Colonial North America: Harvard University Archives

was bro't upon the carpet: no [objection?] offered & no other person named. But as [?] did not require a choice, it was postponed. I returned, & in company w Wheaten as far as Walpole, who said he was engaged at Providence for 3 weeks. Mr Sanger was ordained this day at Duxbury. Mr Williams at {the} baptist meeting, [west?] part of [?].

July 6. Sat. Went down to Clapboardtrees, & put up at Mr Gay's. Mr. J. Eliot changed with me (for I supplied Little Cambridge) & left his compliments with information that he had {the} honor of preaching his father's sermons & I of Mr Bean's, which he thought was very good. I thought so too. I found that {the} small [po?] was [going?] thro Boston by licence. That none {were} to be innoculated after is [inst?].

July. 7. Sab. All day at Clapboard-trees. Harvard College was [liken?] to break up. That large number {were} dismissed to have {the} small pox.

July 8. Monday. Over to Medfield & home. Told Mr Bean I would go to Boston etc. with him.

if he desired it, as he had been long wishing to go. Concluded to go on Wednesday. Heard that Captain Dean had taken two prizes. Heard [?] very good singing at the Seminary. July 9. Tuesday. Things seemed to move nearly in their old [manner?]. Men were dilatory about going to Canada. But all seemed to allow that there was enough to be had. July 10 Wednesday. Went up to Mr Bean's & set out with him for Boston. Dined at Mr [Harris's?]. To Roxbury & viewed some forts. Lodged at Mr Everet's who lives in Josh. Loving's house. Eat plentifully of English cherries currents etc. July. 11. Thursday. Went down to Dorchester point before breakfast. Saw a very pretty fort there of about 9[?] guns. Heard Dr Cooper at Thursday lecture. Dined at uncle Prince's, and Aunt & Sam. were under [innoculation?] Saw Capt. Barnard, who said, no young man preached at Haverhill yet. To Cambridge over Bunker, Winter & Prospect Hill. Supped at the [?] [?] upon Lobster etc. Lodged at Sprague

July 12. Friday. Breakfasted with the President. Went up to College {with} Mr. [Bean]. To Dr. Appleton's {office?}. Found him much [broken?]. I dined in {the} hall. Our house was [?][?] [brought?] up in {the} morning, he was much swelled & he piquantly groaned. But as many others [were?] so, I [supposed?] it away to [?] [?] or fall water. To Mr. Coyle's about 9 o'clock. I walked so much I was tired and sleepy. I saw Capt. Doan yesterday, {with} went second {Lieutenant?} of the [Yankees?] under Capt Johnson. He brot in one [?] & {Lieutenant} Hampton another, both valuable. [Sharpe?] came in {with} one of {the} [?], about & about two thirds of [?] men. But, it was [supposed?][?], {the} [Yankees?] was taken, either by one of {the} king's [?] or by an injunction. July 13. Sat. Dined at [Dean?] Boyden's. It seemed strange [?] {with?} should be so beset by fleets & armies & yet so little concerned. People appeared not to be under half such frightful apprehension.

as last year {this} time. I was told at [?] y^t a proclamation of independency was [carried?] down by {the} post

July. 14. {Sabbath}. Preached all Day at Wrentham for Mr Bean.

July 15. Monday. Read some. The post said News probable {the} Yankees were lost. Saw the [proclamation?] of independence in Providence [paper?]. We were first called {the} United independent States of America in grand Congress July 4. The Enemy have got possession of [Staten?] Island.

July. 16. Tuesday. Read a small collection of sentences or observations, called, "Be merry & wise, Or a guide to [?] [?] [?]. Very pretty.

July 17 Wednesday. Over to Providence. [Understood?] a letter [?] of [?] [inst.?] miscarried [?] ws {the} reason why I was not wrote to, & desired to come over. Mr [Whiten?] ws gone to be innoculated. Slept at Mr [Chickerley's?]. Mr Morril ws in

in Boston [?].

July 18. Thursday. Took home a number of books in I [?] of [Dear?] Nightingale. I agreed to return & supply [?] after one Sabbath. Read some in Wynne's [history?] of British America [?] 1 [?]. It gives a good account of [the?] Canada expedition.

July 21. Sabbath. Preached for Mr Bean in [foreroom?]. Heard him preach a [Serm.?] to those in [?] [?] to Canada. Heard over [?] had retreated to Crown Point or to Ticonderoga. Spent [?] of this week in [?] bibe & Spectator. Chose me a [text?] for [?] next week. Heart there ws a [plot?] discovered at Albany. [?] [?] Parker had a [?] & ws driven from [?] [?]: 3 [?] taken & several ships much damaged. - Several ships lost in [?] Charlestown Bar.

July 28. Sabbath All day at Providence. Kept at Mr [?],

July 29. Monday. Read a little. But of late got into such an [?[ habit, & romanic method of [thinking?] that I spent my time to little or no purpose. Last [Tuesday?] evening I received a letter at [Abigails?] [?], whose contents [ws?] only to beg my acceptance of an [?] gold broach: there ws no name to it, day of date, or place where written; but I immediately supposed it from my good friend Miss [Cory?] [it?] warmd my heart [with?] sincerest gratitude. It gave me many pleasureable & exquisite ideas, not dictates of love or of a passion so well [known?] to the gallant, but of {the} most sincere & genuine friendship, founded upon {the} most rational basis. The many kindnesses of a domestick nature, & {the} various arts of benevolence & esteem {which} I have received from her & her good Papa, have laid in my breast such a [foundation?] of [affection?] & regard as y^t it cannot be easily or suddenly erased.

Seq. 16 July 30. Tuesday.

Collected some th[?] for [?] & again a [?] after Dinner. Wrote I afternoon again ‘N.

July 31. Wednesday. Wrote all day & after I finished, Lern^n.

Aug. 1. 1776. Thursday. This day was[?] appointed to the [?] as a fa[?] by 1 Morsa church [fate/hate?] & as a congregational society or chiefly formed out of you & after you, y^e (the), conform to yr faith & c. I preachd all day. But as I was offered by no other Society in Rouilew[?] I did not feel like [?]. Stopped after [?] at Dr Bowen’s, saw Mis. Dolly who appeard agreeable, —

Aug. 2. Fryday. Read Shedach & Lyatator. Took a walk w Mr Chalkley up to his [?], found all vegetables very Nourishz & a very promising Season.

Some skirmishes have been had at Southward. [Dunmore?] driven from Sullivan’s Island & said to be wounded in {the} leg. Several ships damaged. It is said {that} {we} a have in & about New-York above 50,000 men. —

Aug 3. Saturday. The largest ship had her foremast carried away & almost all her mast sprung in attempting leave Dawn. Virginia have altered their common prayer & yr litany. The Colonies begin respectively, by [reforms?], to [affirm?] {the} names of States. — Just before sunet I set out for Palmen’s Rivers, went over, upper ferry & got to Mr. Rogerson’s about dark. Spent a pretty sociable evening {with} him.

Aug. 4. Sabbath Preached all day at Palmer’s River. Found that an handsome fund was established there for {the} support of a mnister. ---

Aug. 5 Monday Went to Bristol to see Mr Leonard; but

he was gone to Taunton. I {therefore}] directed my course for Providence. Din'd at Hunter. Read some in Watt..[?] [scripture?] [History?]. ----

Aug 6. Tuesday Read chiefly in [Sherlock?]. ---- Several [primers?] have been lately taken. --- Eleven privateers [are?] [sitted?] or setting out from Providence ---- Heard that some of the Hessians had got to New York & that 70 transports of [guns?] had got to Halifax. ---- But no such [?] seem to terrify or affect us at all. ---Since we defeated the Britons at Sullivan's & [Guiner's?] Islands we have had no engagements. Spent {the} remainder of this week chiefly in reading Wynne's? his. of British America, Spectator, etc. Wednesday was public speaking at College where a number of ladies attended as is {the} custom. Chief of {the} scholars had some performance {which} was done with different degrees of [grauxtuity?].

Wednesday July 29 1778. We arrived ( at Springfield from Hadley) about Tea-time _ found Mrs. Dwight well, but young Dwight was out of town __ Spent evening {with} Mr. [Breek?], whom we found [sociable?] and generous. Thursday. We called upon [Pynchon?] after breakfast & took a view of [the?] town. The Laboratory and [Park?] of Artillery were at [the?] upper end of [the?] town. We saw a large number of [brass?] mortars and field pieces. These, with what ammunition [?] be [prepared?], [?] held in [?] to be sent to any place where [necessiaty?] might require. Springfield was [?] [the?] most [?] & [consequent?] place for these things, as it is near [the?] center of {New} England.__ The town is pleasant; stands upon [the?] East, or rather, North side of [the?] river, and alomost parallel to it. Many of [the?] [?] are elegant & stand upon that side of the [?] next to [the?] river; this opposite side of [the?] [?] is [walked?] by a fine rivulet for near a mile.