127th. (Adams Papers)
No reciting this morning. I was employed all day in studying mathematics, which are the most pleasing to me, of any of our studies. Spent, a couple of hours at Bridge’s chamber after dinner. Rain in the Evening.
224th. (Adams Papers)
Snow’d all night, and this forenoon. I attended meeting all day: Mr. Hilliard preached, but not in his best way. The meeting was very thin. It cleared up this afternoon, and the evening is very cold.
311th. (Adams Papers)
This day completes my twentieth year: and yet I am good for nothing, and cannot even carry myself forward in the world: three long years I have yet to study in order to qualify myself for business: and then—oh! and then; how many more years, to plod along, mechanically, if I should live; before I shall really get into the world? Grant me patience ye powers! for I sicken, at the very idea: thus...
417th. (Adams Papers)
This day, the Bridge over Charlestown Ferry was compleated, and as the same day 11 years agone, was mark’d at Charlestown, with dreadful Scenes, of Slaughter and Destruction, the managers, and directors of the Bridge, determined, that this day should be mark’d with Pleasure and festivity. I do not think however that the scheme, was good. A Dinner was provided for 600 People, on Bunker’s hill:...
531st. (Adams Papers)
A cold north-east storm. Reading and writing all day. Wrote a letter to my mother, and one to my Sister. Read some pages in Bolingbroke’s philosophical works: the stile and matter both inferior to his political writings. JQA to AA , 1 Aug. ( Adams Papers ); his letter to AA2 has not been found.
631st. (Adams Papers)
Election day. This is a day of great festivity throughout the Country. The last Wednesday in May, is appointed, for declaring the choice, of the Governor, Lieutt. Governor &c. It is the only day in the year, in which the Student here is left at his Liberty to do whatever he pleases; and it is most frequently the Case, as it has been this day, that one Party is playing in the yard from 8 in the...
721st. (Adams Papers)
This day the Seniors leave, College; there is no recitation in the morning, and prayers are deferred till 10 o’clock. The Class then went down in procession two by two, with the Poet at their head, and escorted the President to the Chapel. The President made a very long prayer, in which in addition to what he commonly says he pray’d a great deal for the Seniors: but I think he ought to get his...
8Saturday July 1st. 1786. (Adams Papers)
The military company, having obtained a promise of 60 stand of arms, met immediately after Dinner, and chose their officers, and agreed to a Code of Laws. They were upon the business more than two hours. Vose, was chosen Captain, Fiske, and Packard lieutenants, and Chandler 1st. Ensign. This was the college military company, founded in 1770, and named the Marti-Mercurian Band because of its...
927. (Adams Papers)
Thanksgiving day. Dull weather.
1017. (Adams Papers)
Snow storm. Went to Salem. Supp’d at Amory’s.
1124th. (Adams Papers)
Charles went to Boston this morning, and brought me back some letters from Europe. I went in the forenoon with Miss Betsey Cranch, down to Mrs. Quincy’s where she intends to spend a few days: but I did not see either of the ladies there: Miss Quincy, has in some measure recovered from the illness occasioned by a mistake in taking a medicine. I spent my time this day as I have every day since I...
1221. (Adams Papers)
Heard Mr. Andrews, preach. Bouscaren. Mr. Carter.
1314th. (Adams Papers)
I walk’d with Thompson up to Mrs. Atkins’s. The old Lady is gone to Boston to spend a fortnight. Mr. and Mrs. Searle were there; and Mr. Atkins came home soon after. Atkins is a man of abilities; but of strong passions; and as he was cramped in his youth, by his penurious circumstances, his disposition was soured, and he is now excessively irritable, and his natural frankness has degenerated...
1417th. (Adams Papers)
This day a regiment of foot, and a troop of about 60 horse-men paraded, and were review’d by Genl. Titcomb. The weather was rather disagreeable, though not so windy as it was yesterday. One of the foot companies was drest in the rifle uniform. That of the horse was red faced with green: the horses in general were good, but the company has not been formed long, and are not yet perfect in their...
154th. (Adams Papers)
Walk’d into Newbury in the evening with Thompson; and we returned through Joppé, by a different route from that which I usually come. We past an hour at Mrs. Emery’s. Her daughter is very amiable, though not handsome. She entertained us sometime by playing upon the Harpsichord. Mr. J. Greenleaf was there; it is reported that he is paying his addresses there. The dispositions of the persons are...
1624th. (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...
1721st. (Adams Papers)
I attended Mr. Carey in the forenoon, and went with Putnam to hear Dr. Tucker in the afternoon. He is a very good preacher, but the generality of his hearers look, as if they were form’d of the coarsest clay. A number of female figures in particular seem to charge nature with having made gross mistakes. I passed the evening till almost 9 o’clock with Putnam. Townsend took me from there and...
1814th. (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...
194th. (Adams Papers)
Employ’d great part of the day in collecting the theses. I have now as many as I shall want excepting five or six in fluxions which I cannot easily find, as I do not understand the doctrine enough for my own satisfaction: in the evening the sodality met at Mayo’s chamber, and play’d till 9. I was very much fatigued and retired to bed quite early. Timothy Fuller of Needham, Suffolk County, will...
20Thursday November 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
I attended in the morning, and in the afternoon at the setting of the supreme Court. Judge Dana, took his seat, for the first time since his illness; from which he has not yet, and I fear never will entirely recover. I dined at his house, and pass’d the evening with my old Clasmate Sam: Williams. The Cases before the Court were not very interesting, except one, which was so intricate, that I...
2126th. (Adams Papers)
Attended court the whole day. Little was done in the forenoon except calling over the cases. But in the afternoon, a cause was tried by Jury, between one Smith and James Brown. Smith had attached certain lands as the estate of Brown’s father, to satisfy a debt due to him: Brown claim’d those lands, as his property, and produced in court two deeds, by which his father had made over the lands to...
2228th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Williams, this day, gave us, the first Lecture, upon Experimental Philosophy. It was upon the Properties of Matter, as Extension, Divisibility, Solidity, Mobility, figure , and Vis Inertiae. After the Lecture was over, he told us, the Regulations, which were, that the Door should be lock’d at the beginning of the Lectures; that there should be no whispering, nor spitting on the floor, and...
234th. (Adams Papers)
The Seniors this morning, had a forensic disputation, upon the Question, whether a democratical form of Government, is the best of all. The Class in alphabetical order, alternately supported or opposed this Question. I went to Sullivan’s chamber. Studied in the 7th. Book of the Iliad. I made tea, for the Club this Evening. They were all here Amory, Beale, Bridge, 3 Chandler’s, Cranch, Hammond,...
24Wednesday November 1st. 1786. (Adams Papers)
We returned through Boston, to Cambridge. The road from Charlestown was full of carriages coming here, to see the review of the militia of the County, under the command of General Brookes. I found my chamber full of Ladies, who had a view of part of the troops from the windows: there were I believe about 2000 men, composed of the Cadet, and light infantry Company’s, and the independent...
2530th. (Adams Papers)
Although I had not last night, been guilty of an excess so far as to be intoxicated, yet I had not sufficiently consulted what my feelings would be this day, to be entirely prudent. I therefore arose this morning, with a very disagreeable head-ache, which continued the whole day. I could neither attend meeting nor read, nor write; and pass’d the day with much tediousness. In the evening...
26[April 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...
2726th. (Adams Papers)
Rainy weather all day. I had a number of the Class at my Chamber in the Afternoon. Immediately after Prayers we had a Class meeting for the Purpose of choosing a Valedictory Orator, and Collectors of Theses. Eaton was moderator. A motion was carried that a majority of the votes of Class should be necessary for an Election. When the votes were collected it was found there was no choice. There...
2816th. (Adams Papers)
Copied off my Forensic for the Exhibition, and prepared it, to carry for Approbation to the President. I received in the fore noon, a Letter from Delia . White return’d this Evening from Haverhill. Letter not found. Delia was the name JQA gave to Nancy Hazen in his poem, “An Epistle to Delia,” which he completed on 12 Dec. 1785 after resolving to put an end to his feelings toward her. The...
2930th. (Adams Papers)
The Society met, this morning at Packard’s Chamber agreeable to their Resolution. Mr. Paine presided. Chandler and Cushman were received. Beale and Harris were at length admitted; and it was resolved that they should be received, the morning of the anniversary, which will be next Tuesday. But all attempts to admit two others that were proposed were found useless. It is a misfortune, that small...
306th. (Adams Papers)
A stormy day. Very unwell, especially in the former part of the Day. I have had several Times little contests with Bridge, upon the Subject of our forensic. He is to support the negative side of the Question, and will write very ingeniously. He is the only person in the Class who is fond of discussing questions of this kind in Conversation: we frequently dispute, and it always, increases my...
3120th. (Adams Papers)
This Evening, immediately after prayers, the President inform’d us that the Government, and Corporation, had chosen Mr. Jonathan Burr, for a Tutor, he had accepted the Office, and was to be attended accordingly. I went with Sever, to Mr. Tracy’s and to Mr. Gerry’s, but neither of them was at home. Attended the musical Society at Mayo’s chamber, till 9 o’clock. Jonathan Amory, was 16. the 7th....
3217th. (Adams Papers)
Putnam called at our office this forenoon, and return’d Sullivan’s Lectures, which he borrow’d about a fortnight ago. I pass’d the evening till 9, with Little and Putnam at Thompson’s. We convers’d upon the subject of originality. Thompson opposed my sentiments upon that head, though, I believe he does not differ very widely from me. I told him I was fond of novelty in characters, and was even...
3310th. (Adams Papers)
The ΦBK. met at Burge’s chamber at 11 o’clock. Beale and Burge read dissertations. The extempore disputants were Packard and Chandler. We voted to admit White. Mr. Wigglesworth gave a Lecture in the afternoon. Several fellows in the two lower Classes were very indecent and noisy. The dancing Club met at Bridge’s Chamber. After they broke up, I remained there; took a walk by the fine...
347th. (Adams Papers)
This day at about noon, the news arrived in this Town, that the federal Constitution, was yesterday, adopted and ratified by a majority of nineteen members in our State convention. In this town the Satisfaction is almost universal: for my own part, I have not been pleased with this System, and my acquaintance, have long-since branded me with the name of an antifederalist. But I am now...
354. (Adams Papers)
My father came home.
3621st. (Adams Papers)
I began upon the third book of the first part of the Institutes and read a few pages as usual. In the evening I again look’d into Gibbon, and made some progress in his second volume. I have also been reading for these two or three days past, the letters from a Chinese philosopher; which are a number of essays upon various subjects, wrought into a kind of a novel: they are entertaining, and...
3711th. (Adams Papers)
We have had this day very little studying in the office. Mr. Parsons is so fond of telling of all the manoeuvres which they used in and out of convention, that he has given the same story to every body that came into the office through the course of the day. He mentions with great complaisance, the formidable opposition that was made, as it naturally enhances the merit of the victory. He...
3829th. (Adams Papers)
After spending the day as usual, I walk’d with Stacey and Putnam. After going some way into Newbury we return’d, and walk’d upon a sort of a terrass in high Street. We there saw a number of young Ladies who seemed to expect to be accosted; and some of whom finally sat down on the grass, perhaps to see if that would not call our attention to them; but we were really inexorable: notwithstanding...
39Saturday March 1st. 1788. (Adams Papers)
The weather is very severe: The month comes in like a Lion, and according to the farmer’s proverb it must go out like a Lamb. I passed my evening in contemplation, and in writing at home; and have very Little to say for this day.
4019th. (Adams Papers)
Several of the gentlemen who accompanied the governor, yesterday to Haverhill, went on to Salem with him, and did not return till this evening. I was with Townsend. JQA ’s line-a-day entry for this day reads: “Stacey return’d. Rain. Walk with Putnam. Townsend” (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 16).
419. (Adams Papers)
Went over to Milton.
4223d. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Thompson’s, with Mr. Andrews and Townsend. In the afternoon I took a ride with Little to Haverhill. I endeavoured to persuade him to go with me the week after next to Cambridge; but my labour was in vain. We had a very smart thunder shower, while we were on the road, but it was very soon over.
4329th. (Adams Papers)
The junior’s, this forenoon read a forensic in the chapel, upon the question, whether the soul be material: I pass’d the whole day, in indolence, and amusement. Pass’d the evening with Fiske at Mr. Hilliard’s. Mr. Reed and Mr. Ware were there. Isaac Rand , of Cambridge, was 18 the 8th. of this month. He has been if common fame may be believed very idle and dissipated. As he lives not in...
4426th. (Adams Papers)
Office as usual. Dr. Kilham, returned to Town this evening. I passed an hour or two with Mr. Tufts. The most amiable of the roman Emperors, at the close of a day, which had presented no object upon which he might exert his benevolence, exclaimed “I have lost a day.” To a man placed in a situation which enabled him so eminently to be useful to his fellow creatures, it must really be a...
45Saturday Septr. 12th. [i.e. 13th]. (Adams Papers)
Breakfasted in Salem: saw Amory and Learned. Dined at Ipswich. We got to Newbury-Port, at about five. We lodge this night at Mrs. Hooper’s.
46Monday January 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
I received, two letters, and a couple of Packets of newspapers, from Europe, they were the more acceptable, as it is almost three months, since I have had any direct news from thence, before. After playing a few tunes to the young Ladies, In the evening, I went with Bridge, and paid a visit to Mr. Hilliard; a sensible man although his Sermons are rather cold. AA2 to JQA , 1 Sept.–12 Oct. 1786...
4719th. (Adams Papers)
This forenoon Mr. Cranch pass’d through here on his way to Boston. We are to return to Braintree in the chaise. Billy went with his father to Boston, and brought back the Chaise this evening. The idea of leaving College threw me into a train of gloomy and disagreeable reflections; which however in the evening were dissipated by conversation. Samuel Williams of Cambridge, son to our professor...
4830th. (Adams Papers)
Attending meeting the whole day at Mr. Carey’s. Dined at Mr. Hooper’s in company with Mr. Symmes, who return’d in the afternoon to Andover. In the evening I walkd with Dr. Kilham to Mr. Carter’s; found nobody at home. We then went and pass’d the evening with Mrs. Emery. The conversation was agreeable, tho’ not extremely interesting. Stephen Hooper, a merchant with interests in Newburyport and...
499th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. and Mrs. Cranch went to Boston this morning, and return’d in the evening. Arose at 8 o’clock, breakfasted at 9; after which I loiter’d and rambled about till 1. Dined; after dinner, smoked a pipe; slept till 6. Drank tea: play’d upon the flute, and sung all the evening. Supped at 10. Went to bed. This is my history at present: is it not an edifying manner of passing one’s time.
5023d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Cranch and Dr. Tufts came from Boston this afternoon. The Dr. informs me, that Mr. Parsons, has agreed to receive me; and consequently I expect to go in August or September, to Newbury Port. The papers mention the death of young Sullivan who graduated last year: this is another victim added to the millions that have been destroy’d by debauchery. He was not yet 19, and had been blest by...