321Decr. 6th. 1760. (Adams Papers)
Talked with Zab about Newton, Bacon, Lock, Martin, Chambers, Rowning, Desaguliers, S’Gravesende &c. I told him I had a low Opinion of the Compilers, Abridgers, and Abstract makers. We had better draw science from its fountain in original Authors. These Writers, the Hirelings of the Booksellers, only vend us the Discoveries of other Philosophers, in another form, and under another Title, in...
3221760. Decr. 8. (Adams Papers)
Began Machiavells Machiavell The illegible word begins with “D” but is not “Discourses.” JA ’s lining out is careless; it is possible that he intended to leave “Began Machiavell” as the entry for this day.
323Decr. 14th. 1760. (Adams Papers)
Hunt v. White. Complaint to Coll. Quincy—of a scandalous Lye, made and published to Hunts Damage. We appear before your Honour to complain of a very slanderous, and malicious Lye, made and published to our Damage. We complain of a Violation of the Law of this Province against Lying and Libelling. The Law runs thus.—If any Person &c. shall wittingly and willingly make or publish any Lye or...
3241760. Decr. 16th. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Attended the Tryal all day, between Hunt and White before Coll. Quincy, at James Bracketts. What will be the Consequence of this Tryal? to me, to Hunt, and to White? White has been punished, for his licentious Tittle tatle, but Hunt has gained neither Recompence nor Credit. Benja. Thayer is enraged and Prat and Pitty Pettee were enraged at me for abusing them, by asking them their Thoughts....
3251760 Decr. 18th. Thurdsday. (Adams Papers)
Yesterday spent in Weymouth, in settling the Disputes between old Thos. White and young Isaac French. White has the Remainders of his habitual Trickish lying, cheating Disposition, strongly working to this Day—an infinity of jesuitical Distinctions, and mental Reservations. He told me he never lost a Cause at Court in his Life—which James White and Mr. Whitmarsh say is a down right Lye. He...
3261760. Decr. 18. (Adams Papers)
Justice Dyer says there is more Occasion for Justices than for Lawyers. Lawyers live upon the sins of the People. If all Men were just, and honest, and pious, and Religious &c. there would be no need of Lawyers. But Justices are necessary to keep men just and honest and pious, and religious.—Oh sagacity! But, it may be said with equal Truth, that all Magistrates, and all civil officers, and...
3271760. Decr. 18th [i.e. 19th?] Fryday. (Adams Papers)
I am an old Man seventy odd, and as I had my Education, so I have passed my whole Life in the Country , &c. This is the third entry the diarist dated 18 Dec., but since 19 Dec. 1760 fell on a Friday, an editorial correction seems justified. JA went on with the present canceled draft in an entry conjecturally assigned to Jan. 1761 (p. 190–192, below).
3281760. Decr. 22nd. Monday. (Adams Papers)
This day and Tomorrow are the last. I have but one Blank left that I can use.
3291760. Decr. 27th. Saturday. (Adams Papers)
Governor Bernards Speech to the two Houses, at the opening of the present sessions, has several Inaccuracies in it. “The glorious Con clusion of the North American War.”—The N. American War is not yet concluded, it continues, obstinate and bloody, with the Cherokees, and will be renewed probably, against the french in Louisiana. However with Regard to this Province, whose Legislature, the...
330[January 1761] (Adams Papers)
The Representatives in their Address to the Governor, have told him that “Great Britain is the leading and most respectable Power in the whole World.” —Let us examine this.—Is she the Leading Power, either in War or Negociation?—In War? She has no Army, not more than 50 or 60 thousand Men, whereas France has a standing Army, of 250, 000 men in Camp and in Garrison. And their officers are as...