18128. (Adams Papers)
Walk’d with Stacey. Curious conversation. Greenough’s.
182Tuesday April 1st. 1788. (Adams Papers)
The Court sits this day at Ipswich. Mr. Parsons went in the afternoon, I dined with him. Pickman gone to Salem: so that for two or three days I have been wholly alone at the office: Putnam took a long walk with me; he has been amusing himself with Stacey this day by the prescriptive privilege of deceiving. The manner was imprudent, and the thing itself beneath his years: but there is a...
18319. (Adams Papers)
Spent my time in visiting &c.
1847th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hilliard preach’d all day; pretty much in the common stile. Dined at Judge Dana’s; and conversed with Miss Ellery upon the subject, of two young Ladies. I find, that her opinion, as well as that of Mr. and Mrs. Dana, coincides with mine in that respect. Benevolence, candor, and innocence, are more amiable, and more estimable ingredients for a character, than wit without judgment. Weather...
18523. (Adams Papers)
Lincoln went home. Dr. Price’s Sermons.
18611th. (Adams Papers)
The weather is yet unsettled, but it has not storm’d this day. Saunders, and Barron of the junior Class were here. Our time flies away extremely fast; one half of the vacation has already eloped, and I shall soon, with a mixture of pleasure and pain, see my fellow students again assembled, and be called again to attend to the public exercises. They will it is true diminish; as our Class are...
18729th. (Adams Papers)
I intended to have gone to Cambridge this afternoon, but could not get an horse. My Cousin went and will return to-morrow night. Wrote a letter to my father. I do not relish this life of idleness and expectation. I am very desirous that Commencement should be over, and shall certainly, not feel easy, till then. And indeed after that, till I get settled at some business, I shall not be...
188Thursday February 1st. 1787. (Adams Papers)
It snow’d, the greatest part of the day; but gently, and without wind. Miss Jones, this forenoon, quite suddenly, resolved to go to Boston and went in the midst of the Snow. She proposes passing a fortnight there, and as our vacation is to close, next Wednesday, I shall probably not have an opportunity of seeing her frequently again. I went to tea to Mr. Pearson’s, and in the evening...
18919th. (Adams Papers)
Rose early this morning. The booths and tents before the colleges continue standing as yet, but the chief of the genteel company is gone. From the contrast between the appearance of objects yesterday and this day, every thing looks at present dull: and the idea of bidding a long and last adieu to all my classmates and fellow students, and of quitting these scenes so pleasing to the heart;...
1908th. (Adams Papers)
This morning Emerson went to Hingham, and I walk’d over to Weymouth, and dined with Doctor Tufts. I found Miss Brookes there and had a long conversation in order to remove from her mind some impressions very unfavorable to me, which a classmate of mine was so kind as to raise, by telling her a number of absolute falsehoods. There are among mankind numbers who have such a trifling defect as to...
19123d. (Adams Papers)
Beale paid us a visit this forenoon, and dined with us all at Mr. Apthorp’s: where we likewise past the afternoon. There is a degree of singularity, running through all this family: I never feel myself under so much restraint any where as in that house: Mr. Apthorp, is disgusting by his eternal admiration of every thing that is english. His lady is agreeable; but perhaps too pointedly civil...
19229th. (Adams Papers)
Went to Boston, and attended my aunt Smith’s funeral. Sat about an hour with my old Companion Johonnot who shew me some more of his Poetry. We returned to Cambridge, in the midst of the Rain in the Evening.
19312th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Tappan, from Newbury preach’d here the whole day. Both his sermons were doctrinal, but very ingenious. This gentleman is much celebrated in this part of the Country, for his abilities, both natural and acquired. I was much pleased with the little conversation I had with him in the course of the day: but his public speaking is far from being graceful. Elocution indeed has not till very...
1943d. (Adams Papers)
I pass’d about an hour, before dinner with Mr. Winthrop, the late librarian. He is much of a politician; his opinion with respect to the situation of the country is always favorable. Dined with Mr. Andrews. Lincoln, the senior was there; a young lad of good abilities, and of great application: In the afternoon I met a couple of french officers in the College yard; who wish’d to see the library...
1959th. (Adams Papers)
The most comfortable Sunday, we have had, for many weeks past. Parson Hilliard preach’d in the forenoon from I Peter I, 3 and 4. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,...
19613th. (Adams Papers)
We finished with Locke this morning, and were told to begin next Quarter, in Reid. In the afternoon we set off for Braintree, where we shall remain till commencement. All the Scholars, are put out of commons every year, the Friday before, so that the dinner may be prepared. We got home at about 6 o’clock. We found Mr. Weld, and Mr. Wibird here, and Miss Hannah Hiller, a friend of Miss...
1973d. (Adams Papers)
Spent part of the forenoon at Mr. Thaxter’s Office. Mr. Dodge was there. I went with Mr. Thaxter and paid a visit at Judge Sargeant’s. The young Ladies lately return’d from Rye, where they went last week to accompany their new married Sister Mrs. Porter. Mr. T. Leonard White and S. Walker dined at Mr. Shaw’s. In the afternoon Mrs. Shaw and B: Smith, Mr. Thaxter and Miss Duncan, Leonard White...
19829. (Adams Papers)
Thompson got home. Court at Mr. Atkins’s.
19926th. (Adams Papers)
In the afternoon, I took a walk with Thompson, to see Little. He has the small pox full, upon him at this time. We returned, and I pass’d the evening at Mrs. Emery’s. Judge Greenleaf’s daughters, and Miss Smith and Miss Wendell were there. The evening was not agreeable; there was too much ceremony and too little sociability: we conducted the Ladies home, and retired. JQA was inoculated in July...
20029th. (Adams Papers)
At about 10. o’clock Mr. Thaxter came in from Hingham on his way to Boston: he stay’d but a few minutes, and I set off with him. We got into Town before one. I dined with Miss B. Smith, who still lives in the house that was her father’s. Mrs. Cranch was there, and went for Braintree soon after dinner. I went and spent the evening with Dr. Kilham at his lodgings: he has made himself rather...
20116th. (Adams Papers)
Townsend intended to have set away this morning; to go to Medfield; but the weather was so chilly and disagreeable that he thought it would be best to wait another day. Thompson and I dined and pass’d a great part of the day with him. I was again disappointed upon the arrival of the stage, as I have been so often heretofore; by hearing no news from Boston. I began upon Bacon’s pleas and...
20230th. (Adams Papers)
I called this morning at Mr. Bradbury’s office, and affronted Putnam by rallying him upon his deception last night. In the afternoon I walked with Thompson: we overtook Mr. J. Tracy and his Lady; and accompanied them. As we were passing by Mrs. Atkins’s she arrived, with her son from Boston. We stopp’d there a few minutes. Genl. Lincoln is Lieutt. Governor, &c. We spent the remainder of the...
2036th. (Adams Papers)
The weather was rather disagreeable in the morning, and Mrs. Warren was disposed to stay and pass the Sunday with us. But her Son was so anxious to get home, that she finally determined to go; and they went away at about nine. I attended at meeting, and heard Parson Wibird dose over a couple of Sermons. There is none of my time that I regret more than that I spend in hearing him: were it not...
20420th. (Adams Papers)
I was up early in the morning, and mounted my horse at about seven. It was ten when I got into Boston. I went to Mr. Smith’s, and found my father was gone to Braintree but my Mamma was at the Governor’s: I immediately went there and enjoy’d all the satisfaction that can arise from the meeting so near and dear a friend after a long absence. We dined at Deacon Storer’s. Old Mrs. Edwards was...
2059th. (Adams Papers)
Amory went to Salem this afternoon. They have a ball there this evening, said to be given to the Court. Amory went to attend it. I pass’d the evening at Mr. Bradbury’s, where we play’d a number of tunes in concert, besides a cheating game of cards. I got through the theory of the earth. I am more and more pleased with the author. One part of his theory is merely hypothetical, and might perhaps...
20626th. (Adams Papers)
Breakfasted at the judge’s, and then returned to College. Finished the projection of my eclipse, for exhibition. Mr. Read gave out this morning to the Class, the calculation of a solar Eclipse for 1791 as the last exercice, on that score. This afternoon I calculated the elements for it. Oliver Fiske of Brookfield, will be 25. the 2d. of Septr. next. Solidity of judgment; independence of...
20710th. (Adams Papers)
George Warren came over from Milton this forenoon, and paid us a visit. He opened an office in Milton last winter, and has done as much business, as a lawyer generally does for the first six months after he begins; but the prospects are far from being encouraging. When I am in spirits this circumstance strikes me only as an incentive to more strenuous exertions: and at such times I feel such a...
20816th. (Adams Papers)
A very fine day. At about 10 this morning, the president and his Lady, Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Ware, arrived here on their way to Sandwich. They breakfasted here, and proceeded forward, at about eleven. I was just mounting with my Classmate Vose when Foster and Lloyd came up, in company with Dr. Howard and Mr. Foster. They stopt to refresh their horses; we waited for them,...
20913th. (Adams Papers)
Williams set out this morning for Cambridge. I at length got me some wood, and had a fire in my chamber, which will enable me hence forth to study more in the evenings. Thompson was with me an hour or two this night.
21030th. (Adams Papers)
Charles went to Boston this forenoon. I have been somewhat idle for several days: and expect to continue so till the exhibition is over; for so long as that is before me I can pay very little attention to any thing else. I found this to be the case last fall, and do now, still more so but, thank fortune I have only one more trial at the worst, of this kind to go through; which will be at...