312118th. (Adams Papers)
The Weather extremely warm, all day. I Dined at Mr. Dana’s. Parson Hilliard gave us two Sermons, from Philippians II. 15. Among whom ye shine as lights in the world. It is customary for the minister to preach an occasional Sermon, to the Senior Class, the Sunday preceding the 21st. of June, and this was such. By changing the indicative mood ye shine into the Imperative shine ye : he made it...
312219th. (Adams Papers)
Doctor Waterhouse gave, what he called his Valedictory Lecture containing a comparative view of Reason, and Instinct. I thought it an exceeding good one; and it pleased very generally. We had a meeting of the A B this Evening. Only four members attended. Three of them read their Pieces, I did not, on account of my speaking one next Monday; at one of the last meetings it was enacted, that one...
312320th. (Adams Papers)
Bridge obtained leave of absence till Commencement. He intends to pass the Summer Vacation here, and supposes he shall be able to Study with much more advantage, when he is not continually called away by the College exercises, than he can now: and I think he is quite right.
312421st. (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...
312522d. (Adams Papers)
White and Cranch went to Brain tree this morning, and intend to stay there till Saturday night. Weather cool, and in the afternoon rather disagreeable.
312623d. (Adams Papers)
I made tea, for the Club: only four attended: many of them being out of town. I answered for no absences, this morning. Almost all the Seniors are now gone.
312724th. (Adams Papers)
My Cousin return’d from Braintree this Evening. We had no reciting this morning. Weather comfortable all day.
312825th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Mellen, preach’d here: he was a Tutor two or three years since. His forenoon discourse was from Psalm, c. 3. Know ye that the Lord, he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his People, and the sheep of his Pasture. The afternoon, from Acts X. 2. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway....
312926th. (Adams Papers)
A. B. N 2. (but was spoke first). Destitute of Abilities which might induce you gentlemen, to overlook my want of experience, and of experience to conceal my want of talents; it is with the utmost Diffidence, that I address a number of Characters so respectable, as those that are now before me. But I have frequently observed, that those Persons, who excel the most in any art or Science, are...
313027th. (Adams Papers)
No reciting this afternoon. A number of the Scholars are forming themselves into a military Company, and sent a Committee to the Governor, for some arms.
313128th. (Adams Papers)
I received a letter from Mr. W. Smith, informing me of my aunt Smith’s Death. She was here this Day week. Coll. Thatcher, the representative, for this Town, fell instantaneously dead, yesterday in Boston Streets. I went to Mr. Wigglesworth, to Mr. Sewall, and to Mr. Pierson, in the afternoon. Almost all the Class met at Amory’s chamber this morning. Letter not found; Mrs. Elizabeth Storer...
313229th. (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.
313330th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. and Mrs. Cranch, Mr. W Smith, and Miss Betsey, came up here this afternoon and drank tea. Fine Weather.
3134Finis. (Adams Papers)
This Latin proverb originally appeared at the beginning of JQA ’s first discourse before the A.B. Club (entry for 12 June , above).
3135[Titlepage] (Adams Papers)
Ephemeris. Titlepage for D/JQA/11, covering the inclusive dates inscribed. The top line on this page is written in an earlier hand, presumably the date on which he purchased the blank Diary book. This same inscription appears on the top of titlepages of D/JQA/10 and 12, which are identical 380-page leather-bound books, all measuring 4¼″ × 6¾″. “Time slips away, and we grow old with silent...
3136[July 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...
3137Saturday 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...
31382d. (Adams Papers)
I was unwell, and obtained leave of absence from meeting. The weather was so warm, I could not do much. I only wrote a Letter to my Sister. Letter not found.
31393d. (Adams Papers)
We had our private exhibition this morning. The Orations by Little and Beale, were both upon Education; that of Little was excellent, generally allow’d to be equal to that of Thomson, who has the greatest character as a composuist of the Senior Class. Beale’s being in a dead language, was not so well understood but I thought it good; the Forensic, between Burge, and Abbot 1st. was on the...
31404th. (Adams Papers)
Anniversary of American Independence; an Oration was delivered in the morning at Boston, by Mr. J. Loring Austin; many scholars went to hear it, I was not of the number. It was said to be very good. We have had fair weather several days, and the ground begins to be very dry. This morning Borland was restored, because, as the President, said his conduct had been circumspect, and he had shown a...
31415th. (Adams Papers)
Dull, and low spirited, somewhat, but it did not last long. Mr. James, gave us a piece of Latin to make: the first the Class have had since I have been here. This is the last week that we attend the Latin Tutor, and last week we closed with Mr. Jennison. In the Senior year there are no languages, studied in College. It is very popular here to dislike the Study of greek and Latin, but it...
31426th. (Adams Papers)
ΦΒΚ Ν: 1. Whether civil discord is advantageous to Society. There cannot be perhaps a Question, which at first view presents an aspect so unfavourable, as this does to the Person, who must support the affirmative. That discord, so frequently term’d a fiend of Hell, so heartily execrated by all mankind, though she possesses the breasts of so many of them; so generally allowed to be one of the...
31437th. (Adams Papers)
The Palladian band , have begun to exercise, and Captain Vose, feels quite important. I do not know, that I ever saw a man more gratified, with a distinction, of so little Importance. But ambition has almost always a trifle for its aim, and rattle for rattle, I do not see why this should not be as good as any other. I have not join’d this Company, because I fear there will be such disputes,...
31448th. (Adams Papers)
At length we have some rain, the fruits of the Earth, have long been drooping for the want of it. There were two or three showers, in the morning after which it cleared up; but at about 5 in the afternoon, there arose some of the blackest Thunder clouds that I ever saw. Mr. Ware, who read a dissertation after prayers could scarcely distinguish, his own writing, it was so dark. There was no...
31459th. (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,...
314610th. (Adams Papers)
We recite this week to Mr. Hale; with whom we shall probably finish Locke: and next Quarter we begin in Reid on the mind. It is said at present that Mr. Hale, does not intend to leave College: and he is determined to see what direction the Storm, that has lately been raised by Honestus, will take, before he goes upon the practice of the Law. It is not very agreeable news here; though there...
314711th. (Adams Papers)
We did not recite this day. As the quarter draws near to a close, the Students are falling off quite fast. A third of our Class are absent now. This day completes my 19th. year. I finished studying for this Quarter.
314812th. (Adams Papers)
The freshmen carry their enmity against the Sophimores, a great deal too far. They injure themselves both in the eyes, of the other Class, and in those of the government. This afternoon while Cabot, was declaiming, they kept up a continual groaning, and shuffling, and hissing as almost prevented him from going through. The freshmen, in the end will suffer for their folly, and before they get...
314913th. (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...
315014th. (Adams Papers)
Gunning all the forenoon. Received this afternoon several Pamphlets, from my Sister. Read the heiress; a good play; much more regular, and more chaste, than those that are acted on the English stage generally are. Neither found nor identified except, presumably, The Heiress , mentioned in note 2 (below). London, 1786, a comedy in five acts by John Burgoyne, the defeated British general turned...