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Mann, Elias, 1778-1807. Diary of Elias Mann, 1796-1800. HUD 800.5, Harvard University Archives.

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Elias Mann kept this diary during his undergraduate years at Harvard College. The diary begins August 17, 1796 and ends in August of 1800 and also includes several undated sheets filled with excerpts of poems. The daily entries describe many aspects of Mann's life, including not only his experiences at Harvard but also his involvement in the larger community. Entries related to life at Harvard describe club meetings (coffee club, Hasty Pudding Club and Phi Beta Kappa); trips to the theater; dinners at taverns; games and recreation, including a card game called "Loo," cribbage, backgammon, bowling, playing ball, fishing, skating and going for sleigh rides; gathering, and sometimes taking from others' gardens, food (most often plums, peaches, nuts and apples); what he ate (including one breakfast of three raw eggs and two glasses of wine); what he read (including Tristram Shandy and one of "Mrs. Ratcliffe's novels"); his friends, often mentioned by name; and academic work and formalities. In one entry he mentions the theft of several possessions from his room, and there are several entries about trips to Fresh Pond.|Mann's life beyond Harvard was very active. He traveled around Massachusetts, often on foot, making frequent trips to Boston, Wrentham (to visit a Masonic lodge), Medfield, Walpole (for corn), and Natick (to collect on a debt owed to his grandfather by an Indian). He seems to have been hired on occasion to borrow money or collect debts on behalf of friends. On May 20, 1799 he traveled to Boston to watch a frigate launch, and on June 12, 1799 he watched Governor Sumner's funeral procession. He writes lengthy entries about the death of George Washington in 1799, which greatly upset him, and attended a funeral commons in honor of Washington in January 1800. Mann also writes about rumors circulating that the Duke of York had been taken prisoner. Mann also describes various illnesses from which he and family members suffered, including his father's attack of what was diagnosed as Palsy, his mother's long illness, and his own itching and injured hand. He also mentions, in an entry made June 3, 1800, seeing a new machine "for drawing large stones out of the ground."|Throughout the four years this diary spans, Mann loved a woman whose name is always written in code. Many entries describe letters from her, their visits, and his pining for her.

Biographical Notes

Elias Mann was born in Medfield, Massachusetts on September 9, 1778, the son of Sabin Mann. Elias Mann entered Harvard College in 1796 and received an A.B. in 1800, an A.M. 1803 and an M.D. 1806. Mann practiced medicine in Medfield until his death on March 9, 1807.

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May 1800

Sat 24

Article 4th

I will govern my passions, and never yeald to the impulse of the moment, but ever act from reflection. Anger I will totally discard as a passion as a passion beneath a human being.

Article 5th

Sun 25

Time I will esteem most valuable and convert it to the best use I am capable; I will portion it out assigning a [?] [?], every employment. Sun rise shal be the time in when I will [rise?], [?] my [?] unless [prevented?] by contingensies; this practice I will follow through the [year?], [?] if I please in [?].

Arctl 6th

Masonry Temperance shall always govern appetite. In eating and drinking I will always govern use the the greatest moderation.

Ar 7th

[?] shall never [?] my [lips?], I will never mention the name of a person without I say of him

May 1800

Sun 25

something good, or unless his character be so bad that it be [?] to publish it [?] end that he should not [deceive?] others.

Art 8th

I will make it a principle never to inquire into the busyness of any one, never mention a [?] unless I know it to be true. This to apply to the common occurences of life.

A 9

I will leaf off swearing as soon as possible

A 10 Any of the above articles may [attest?] [?] I [?], when it shall be [?] [to?] renew the oath Or if the constitution Oath is found to be [?] they shall be of no effect and not considered as binding. The form of the oath shall be considered as an article.

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(seq. 57)
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(seq. 57)

May June 1800

A 11th

3

Oath - I dare not [?]. But on my honor I declare that I will consider the above ten articles as a constitution by which I ought to [regulate?] my conduct and further that I will comply with the rules [hold?] [in?] fourth by the 10 above [?] [?[ articles as far as they by [?] shall be found [practicable?] and as far as I am able - So help me Truth Elias Mann

May 1800

Sat 24 Nothing at Cambridge. Boston [?] [?] [?] was entered with [?] honors. Beans broth er called at Cam.

Sun 25 Class again at Cambridge half drunk

M 26 Nothing of consequence. Went to Boston.

Tus 27 All as usual -

Wed 28 General [?], went to Boston and in the fore noon, saw {Captain} Baxter find it necessary for me to go to Medfield, find Ellis Abner [?] with him to carry [?] [up?].

Thurs 29 Early in the morning went into Boston, found that I had misunderstood Ellis and that I could not ride with him, was consequently was obliged to walk to Medfield. [?] [?] [?] [?] at Mr Tisdale's called at [?] gerauld At home my father weaker than when I left him, and in fine it is not probable that he will remain much longer in this

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(seq. 58)
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May 1800

Thurs 29 world. After carrying a while at home went up to town, and played at [?] and nine [?] till night. Evening went to the NH found old miss Harding very sick Kezia well but imployed evening and night taking cair of her mother.

Fry 30 Imployed on class matters, and [?] to come to a settlement, think I shall succeed. Saw Thomson at his house on the Brastow affair. - Saw the black man [?] to [?] person [if?] years [?].

Sat 31 In the forenoon went into town visited Mr Prentiss, dinned with Daniel. Afernoon D- came home with me. We went together with [Bradfed?] and [Harris?] to {Captain} Baxter [?] and by [Bratts?] to to ours by [?] both of them are [friend?].

May June 1800

[June?] Sun 1 Nothing material; Even. at the northern end.

Mon 2 Rained violently in the fore part of the day consequent ly did not leave the N H till noon when I set of for Cambridge on horse back. was longer on the way than I usually am when I walk as I did not arrive at Cambridge till 5 O"clocl PM. So Cate concluded not to go into Boston till to'morrow. [?] [AR?]

Tus 3 Went into Boston, say {Captain} Baxter; but [class?] was gone. Conversed with {Captain} B- on the [?] [?] and find that he has again spoken falsly. [Sold?] the [fast?] [oxen?] to May [Ruggirts?]. Came home in company with nighbor Charles, ate with him on the road bread and cheese in place of dinner. As we passed through Dedham we saw is in opperation a machine for drawing large stones out of the [ground?]. The effect of it was powerful and I think it will be a useful invention.

Wed 4 [Imployed?] [in?] the [gardings?]

Thurs 5 Nothing Went over the river, and to Walpole [walked?] with [Clas?] for myself and [?] [by?] [the?] half of [?] and R Billings

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(seq. 59)
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June 1800

Fryday 6 [Darob?] Hall, [J?] [?] and myself worked all day on [?] with nursery and in the other [garding?].

Sat 7 Neueman from college called upon me in the afternoon from college, suspended for 5 months.

Mon Sun 8 At [?] in the afternoon, from [?] north end, found K well after having been [?] all day, very [?]. After [?] walked for a hour or two in the fields.

Mon 9 [?] the people meet at Mason's tavern in order to determine in what matter the [4th?] of July should be celebrated. Choose a committee of 5 for the burpose of of making arrangements and appointing an orator [?].

Tus 10 Nothing very remarkable.

July 1800

Sun 20 Nothing

Mon 21 22 Tus Staying

Wed 23 At the north end on a fishing party composed of Belsy, Kezia, [?] [?]; [Adams?] and myself; not much success but a great quantity of mirth

Sun 3 [?] From the [?] [three?] of July till this day [I?] [?] done nothing of consequence.

Mon 4 Came to an agreement with my moth er, on these principles, that she should board with me and [resend?] [£?] 2 annually in money.

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(seq. 60)
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August 1800

Tus 5 Early in the morning set off for Dedham with a desire of taking out a little of administration on on my father's estate. I [?] agreeable to my wish. - Con versed long with Richardson on his commencement [poem?] oration, but round of him his ΦΒΚ poem. - Went to Roseburg for money was successful, payed Pilsburg. [?] a very bad headache, which I suppose was caused by want of food as I fool ishly ate nothing from the time I left home till I returned.

Wed 6 Samuel as our house in the afternoon. Evening rode out with Kezia through the pine woods by Mr Ellises. Senior [Fisher?] sayeth that there was some frost last night.

Thurs 7 Morning with [?] at [Doc?] gerauld's, Sam not [?]. Afternoon on aunt Sarah's busyness.

1800 August

Thurs 14 Nothing

Fry 15 Welles, Newman and Adams [dined?] with me. Spent the afternoon very agreeably in the company of the above named gentlemen

Sat 16 [Fodes?] and Pratt at Medfield in the afternoon. With them at {Captain} Baxters.

Sun 17 Brought Kezia home

Mon 18 Tues 19 Nothing conseqt

Wednes

Last edit about 4 years ago by erinc
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