ENPages
(seq. 1)
17 August 1796 Vol 1 [st?] This day I arrived at Cambridge and commenced my college life; nothing of importance has transpired, I went to bed early.
18 Wrestled some, and tore my pantaloons very badly in the knee and seat; in the evening walked round the square, and had a savage time.
19 My [beand?] is not yet arrived, and until that comes I shall be uneasy. The teaspoons jingle, which is a sign of supper. The wheels of time turn slowly, all inanimated nature seems to have lost its charms; for almost all the vegetable production of the earth are drying and withering away by reason of the heat and want of water; it seems as though the portals of Heaven were locked, and the key lost, for there has been no rain for a long time.
20 Had a lecture from Mr Popkin, which was quite salutary and good. It contained advise to us to be lovers of order, and morality, and to pay a close attention to our study.
21 Had our first lesson in [?], which I found very hard. Bought, or borrowed Dr. Adams a study table. In the evening, our class wrestled with the sophomores; and we had the supreme
(seq. 2)
[page to the left]
August 1796
22 to lay those mighty [blusters?] level with their nath[?] [?]; but the evening's work liked to have proved to much for my feeble frame to support, as I was in the [ ? ] a very long time, I never was more fateagued in my life.
23 Dead, Dead, Dead, is sufficiently expressive of my feelings this day.
24 I have had considerable mirth this day, spent in pitting [Chickering?] with pares and in the next place in [balling?] Garlands door, and laughing at his mistake, for he supposed that somebody was at the door; but, by and by, he liberated himself, and in his turn into our chamber, and to conclude the whole I leapt from the window of the cham ber and came round and caught Garland in the entry [smiling?] over his supposed per[?].
Nothing of importance has occurred this day, the time passes away slowly. Evening the sky is lowering and the clouds look threatining [ ? ] to bring on the impending storm; the thunders roar and the lightening flashes, and finally, by appearance all may gauge that it will rain and once more enliven the drooping flowers, which
[page on the right]
now hang their heads; and finally the whole face of nature appears truly melancholy. It rains.
26 Bean has arrived, and brought no money for, no money, ah me! I am out of money, which is a very disagreeable circumstance. Received of Richard son a certifficient to free me from studying Hebrew. Doubtfull and in sufferance, malanchol, dul, sorrow ful, mournful; we have this afternoon to recite an English lesson, we also had a lecture from Mr Pearsons in which were these words, present, and [?] after [profani?]: this [lecture?] condems many good and excellent maxims, but, his adage [ ? ] the study of the hebrew language appeared to be partial and had but very little effect upon me.
27 Nothing of importance has occurred this day, but the evening has produced a half a bushell of plums.
28 Sunday This day in a situation truly pitiable, my bowels are in a state of insurrecton; there is also some movements in my head which do not altogether [coinside?] pleasurable feelings, finally I am so unwell that I am unable to go to the house of God.
Monday 29 As yet nothing of importance has transpired; but our class is now engaged with the juniors in a very [?] and to the gods may
(seq. 3)
[LEFT PAGE] 29 August 1796 Monday may they maintain that honor, which our class have [Resin’d?] in the athletick exercises. I had poor success in the ring this evening flung only one. [but?] at evening I heard that or class are victorious word that only 17 entered the list with [ ? ].
Tuesday 30 About recovered from my [velase?]; [?] excused from our Horace lessons; hd some fun eating a water mellon; after dinner escapped our [letters?] by flinging water at eachother; and during [ap?] Ben had the misfortune to get properly wet Evening Walked with Bean and Allen almost to Little Cambridge meetinghouse; Sup'd with Bean In a [mixed?] company. By this time I begin to think that the bed is my best friend. Wednesday 31 As yet nothing of importance has transpired. [Discovered?], at least as I thought, a neglect, which I impute to pride; but, I am [truly?] unworthy of respect, and this neglect ought not to trouble me in the least, I am resolved that is shall not occasion any domestick [fude?] betw[een] me and my chums, and that I will bury it In the recesses of my own breast.
[RIGHT PAGE] 31 August 1796 Wednesday What reason have I to be displeased? I am but a countryman, and for me to presume to associate with those, who come from the town is a presum tion which ought to be checkd; yet it appears that there ought to be divisions in a class on [account?], but That [arguably?] ought to exist among those, who are subject to the same laws, and must indeterminately submit themselves to the same regulations.
| Thursday September 1796 | I now set down to read the occurrences of |
|---|
(seq. 4)
September 1796 Thursday who had not emtyd our glasses quite so often so most as the others had, took a walk toward [Charlestown?] and neglected ourselves very pleasurably by contemplating The scenes of mirth and jolity which we hd lately left I returned to my chamber early in the eve, [?] To how, when after lying a while I was disturbed by [?] of the Bachanalian [voatries?], who burst into my chamber, and with the greatest vehemence imagnable ran round the room like so many monkeys Who hd lost their [?]. A [?] [?] & then Fryday 2 Nothing important [?] wrote a letter to my [Father?] 3 Saturday Gerston was heard to say that there was damned names In the Hebrew language [?] rather [?], after the Of money, which is no pleasury [?] [?] On the pocket is no [?] [?] at College. 3 O'Clock Sun went to Boston had the misfortune to loose my letters remind was of no consequence, but [?] I had one from Adams & his father which con his bills and was a [?] importance. Drunk coffee at Mr Gales, in company with Bean, who went To town with me; we returned at evening during a heavy rain and through the mud, which ankle deep Sunday 4 [?] day & have spent [?] weekdy, maling [?] Of [?] most sacred [?] of religion, in [?] To address the throne of greece in a shocking and im-
September 1796 Sunday 4 pious manner … The first cause of the [?] prayer, [Was] may be attributed to my deformsing [ ] table, which occasioned my classmates to [re…?] [?] Monday 5 This day nothing of more importance than that it was the first that we recited to Mr. Popkin; played at ball some. Evening Prepared to go to the dancing school, but as the master had not [arrived?], I returned to Adam’s chamber, where I played at cards, till at length Chickering got [?] because I hit him a gentle [?] in the head, but his passion quickly subsided. Tuesday 6 Been to Boston, saw Battle and Bruk from [Medford], who informed me [that] all was well at that centre of attraction. Wednesday 7 [?] common, the day in past, and may the wheels Of time roal on with the greatest velosity till the end of this term, when I would have some the spokes broken that they may stop to the be [?] after a class a meeting in which the [?] William [?[ was chosen president; the other officers were Of so little importance that I shall not mention them. Our meeting was nothing but a scene of confusion. Badly plagued concerning the itch, as I am in [doubbt?] whether I have got it or not, and a [?] of uncertainty is, of all others, the most disagreeable.
(seq. 5)
September 1796
Fryday [sic] I am this day 16 years of age but I shall celebrate my birth day no other way than by endeavoring to [satisfy?] myself in respect to the itch. Went to the amphitheatre in order to see these suprising [feats?] of [horsmanship?], of which I had heard so much; and in general the performancse answered my expectations; thought there was a considerable [?] of [assembly?] attending the exhibition, arising from fear for the performers within, and from the [?] without.
Fryday 10 February Not well, my head is complaining that there is some derangement in its internal structure; a drousy heaviness pervades my whole frame, and I feel like a person who has been lately drunk. In the evening, I set off after some fruit, in the first place, we [directed?] our course over the bridge, in quest of some pears[?], but found none except a few which were as hard as rocks; yet we did not entirely waste our journey, for we had had [sic] the pleasure of seeing [Jos.?] Warren fight a skunk, the battle ended by the skunks run[-] ing away and Warren's being almost suffocated by the stench.
10 September 1976
Fryday 10th February On our return we visited Brattle's garden from whence we took nearly half a bushel of peaches.
Sunday 11 As it is Sunday I must go to meeting. We had a sermon from Mr Holms relative to the manners of the town of Cambridge which were rather vitiated.
Monday 12 Time passes on toward the mark, the term is past out forth I wish that it was quite so. However I am a little more easy than I was a few days past; for the horrors of the itch are dispelled in some degree, and I am at length nearly freed from the apprehension, what I was under on that account.
Tuesday 13 A fortunate day for me, as I receiv'd several [?] from home through the politeness of [Mr. Buster?]. I also went to Boston for money, which I got.
Wednesday 14 Contented in some degree, but should be pleased to go home. I count every moment and number every hour as it passes; yet I have patience, and want for vacation without any uneasiness of consequence. I have [recitaation?] enough, relaxation sufficient to unbend my mind & free my head from the puzzeling mazes of greek roots, which like