My Aunt and myself, sat out to go and see Mrs. Warren, in Milton, but it began to storm before we got far; so we turn’d about and went down to Uncle Quincy’s. We drank tea with him. I believe he would be much happier than he is, if he was married.
715Wednesday March 1st. 1786. (Adams Papers)
At home all day: Eliza, dined and passed the afternoon, at Mr. Duncan’s. Mr. Thaxter went to Portsmouth upon business. Felt quite fatigued all day, though, I did not sit up, later than common last night. Retired at about 11.
716[August 1786] (Adams Papers)
There was a meeting of an association of ministers here this day; but there were only three present. Mr. Adams preach’d the Lecture, and was a whole hour in Sermon, endeavouring to prove, the Trinity, and the existence of hell. After all I believe he left all his hearers where he found them, and he was certainly much too long. After dinner I went with Mrs. White, Miss P. M’Kinstry, and Leonard...
71723d. (Adams Papers)
Attended upon Mr. Carey the whole day. His manner is not very agreeable; but his stile is much better than common. Townsend called here in the evening. Amory set off this morning for Boston. They say it is impossible for him to stay three days at a time in one place. He has been absent 6 or 8 months, and promised Mr. Parsons some time ago that he would come, and be very steady all through the...
71825th. (Adams Papers)
We had no reciting to day. Saturday mornings commonly the two elder Classes, recite to their own Tutors in Doddridge’s Lectures on Divinity; but our Tutor did not hear us. The weather, warm and Pleasant. In the Afternoon Mr. Cranch, and my Cousin, came, and brought me the remainder of my furniture; I did but little to day, because the weather being so fine, we were almost all day walking,...
71929th. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. White’s, in Company, with Mrs. White of Boston, Mrs. Willard, Mrs. Parkman, and My Classmate Bil: Abbot, who belongs to Andover. Walk’d in the afternoon, and at Mr. Shaw’s heard crazy Temple, talk an hour or two. He will not talk long to any body. Fine weather.
720[December 1786] (Adams Papers)
It was on Wednesday, that the troop of horsemen from Boston went up in search of Shattuck. They succeeded in their attempt, and this forenoon at about 11 o’clock, they return’d through this town, with two besides Shattuck; by the names of Parker, and Page. These were taken by the horsemen, from Groton, before, the arrival of those from Boston. The circumstances of Shattuck’s capture, are...