33613d. (Adams Papers)
A Snow storm came on, in the afternoon, and continued in the night. We saw Mr. Ellery this evening at the professor’s. Some thing further than the common sentiments of friendship, subsists between this gentleman and Miss Peggy. If his disposition be, but one half so amiable as her’s, their union must be lasting, and productive of much happiness. Freeman and Forbes pass’d the evening at our...
33624th. (Adams Papers)
The wind was very high all the forenoon; and although the sky was clear, the drifting of the snow, has made it very disagreeable walking. We dined at the President’s: he was more sociable than I have seen him before. Mrs. Willard and Mrs. Miller, are both very agreeable. The weather in the evening being fine, we walk’d down to Mr. Dana’s, and pass’d two or three hours with them; Mrs. Dana,...
33635th. (Adams Papers)
The occurrences of the day, were not remarkable. I did not study much. I have been reading Sheridans lectures upon elocution, and am pleased with them. They contain many usefull instructions, and ought to be perused by every person who wishes to appear as a speaker. His praises of the Greeks and Romans, may be warmed with the heat of enthusiasm, and his censure of modern Oratory is perhaps too...
33646th. (Adams Papers)
This being the last day before the close of the vacation, I was part of the day employ’d in getting my chamber in order. Williams was with us all the forenoon. We spent the evening at his Father’s. Miss Jenny appears more amiable to me, than she did formerly, and her behaviour has eradicated a small prejudice, which misrepresentation , had raised in my mind against her. It has been observed,...
33657th. (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...
33668th. (Adams Papers)
White lent me his horse this morning, to go to Boston. Dr. Tufts, had sent by my brothers, desiring me to see him; I had not been in Boston before, these three months. Called at my uncle Smith’s, at Dr. Welch’s, and at Mr. Storer’s. I likewise went to see Miss Jones, who appeared rather surprized to see me. Dined at Mr. Foster’s, with Mr. Cranch and Dr. Tufts: they are now attending the...
33679th. (Adams Papers)
Return’d to the library the books I had taken out, and took the second volume of the Idler. After prayers this evening Charles and I went down to Mr. Dana’s. Mr. Ellery was there, and appeared to greater advantage than I have seen him before. [Samuel Johnson and others], The Idler , 2 vols., London, 1761 ( Harvard, Catalogus Bibliothecae , 1790 [Isaac Smith, comp.], Catalogus Bibliothecae...
336810th. (Adams Papers)
Very few of the students have arrived. Not more than 15 of our Class have yet appeared. The tea Club were at my chamber: only 6 of them however were assembled. We had a supper and spent the evening at Freeman’s chamber.
336911th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hilliard entertained us all day, with a couple of Sermons, upon the whole armour of god. The shield, and the helmet, the sword and the arrow, afforded subject for description, and application. The improvements which might result from these two discourses, are wholly concealed to me; that it is the duty of man, to avoid Sin, is a self evident maxim, which needs not the assistance of a...
337012th. (Adams Papers)
We recite this week to Mr. Burr, but this disagreeable exercice returns at present only once a day, and that only for this quarter. Mr. Pearson gave us a lecture this afternoon, upon the division, of languages into the different parts of speech. Bridge and I pass’d part of the evening at Mr. Wigglesworth’s.
337113th. (Adams Papers)
At nine o’clock this morning, the Class read a forensic disputation: I had written in the course of the vacation as follows. Whether the infliction of capital punishments, except in cases of murder be consistent with equity? Had the question admitted other exceptions, or had it admitted none, I should have felt a greater degree of diffidence, in maintaining the affirmative. It has frequently...
337214th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Wigglesworth gave us this morning a private lecture, and Mr. Williams had a public one, in the afternoon. Bridge and Freeman went over after dinner to attend an exhibition of Cushman’s school in Mystic. I could not go. Mr. Thaxter and Mr. Duncan, were here a few minutes; they came from Haverhill this morning. I made tea for the club this evening, and I believe it will be for the last Time....
337315th. (Adams Papers)
I went down in the morning to Mr. Pearson’s, with an intention of inviting Miss Bromfield to dance with us this evening but she was out of town. There are several young ladies in this place, who have not attractions to charm the gentlemen, but in the case of a dance, there is no choice, we must either take up with those ladies or have none. We drew lots therefore, to determine, who should go...
337416th. (Adams Papers)
I rose just before the commons bell rung for dinner, quite refreshed, and not more fatigued, than I commonly am. The other lads were all up, in the morning, and had been to my chamber though I knew nothing of it. After dinner we were an hour at White’s chamber. Several of the gentlemen were nodding, and most of them appeared quite worn out. I went with White to Mr. Mason’s and to Mr....
337517th. (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...
337618th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hilliard preached to us in the forenoon, and the president in the afternoon, when we were improved by a very laborious encomium upon Moses. Whatever the president’s literary talents may, be, he is certainly not an elegant composuist, nor a graceful orator. His reasoning may be sound, but the charms of his stile, if any there be, are hidden from a vulgar audience. Dined at Mr. Dana’s....
337719th. (Adams Papers)
We recite this week to Mr. Read. So few of the Class have yet arrived, that we have all something to say at one recitation, and Mr. Read always goes completely through a lesson. Mr. Pearson gave a very long lecture in the afternoon, upon the article in the greek, Latin, French and English Languages. He was rather tedious, and before he got through, the Sophimores and Freshmen, shew their...
337820th. (Adams Papers)
Was part of the afternoon at Bridge’s chamber. Had tea at Little’s. Charles and Cranch, pass’d the evening at Mr. Hilliard’s. I was with Mr. Andrews at White’s chamber. William Amherst Barron of Petersham was 18. the 10th. of January. By the death of his father, which happened since he entered the university, he has been involved in some difficulties, and has been able to spend but a small...
337921st. (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...
338022d. (Adams Papers)
Very cold weather. We drank tea at Williams’s. Bridge, and I went and pass’d the evening at Judge Dana’s; he himself is attending the court at Boston. We found Mr. Read and Mr. Burr there, and endeavoured as much as possible to behave like gentlemen. After we returned to college, I got engaged in conversation with Bridge, so deeply, at his chamber, that it was near 1 in the morning, before I...
338123d. (Adams Papers)
About one half the Class are here at present: they have been coming in, quite slowly; and they will be chiefly here, I suppose, before the end of the Quarter. Yesterday afternoon, I met with Mr. Ware, and Bridge, upon the subject of the letter to New Haven; we thought it would be best for each of us to write, and to select from the three. Accordingly I wrote this evening. I made tea this...
338224th. (Adams Papers)
Committee met again at Mr. Ware’s chamber; after reading all the letters, I was requested to select from them. White went to Boston, and spoke to Mr. Dingley, who sent back my volumes of Gibbon’s roman history. Drank tea and passed the evening in Mead’s chamber, and retired very early. The weather has grown quite moderate. The only extant copy of Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and...
338325th. (Adams Papers)
I was absent from meeting all this day. Bridge dined with me, at my chamber. I begun, and read 100 pages in Gibbon’s history; with the stile of which I am extremely pleased. The author is not only an historian but a philosopher. The only fault with which I think he may be charged, is, an endeavour sometimes at the point of an epigram, when a serious reflection, would be more proper.
338426th. (Adams Papers)
We recite again in Ferguson. Mr. Pearson gave a lecture this afternoon; it was still upon the article , very dry, and abstract, by no means the most entertaining that I ever attended. From six this morning when I arose till near twelve which was the time when I retired to bed, I have been as busily employ’d as I have any day these two years.
338527th. (Adams Papers)
Almost all our Class have arrived. This morning I was not waked by the ringing of the prayer bell and therefore did not attend the recitation. I declaimed this afternoon, part of one of Mr. Fox’s speeches, from the Parliamentary debates, in December 1783. N. B. Did not speak loud enough, and changed feet too often. We danced in the evening at Putnams chamber till 9 o’clock. Read after I came...
338628th. (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...
3387[March 1787] (Adams Papers)
Charles went to Boston this morning: in the afternoon, I was at Foster’s chamber; he introduced me to his father and to Mr. Bissi, a young french gentleman, who lives with the french Consul. He had been three years at a school at Passi, which I left in 1780, so that we had a fund of conversation, ready to our hands. We accompanied the gentlemen, into the library, the museum, and the philosophy...
3388Thursday March 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
Charles went to Boston this morning: in the afternoon, I was at Foster’s chamber; he introduced me to his father and to Mr. Bissi, a young french gentleman, who lives with the french Consul. He had been three years at a school at Passi, which I left in 1780, so that we had a fund of conversation, ready to our hands. We accompanied the gentlemen, into the library, the museum, and the philosophy...
33892d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Andrews was at my chamber in the forenoon. I went with him, and Cranch and my class mate Harris, to take tea, at Mr. Pearson’s. Miss Ellery, Miss Hastings, two Miss Mason’s and Miss Foster were there. I got seated between Miss Ellery and Miss Hastings, but could not perfectly enjoy the pleasures of conversation, because, the music, was introduced. Music is a great enemy to sociability, and...
33903d. (Adams Papers)
Dined with, Bridge, Cranch, Freeman, Little and White, at our classmate Foster’s in Boston. Just before dinner I went with Mr. Foster, and paid a visit to the french Consul. The family, at Mr. Foster’s are all very agreeable; Miss Foster amused us, with a few tunes upon the harpsichord. It began to snow early in the afternoon, so that we were obliged to return sooner than we had intended. We...
33914th. (Adams Papers)
Was absent from meeting all day. Read a Sermon, from Blair, in the forenoon, upon the duties of the young. Dined with White, Foster and Lovell, at my chamber. Weather cleared up in the afternoon. Josiah Burge , of Hollis, in New Hampshire, County of Hills borough, was 20 the 19th. of last April; he is possessed of one of those calm, easy minds, which enjoy happiness, under almost all...
33925th. (Adams Papers)
Snow’d moderately, a large part of the day. We recite to Mr. Burr. Professor Pearson, gave a lecture with which he concluded his observations upon the article. I did not hear many of them. At 7 this evening we had a meeting of the ΦBK at Cranch’s chamber. Mr. Ware, was excused from reading a dissertation. I had written with White in opposite composition, and read the following piece. Whether...
33936th. (Adams Papers)
Engaged an horse, to go to Haverhill to-morrow; White went to Boston for the same purpose. Mr. Burr gave out for our next forensic, the following question. “Whether Christianity has been promotive of the temporal interests of mankind.” It is to be read the week before the close of the vacation, and will be the last exercice of this kind, for our Class. John Chandler of Petersham, County of...
33947th. (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...
33958th. (Adams Papers)
In the forenoon, I went and paid a number of visits, to my old acquaintance in this place; Mr. Thaxter; I pass’d a couple of hours with. Was at Mr. Osgood’s, Mr. Duncan’s, and Mr. Bartlett, who has sacrificed to Hymen, since I saw him last. “Cupid by Hymen was crown’d,” but at 37 it is to be supposed a man of sense, would be able to repel the attacks of the young tyrant, whose empire is...
33969th. (Adams Papers)
Walk’d about the town, with Mr. Hazen, White and Foster. Went to see Miss Hazen, the Miss McKinstry’s, Mr. Thaxter, and Judge Sargeant, who was very much fatigued by riding from Boston yesterday. He proposes going into Berkshire next week, and is already imagining all the difficulties of travelling that way, with terror. His journey thither will probably be more fatiguing than his jaunt from...
339710th. (Adams Papers)
We had not obtained leave to be absent from College, and were therefore obliged to be at meeting, in Cambridge, to-morrow, or to submit to the fine. This morning therefore, between 9 and ten, we left Haverhill, with beautiful weather, but sloppy riding, as a great deal of snow, was melted by the rain last night: we got to the half way tavern by twelve, we stop’d and dined there, after which we...
339811th. (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...
339912th. (Adams Papers)
This morning the parts for the ensuing exhibition were distributed. Foster has the English Oration, Waldo the Latin: Freeman, Little , and Adams , a conference in English, upon the comparative utility of Law, Physic , and Divinity , Eaton and Harris , a forensic dispute, upon the Question, whether the destruction of inferior animals by Man, be agreeable to the Laws of nature. Bridge, Cranch,...
340013th. (Adams Papers)
Somewhat idle, the greater part of the day: rather dull, and low spirited: the Sophimores this evening got more than half seas over, in Wilson’s chamber, directly under mine, and made, a most outrageous noise till almost 9 o’clock. Weather moderate.
340114th. (Adams Papers)
Was employ’d almost all day, in thinking upon the subject of my conference; wrote a few Lines, with much difficulty. Did not like the subject. Wished the conference to the devil: the junior Class being displeased with the distribution of parts for exhibition; so far as respected their Class; assembled this evening at Prescott’s chamber, and made a great deal of noise. The Sodality met at my...
340215th. (Adams Papers)
All day, engaged again, in writing my part of the conference; I do not know that I ever found so much difficulty, to write upon any subject: Little, and Freeman, are not much better pleased: in the night however, between 12 and 2 o’clock, I began to have something like a flow of ideas; I wrote more, than I had done, in two whole days. I Dined, with Freeman and Little, Cranch, and Lloyd at Mrs....
340316th. (Adams Papers)
Attended the library. After prayers we had a Class meeting. It seems reports have been spread about, that many of the Class are in reality desirous to have a public Commencement, and were induced merely out of complaisance, to sign the petition, which was presented; as we conceived this might be injurious to our Cause, we voted that an additional petition should be presented to the...
340417th. (Adams Papers)
I at length finished my part of the conference, this forenoon, and was employ’d all the afternoon in transcribing it; Although I have not been able, even to please myself; yet I now feel, as if an heavy burden had been taken from my shoulders. I have still however a great deal of business, upon my hands. Late up this evening. The Government met this forenoon to make enquiries concerning the...
340518th. (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...
340619th. (Adams Papers)
This morning the junior’s Prescott, and Wier, were publicly admonished for having had riotous noises at their chambers, last week. The sentence is considered all over college, as uncommonly severe, and by many as wholly unmerited, at least on the part of Prescott. We had in the evening a meeting of the ΦBK. at Fiske’s chamber. A dissertation was read by Freeman, but the other exercices were...
340720th. (Adams Papers)
Lines, upon the late proceedings of the College Government. This afternoon Dr. Welch, and Deacon Smith came up from Boston, and were here about half an hour: This evening we danced for the last Time, at Lovell’s chamber. After which I was some time at Mead’s. Since its publication in Benjamin Homer Hall’s A Collection of College Words and Customs , Cambridge, 1856, the first known printed...
340821st. (Adams Papers)
This usually an holiday to the junior Class who now cease reciting at eleven in the forenoon. The greatest part of the Class generally join and go to some tavern at a distance from Cambridge, where they spend the evening, in mirth, and festivity: but several circumstances have induced the present juniors to omit this custom; and the President a few mornings since read in the chapel, a vote of...
340922d. (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...
341023d. (Adams Papers)
Charles went down to Mr. Dana’s this evening; the judge is mending but quite slowly: I had thoughts of carrying up some algebraic calculations, for the mathematical performance at exhibition, but, Cranch takes the next transit of Venus. Bridge and White, who do not choose, to take much trouble, have both taken lunar eclipses; and as there was no solar eclipse presented at the last exhibition I...