January 1, 1846

            Thursday. Cambridge, Massachusetts, No. 28, Divinity Hall. This day I recommence my Diary. I formerly kept one; but have purposely mutilated it. This first day of January, eighteen hundred and forty six, I have been chosen a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. The number of members is limited to sixty, & there is always a large number of candidates whenever a vacancy occurs, which is seldom except upon the decease of some one. I suppose I am indebted for the honor to Jared Sparks, LL.D., Convers Francis, D.D. & the Rev. Joseph B. Felt.   

             Received a visit from Charles P. Gage, M.D. of Concord, N.H., a native of Hopkinton, N.H. who married Nancy George Sibley, my cousin, daughter of Stephen Sibley, Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum & Director of the Concord Bank, & of his wife Sarah, whose maiden name was Brown, both of Hopkinton, N.H. Mrs. Gage now resides at the McLean Asylum in Somerville, where she has been since 18 June 1845. It was not thought advisable for her to see her husband. Insanity prevails in the Brown family. 

January 2, 1846

 Friday. This morning died James Alexander Monroe, of the Junior Class, aged about twenty four, said to have been from Maine, having a brother a clergyman in Bradford, Mass., where his remains were carried.

 January 3, 1846

             Saturday.  I Received from the author, William Thaddeus Harris, of the Senior Class, Son of the Librarian, a copy of his Epitaphs from the Old Burying-Ground in Cambridge. 

January 4, 1846

            Sunday. Attended worship as I usually do in good weather at the Masonic Temple in Boston, where the Rev. James F. Clarke preaches. In the afternoon Communion Service at the hour when the other churches have regular worship.           

            Rev. Theodore Parker, of Spring Street, Roxbury, having for about one year preached one service each Lord's Day at the Melodeon & having received an invitation to become Pastor of the people worshipping there, entered upon the duties of his charge. The installation appears to have been very simple. A member of the Society, I hear, read the letter of the people extending to him the invitation & his letter in reply & both parties were asked if they still adhered to their propositions; Mr. Parker assented & the people rose, after which Mr. Parker proceeded with religious services as usual, preaching a sermon, however, pertinent to the occasion. 

            [Rev. Ephraim Peabody of New Bedford, formerly of Cincinnati, a native of Wilton, N.H. entered upon his duties as minister of Kings Chapel in Boston [This is an error. See January 11]]           

            I took tea with my classmate Dr. Lodge, who is recently married, attended the evening service at the Masonic Temple and walked home.

 January 5, 1846

             Monday.  In the Library of Harvard College all day, as usual. In the evening attending a social meeting in the Chapel of Divinity Hall, to which Rev. E.F. Taylor or Father Taylor, as he is more generally called, was present. He spoke with great effect, moved by the eloquence of nature.

 January 6, 1846

             Tuesday.  Spent an hour or two at Mr. Sparks's study--saw some manuscripts just bound beautifully, containing among other things memoranda, sketches of forts, etc. during a trip to Saratoga, Lakes George, Champlain etc. also a notice of the Battle of Bunkers Hill by Judge Prescott, son of Colonel Prescott who then fought.

January 7, 1846

                 Wednesday. Examining a Catalogue of books to be sold at auction.

 January 8, 1846

Thursday.  At the auction in Boston purchased books for the College Library to the value of about $110 or $115, among them the Histoire Naturelle des Mammiferes de Cuvier et St. Hilaire, half bound in red morocco, gilt extra 3 volumes for $36.00, & Vandermailin's Atlas 6 volumes for twenty one dollars.

             Returned in the Omnibus. When I was in College & 'till I went to reside at Stow, the only public conveyance was a stage (having straitened accommodations inside for nine passengers) which left Cambridge at 9 & 2 o'clock, & Boston at 12 & 5 o'clock. We think we are now wonderfully well accommodated, when the Omnibuses leave Cambridge at 7 o'clock and every quarter of an hour afterward 'till 11 o'clock in the evening & that they also leave Cambridge at 8 o'clock & at 9 o'clock P.M. & that they leave Boston at 8 o'clock A.M. & every quarter of an hour 'till 8 o'clock P.M. & that they leave also at 9 & at 10 P.M. –fare 15 cents either way, except at 9 & 10 o'clock when it is 20 cents. Besides this, on particular occasions late at night extra omnibuses are furnished. 

January 9, 1846

Friday.  Received official notice of my election as member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

 January 10, 1846

Saturday. Saw the planet Venus at two o'clock P.M., though the sun shone bright & clear.

 January 11, 1846

Sunday. Walked to Boston & back – heard a sermon by Revd. James Thompson, of Salem. Rev. C. Peabody was inducted into office to-day & not last Sunday. See the ceremony as mentioned in the newspapers.

             Called in the evening at Miss Austin's, an aged blind lady – also at Dr. M. Wyman's, consulting him professionally.

January 12, 1846

Monday. My salary, which has been five hundred dollars and room rent, & pay at 40 cents per hour between four o'clock and prayer-bell (which always rings before dark, which is never later than six o'clock & at this season of the year takes place at half past four o'clock), & for half the day on Saturday, has been increased by one hundred dollars. I generally commence my duties, the year round, between 7 1/2 & 8 o'clock in the morning.

             My first connexion with the Library began with writing, when J. G. Cogswell was Librarian, in my freshman year. I continued to be employed generally in vacations till graduation in 1825, within a week after which I assumed the duties of Assistant Librarian. This office I held till Mr. Peirce was chosen Librarian, then Mr. Folsom resigned the office of Librarian & I discharged all the duties for one month or so, till Mr. Peirce entered upon his duties at Commencement, in 1826. At that time the salary of the Librarian was three hundred dollars, that of the Assistant one hundred and fifty dollars. The duties of the Assistant were to attend to applications for books etc. and he could, during Library hours, if he chose write etc. to the amount of about one hundred & fifty dollars in a year. The two offices & the two salaries were united in Mr. Peirce. There was no Assistant Librarian till the completion of Gore Hall in 1841 & the removal of books to it in July of that year. Since that  time the Library has really been my home in the day time; no lights being allowed in the building. 

            A little incident of interest is connected with President Kirkland's application to me to be Assistant Librarian, in 1825. It was the first time he ever prefixed a title to my name. Not any officer ever gave the title of Mr. to an undergraduate while I was in College; now, even in recitations, when called upon to recite, undergraduates are almost always addressed with the prefix 'Mr.'. Dr. Kirkland overtook me on the bridge when I was walking into Boston, & addressing me with the strange prefix of 'Mr.' (for in those days it sounded very strangely to one, who had, up to the moment of graduation, only a day or two before, never heard himself so called, invited me to a seat in his chaise & introduced the subject of my being Assistant Librarian. Not long before his administration,  I believe as late as that of his immediate predecessor, the rule always was to address an undergraduate simply by his surname, a graduate who had never received any degree but that of Bachelor of Arts by the appellation Sir, as Sir Hayward, Sir Jones; but when a person became Master of Arts, he was called Mr. These distinctions were very carefully observed so that the few minutes before receiving a degree commanded an appellation which was, the next minute after receiving the degree, relinquished, in all quarters for a higher sounding one.

             Dr. Kirkland was very affable, humorous & dignified. He always commanded respect, without appearing to require it by a severe effort. He would say the plainest things in a way to give no offence. He did not allow undergraduates the freedom to sit down in his study, unless he kept them waiting for some time; if they seated themselves, he gave them a pleasant hint to rise. President Quincy was generally very abrupt in his manners though he had much grace & propriety when the occasion required. His memory was poor, as to persons particularly. His first question almost always was 'What is your name?' His next, 'What do you want?' This arose in a great measure from the uncommon energy and business habits which he had. But he was always very candid, very kind to the students in his feelings, if not in his deportment; & during his administration greater equality in deportment grew up between the officers and students than ever before existed. He never requested a student to stand in his study; but always expected him to be seated if he made any stop. Dr. Kirkland never hurt any person's feelings; he was very choice in his use of words, & in his manner very pleasant. President Quincy often hurt the feelings without meaning particularly to do it.

           Passed part of the evening at Mr. George Livermore's. He is a wool dealer in Boston, who has a great taste for curious, rare, & valuable books; & has an exceedingly choice library containing about 2000 volumes.

January 18, 1846

            In the Christian Examiner for January 1846 is an Article by Dr. Frothingham on Hymn Books, useful to a bibliographer.

January 19, 1846

            Rev. Dr. George Putnam of Roxbury, on Saturday, declined the offer made to him, either officially or unofficially, a fortnight since by the Corporation, to become Hollis Professor of Divinity in the University.

January 21, 1846

Wednesday.  Wrote a letter to Alpheus Felch, from Limerick, Maine, a school-fellow at Exeter, now Governor of Michigan, requesting him to use his influence to get a vote passed by the Legislature to forward to the Library of the College a series of everything which has been or shall be published by the State; & let him know how small a representation Michigan had on the shelves of our American department, which is the most complete & valuable in the world.

January 25, 1846

Sunday.  Walked to Boston, attended worship & led the singing as I have frequently, perhaps I may say generally, done, at Mr. Clarke's, where all persons present are expected to take part there being no organized choir.

            Addressed the Howard Sunday school in Pitts Street in the afternoon, where I had been till last spring a teacher for five or six years. The occasion was the death of one of my pupils, Miss Jane Waterman, aged about 40, whose decease occurred on the 21st inst. She had been a member of the class for five years. Three or four years ago another female died from the same class & within the same time another person who had occasionally belonged to it. Miss W. was very intelligent, humble, pious, refined & naturally consumptive. I was most strenuously urged & besought to assume a bible class again in the school. After these exercises were finished, attended at the usual hour of divine service in the afternoon the meeting now held on the last Sunday in each month at Mr. Clarke's where the parents & friends of the Sunday School meet with the children in the Masonic temple, & addresses are delivered.

             In the evening, called at Mr. Sparks's. Henry Stevens of Vermont in a letter to him from London says he has moused out an old box of pamphlets of the time of Charles the Second & not long after, which were boxed up then & have not been disturbed since. He picked out about thirty which pertained to America, among which is The Revolution in New England Justifie' & Eliot's Commonwealth. Of the latter but one copy was before known to exist. He informed the British Museum & that is gathering a rich harvest from what remains of the box. Many of his gatherings Mr. Stevens sends to Mr. Brown of Providence, & they will probably find their way ultimately into the library of Brown University.

             Judge Fay and Mr. C. Folsom were at Mr. Sparks's. Conversation happened to turn on fuel, etc. Mr. F. observed that wood was the fuel in France, that it came to Paris in scows, sorted into sizes as to the sticks, that his cost him about sixteen dollars a cord in Paris, that much charcoal is used in Paris, that it is always carried in bags on men's backs, that a large number of persons thus gain their livelihood, & that probably the government would not willingly admit the introduction of carts. In London it is carried in carts but in bags, & the bags are emptied at once into the cellars where the coal is deposited. Mr. Folsom observed that but little provision was made in the Mediterranean & that people wrapped additional garments around them. Though no post in the north of Africa yet the rains were cold & very uncomfortable.

             Wood in Cambridge is seven dollars & a half a cord. Hard coal began to be used in America about the year 1821. There was no coal burnt when I was in College. Dr. Ware, Senior, was among the first to burn hard coal. Grates were very common in College & elsewhere within five years afterwards, & it is now many a year since there has been one open fireplace in the College in which wood has been burnt. Airtight stoves have been introduced within a few years, in which wood or coal may be burnt. Fuel in Baltimore twenty-five years ago was $3.00 per cord.

January 26, 1846

            Friday.  Books delivered & received this forenoon, at the College Library. This evening walked to the McLean Asylum through thawing snow and mud. Mrs. Gage improving. Dr. Bell showed me a manuscript genealogy of the Dana family from the time of Richard, a French refugee, the first of the name who came to this country and who settled in Brighton, then a part of Cambridge.

January 29, 1846

            Thursday.  Walked to Boston. Attended for the first time the meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Upon reading the minutes of the last meeting, it appeared that I was chosen in the place of Mr. Justice Story. He died in September 1845. The letters of acceptance I found were read before the meetings also. Twenty-five members or thereabouts were present, it being the fullest meeting ever held. They were drawn out by a Report presented at the previous meeting (which was held January 1, because the last Thursday in December happened to be Christmas) with a view to an application to the Legislature for permission to alter the clause limiting the number of resident members to sixty, so that the Society should pass a by-law prescribing the limit, or that the number by an Act of the Legislature might be extended to eighty. The subject seemed to have been argued at the previous meeting, to some extent; & the subject it had been brought before the Society several years ago also. Among the persons who opposed enlarging the number were the Rev. Charles Lowell, D.D., George Ticknor, (late Professor of French and Spanish Literature in Harvard University), Hon. John Davis, (late Judge of the U.S. District Court, now eighty-five years old), Hon. Josiah Quincy (late President of Harvard University), Rev. Alexander Young of Boston, etc. Some of the ideas stated were that the individual responsibility would be lessened – that the wisdom of former members who were among the founders of the Society had been justified by experience – that no Society had done so much and had so much to show – that the addition of members would not bring it much more before the community, for it was already well-known – that the present income, if collected, would bring in about two hundred and fifty dollars annually, which would enable them to publish a volume annually – that some persons would join the Society if they felt it was a working Society in which they could sympathize instead of being one composed of many members who felt less sympathy & but little interest in historical subjects – that many people independent of this idea might decline joining, if it were thrown open to all, who would come in & work with a limited number – that if an application were made to the Legislature to put the number at eighty that there was no security in these days, when all reserved rights were unpopular, that they would not require it to be unlimited – that there was a kind of courtesy or obligation towards those persons who had joined upon the supposition that the number was limited to sixty to continue to them the privileges thereof.

             Hon. Francis C. Gray, Chairman of the Committee which made the Report, advocated that it should be enlarged, by a reversion of the arguments above adduced, etc. The main purpose appeared to be the getting of more funds to print five or six volumes now wanted; but this idea was rather modestly concealed in the course of debate. A great majority voted against the enlargement, though Mr. Sparks, Professor Francis and Mr. Worcester (the Geographer and Lexicographer) were decidedly in favor of it.

             Professor Ticknor stated to the meeting that Gebel Teir, an allegory on the state of politics at the time of the administration of John Quincy Adams, was written by William Tudor, while Charge d'Affaires at Rio de Janeiro, & sent to him to be published incognito. It was so published. When Mr. Tudor died, Prof. F. sent the manuscript to his relatives, telling them the circumstances. They made no reply. When it was proposed at a recent meeting that President J. Q. Adams should prepare a biographical notice for the Historical Society Collections, he again applied to Mr. Tudor's relatives & asked them what use he might make of the secret deposited with him, & since the last meeting he had received the reply "what you please". Accordingly, he now divulged the circumstances. He had considered himself for a long time to be the only person in the secret. But when he was at the house of the British ambassador in Paris, in 1838(?) a gentleman with whom he was not acquainted asked him if he knew Tudor & that he once published a book anonymously. Upon Prof. F.'s replying in the affirmative, the gentleman observed that he thought himself alone in the secret & that Mr. Tudor had given him a copy in Rio de Janeiro.

             Upon examining a box of waste paper, etc. at the book store where I stored books in Boston, I found several memoranda respecting the Sibleys which I had collected many years ago. As a genealogical society has been formed recently in Boston, may it not be well to add to them & see if they may not be wrought into a Table.

February 4, 1846

February 5

            At a meeting of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University, Gov. Everett was confirmed as President of the University, at a very full meeting, & without dissenting vote. Sixty-four votes, all for him.

            Upon returning to my room this evening found a note directed to me, reading as follows:

My dear Sir,

            I have received your kind note of sympathy, for which both Mrs. Sparks & myself beg you will accept our heartfelt thanks. My beloved child was most dear to me, & the separation is like rending the spirit in twain. But it is gratifying to find, that she has not passed away without the tribute of a kind thought from those who knew her during her brief journey of life.

                                                                        Most truly your friend,

                                                                                    Jared Sparks"

February 14, 1846

            Visited the McLean Asylum at Somerville & had an interview of an hour with Mrs. Gage.

February 15, 1846

February 17, 1846

            Most unexpectedly received the following letter:

                        "New York Historical Society

                                                            Historical Society's Rooms

                                                            New York, February 14, 1846

Sir,

            I have the honor to inform you, that at a meeting of the New York Historical Society, held at their rooms in the University of this City, on Tuesday, the 3^rd instant, you were unanimously elected a Corresponding Member.

            The object of the Society is to promote the investigation of American history, by collecting whatever may tend to throw light upon the past, or perpetuate the events of the present period, whether in the form of authentic MS. documents, printed publications, rare and curious reliques, or original essays, illustrating the annals of the country; and your co-operation is respectfully solicited.                                                                    

                                                                                    By order of the Society:

                                                                                                            John Jay

                                                                                    Domestic Corresponding Secretary

To Rev. J.L. Sibley"

            The reception of the foregoing letter was wholly unexpected & I have no suspicion who proposed or moved in the matter.

            Employed in the evening in transcribing genealogical memoranda respecting the Sibleys to be transmitted to Messrs. Wheatland & Phippen of Salem.

February 18, 1846          

            Received from Mr. Young a copy of the second edition of his Chronicles of the Pilgrims with a note urging me very strongly to make an Index to his forthcoming work, the Chronicles of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay.

            Installation of Rev. J.T Sargent at Somerville, the first minister settled in the town since its incorporation. Services in the afternoon – tea party in the vestry afterward.

            Replied to Mr. Young declining his request.

            Learn that Charles Folsom, a native of Exeter, N.H., a graduate of H.U., then Chaplain of the Columbus, then Consul at Tripoli, then Tutor & Librarian in H.U., then corrector for many years of the University Press, & more recently teacher of a private school for young ladies, has been appointed Librarian of the Boston Atheneum.

February 19, 1846

            This morning the coldest this winter, thus far. Thermometer 3º at 7 1/2 o'clock.

            The Steamer from England arrived at Boston last evening at 10 1/2 o'clock. The editors of Philadelphia and New York succeeded in anticipating the arrival of the news via Boston. An express took the news from the steamer, upon its arrival at Halifax, by horse across the land to a steamer chartered for the purpose which brought it to Portland whence it arrived by railroad at Boston at eight o'clock last evening and proceeded immediately to N. York and Philadelphia.

February 21, 1846          

Visited the McLean Asylum & had an interview of an hour, this evening, with Mrs. Gage.

February 22, 1846

            At church in Boston in the morning & at the Baptist meeting house in Cambridge in the afternoon

February 23, 1846

            The last day for delivering and receiving books, this vacation. In the evening called at Prof. J. Chase's, formerly of the Newton Theological Institution; but he was from home; then called on Mr. Moses B. Chase, Chaplain of the Ohio, a native of Newburyport, formerly an Episcopal clergyman in Virginia, where he married his wife, whose maiden name was Joynes. He was subsequently Episcopal clergyman at Hopkinton, N.H. but he was not at home; then spent the evening with Mrs. Dawes, formerly of Baltimore, mother of Rev. Mr. Dawes, of Fairhaven, and daughter-in-law of the late Judge Dawes.

February 24, 1846

            Mr. Sparks says that of his Washingtons Writings there have been published already about eighty five thousand volumes, more volumes by far than are contained in any library in America. The transcripts which he hired made from the original letters & from which he printed he is destroying in the way of kindling fires, etc., refusing to let any one take them away, & saying they would be of no value & would make 30 or 40 volumes if bound & only be a useless nuisance. I told him there was room enough in the College Library, still he demurred. He has not made much by the work, it is so heavy that almost everybody failed who undertook the publication.

            The Miller tabernacle in Howard Street, Boston, was burned this morning. It was erected a few years since by the followers of Miller, of whom there were many in Boston, who believed that the world was soon coming to an end. The building which was one story but covering a large area was put up on condition that it should revert to the owner of the land after a certain time & this was fixed beyond that in which it was supposed the world would be destroyed. After this reversion, the building was used as a theatre & was sometimes called the Howard Athenæum.

            Called in the evening on Mrs. Stevens Everett (daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Abbot, of Beverly), who resides in Cambridge & has a son in College.

February 25, 1846

            Mr. Cyrus Peirce, with about thirty of his female Normal School pupils, from Newton visited the Library.

February 26, 1846

            Attended the meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Walked to Captain Ebenezer Eaton's in Dorchester, where I boarded during six months commencing Dec. 1, 1833 while Rev. Dr. Harris spent the winter in Savannah, Georgia, I supplied the pulpit.

February 27, 1846

            This morning the coldest by three degrees this winter.

Walked from Dorchester to Boston; & in the afternoon rode to Cambridge.

Commencement of the College Term; though there are no recitations till Monday.

President Everett unwell, so that he cannot assume the duties of his office at present.

February 28, 1846

            Received a set of Duane's Franklin from Professor Sparks.

March 1, 1846

            Birthday of my brother William Cullen, born in 1807.

            Mailed a letter as follows:  

                                                                        "Harvard College Library, Camb.

                                                                        28 Feb. '46

Hon. John Jay,

            Sir – I have rec'd your letter of the 14 instant, informing me that the New York Historical Society has done me the honor to elect me a Corresponding Member. I am much gratified with this unexpected notice, and shall take pleasure in cooperating, so far as I can, in the promotion of the objects of the Society. I have the honor to be, etc.

Hon. John Jay

Domestic Corresponding Secy.

March 4, 1846

March 5, 1846

            Purchasing books at auction in Boston for the College Library.

March 6, 1846

            Received a paper containing the Message of the Governor of Michigan to the Legislature respecting my communication & a similar one from the N. Y. Historical Society in relation to their public documents for the Harvard College Library & that of the New York Historical Society.

March 7, 1846

            Went to Boston & with Mr. Sparks examined a chest of pamphlets to be sold at auction. Within two years a remarkable interest has arisen in relation to early historical pamphlets on America & they now command almost incredible prices.

            Made a catalogue of the 73 volumes of modern books bought on the fifth for less than 70 dollars, though one fifth of them were valuable quartos & but few of them were smaller than the octavos; all in good condition & good books.

March 8, 1846

            Snowy morning. Heard Mr. Bartol, of Boston, preach at the College Chapel in the morning & Mr. Peabody, of Portsmouth, N.H., at Mr. Newell's in the afternoon.

March 10, 1846

            Attended auction, in Boston, for the College. Bought Wynne's Avalon for 75 cents. Johnson's Wonder-Working Providence was bought by C.G. Deane, for $10.75. Norton's Life of Cotton sold for eight dollars. Wynne is printed sometimes as an Addition to Whitbourne's Newfoundland.

March 15, 1846

            Bluebirds sing. Attend church in Boston.

March 16, 1846

            Election of Class Officers by the Seniors. Much excitement & two parties, the members of the Hasty-Pudding Club having controlled the elections for several years. The meeting began at 2 1/2 o'clock, P.M. & though continued till after prayer time (5 1/2 o'clock), it was adjourned till to-morrow.

March 17, 1846

            Mary Wheeler, daughter of Professor Noyes, aged about 16, died this morning, tubercles on the brain. Dr. Noyes lost a child a year or two ago by its falling out of a chamber window.

            At the election yesterday, according to the best information I have obtained, Child was chosen class orator, Swan, poet, Lane and Hall, odists, or writers of the odes for class day, and Ropes, Chaplain.

After this came the choice of officers for the Navy Club. The Navy Club includes all of the Senior Class who have not had a part at any exhibition. The Lord High Admiral is generally chosen because he has been sent off the most times by the Faculty or has been away the longest absent more during his College course than any other member of the class & is rather a wild fellow & popular. The principle on which elections are made is not always strictly carried out though there is a pretense that it is. Homans, of Boston, was chosen Lord High Admiral & Perry of Exeter, N.H., Vice Admiral. The Rear Admiral is generally chosen because he is the laziest person in the class. The Commodore was Cunningham. The standard bearer is generally the tallest one though [ ? ] is said to be not quite so tall as the Lord High perhaps not on the present occasion. To this office Morris was appointed. The person who swears the most is generally the Navy Club Chaplain. The Surgeon is generally selected because he has a fondness for surgery. His name was Osgood. Dupont, who graduated in 1845 at Delaware College, was Captain. A short thick student, Skinner, was boatswain. Horsemarines are those persons who have a minor part but have no major part, that is such members of the class as have a translation before the three last exhibitions in which the Class has parts (these three last exhibitions consisting, so far as the Seniors are concerned, entirely of original parts) but have no part in these exhibitons. but have no part in these three exhibitions. Marines have a major but no minor part. The drum major is one of the aristocratically-feeling members of the class. Last year, there was a powder monkey.

            As soon as the regular class officers are chosen, & this is conducted with propriety, the election of Navy Club Officers commences; & then wit, humor, & noise soon become the order of the day. In the afternoon, after all officers are chosen, the members of the class, including both the Navy Club and the others, form in procession, under the direction of the Lord High. They dress in various costumes. Lord High wore a military cap with a plume bent over in front, buckskin breeches, or shorts as they are sometimes called. Six of the class had drums which they beat as they marched. The chaplain wore a very large ugly-looking white wig & a gown. The surgeon got a very short legged, stubborn horse, such a strange looking creature perhaps as was never known before this one came into existence, & dressed in uniform, mounted him with a skull in one hand & rode in the procession. Each who had a part regularly at the exhibitions, alias the digs so called, had a spade which he carried, & the best scholar, Child carried one of double the ordinary size. The Rear Admiral, Stearns, pretended to be so lazy that he could not walk in the procession, accordingly a horse & wagon were procured, a chair & a bed put into the wagon, & he reclined with great composure, as a negro servant led the horse. When called upon to address the class he overcame his vis inertiae so far as to say a few words the negro holding the hat just above his head because he was too lazy to hold it himself & when he became fatigued with speaking he desisted and the negro was obliged to finish the speech for him.

            Soon after 4 o'clock this procession proceeded went from the front of Holworthy Hall, gave cheers in front of each Hall or building in the College Yard, went & cheered "Wood and Hall," grocers [Wooden Hall], & then proceeded to each Professor's dwellings cheering (except to Dr. Noyes whom they regarded on account of his affliction), showing somewhat the popularity of the different Professors by the different number of cheers which they gave. The Professors did not appear in the College Yard or at their own houses. After the march was over, the Class went to Porter's tavern, about a mile from the College on the West Cambridge road, & took supper. There were perhaps eight or ten persons who did not join in the movement. Each person seemed disposed to sustain his assumed character in the best possible manner, & the whole affair went off with very little noise or boisterousness. The main object seemed to be fun, & fun there was in its kind though not such fun perhaps as people of maturer years or refinement, etc. would prefer.

            The hour for College prayers in the afternoon changed from 5 ½ o'clock to six o'clock.

March 19, 1846

            Funeral of Mary Wheeler Noyes at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Prayer made by Rev. Dr. Francis.

March 21, 1846

            In the evening visited the McLean Asylum. Mrs. Gage better, though still exhibiting marks of insanity. She informed me that my Aunt Ward, of Bradford, N.H. died last May or June, having suffered much, even as to her person, from neglect.

March 22, 1846

            At church in Boston in the morning. In his Sermon, Mr. Clarke observed that if our Savior were to appear on earth his sermons would be criticised, he would be considered a very good "moral" preacher; but there would be many churches in which he would not be allowed to preach, because he was not "orthodox" enough, did not dwell enough on the Atonement, Total Depravity, etc. The remark is true, if we are to judge exclusively by the words which he himself uttered.

            In the afternoon heard Rev. E. Peabody, at the College Chapel, deliver a beautiful sermon on the resurrection. He wrote one of the hymns at my ordination at Stow, 14 May, 1829 & S.G. Bulfinch the other.

March 24, 1846

            There has been for many years a social religious meeting among the Theological Students, held in Divinity Hall, on Monday evenings, in term time. This week it was Tuesday evening. Mr. George G. Channing was present from Boston, & spoke very ably to the Students on being imbued themselves with the Christian spirit which they are to preach. He is brother of the late Rev. Dr., & the present Professor Channing. He was for many years an auctioneer, & when he became interested in religious subjects, some six or eight years since, most persons were incredulous as to his sincerity. But his consistency & continually increasing earnestness & zeal have silenced suspicions & led the community to regard him as one of the most useful, faithful & sincere of Christian laymen. He originated the Christian World, having been from the commencement of it, editor & proprietor, never having received a liberal education. He was desirous of bringing an influence to bear upon the community which should partake more of the heart & feelings, & be less intellectual (if either was to be yielded) than any paper seemed to produce.

March 28, 1846

            The excitement in Boston caused by the trial of Albert J. Tirrell for the murder of Mrs. Bickford has been brought to a close by the verdict of Not Guilty. The apparently novel ground of Somnambulism was introduced and strongly urged in his defence; but the jury acquitted him, without even mentioning Somnambulism in their consultation. The tone of public sentiment is such in regard to capital punishment that it is very difficult to convict a person  for a capital offence; & when such a conviction takes place, public sentiment demands a commutation to imprisonment for life. General opinion is that Tirrell is guilty; but it would have been unreasonable to have convicted him, upon the evidence adduced.

March 30, 1846

             President Everett, having moved into the old Presidential mansion, in the latter part of last week, assumed all the duties of his new office, &, this morning after the prayers in the College Chapel were ended, he made an address to the students, fifteen or twenty minutes long.

            The charter of a city for Cambridge was accepted by the inhabitants, by a vote of 645 to 224. There are about 1800 voters in Cambridge. 

            It is a singular circumstance that the practical commencement of Mr. Everett's administration & the acceptance of the City Charter should be upon the same day.

April 1, 1846

            April Fool's Day. The custom of calling people's attention to some object, which in reality does not exist, & of deceiving them on this day, has in a great degree gone into disuse among the more intelligent members of society.

             For many days have been cataloguing pamphlets and books received at the College Library. The title of each pamphlet is entered as minutely as that of the most valuable book. Pamphlets are the most valuable part of a Library, which has reference to posterity.

April 2, 1846

             Fast-day. Operation for a hydrocele caused probably by a kick from an angry schoolfellow, at Phillips Exeter Academy, more than twenty-five years ago. Sat up two hours towards night -- also all day April 3d. 

April 4, 1846

            At the College Library all day. Returned in the evening in great pain; the injection of iodine having produced, by this day's exercise, the desired inflammation.

April 6, 1846

             The hour of College morning prayers altered from 7 to 6 o'clock.

  April 7, 1846

             Wrote a letter while lying on my back. 

April 12, 1846

             Having laid in bed ever since the evening of the 4^th, part of the time suffering great pain, I sat up to-day two hours, between one & three o'clock, also from 5 1/2 P.M. till 9 o'clock. The students in Divinity Hall who have known of my sickness have been as kind as possible; still Dr. Wyman says a College room is not the place for a person to be sick in, & in future he means to have patients, when they can do no better, moved to his own house.

April 13, 1846

             Rose about 7 o'clock A.M., retired about the usual hour 10 P.M. having laid down only about two hours during the day. Began Dickens's Master Humphreys Clock.        

The Town Clerk of Union, Maine, sent P.C. Harding, of Union, who took the first two volumes of the Town Records, which I have had since September last, with a view to preparing Sketches of Union.

            The first meeting of the inhabitants of Cambridge since the adoption of the their city charter. Rev. James D. Green, a native of Malden, settled in the ministry at Lynn, subsequently at East Cambridge, & for the last two years or so a resident of Old Cambridge & who has been two or three sessions a Representative in the Massachusetts Legislature, was elected Mayor.

April 15, 1846

             Finished Dickens's interesting novel. 

April 16, 1846

             Walked to Gore Hall etc. towards night – the first day I have crossed the threshold of my room since April 4^th. 

April 18, 1846

            Spent all day at the College Library. In the afternoon the company which was most interesting consisted of a party viz. Rev. Moses B. Chase, Chaplain of the Ohio, formerly an Episcopal clergyman at Hopkinton, N.H., with his wife whose maiden name was Joynes, whom he married while a clergyman in Virginia; –  Mrs. Thatcher of Mercer, Maine, widow of Judge Eben Thatcher & Mrs. Holmes, widow of John Holmes, late U.S. Senator from Maine & previously widow of Swan, both daughters of Gen. Henry Knox, of Thomaston, Maine, the distinguished commander of the artillery in the Revolutionary War; & Lieutenant Thacher of the U.S. Navy commanding the Ohio, son of widow Thatcher, with his wife. The daughters of General Knox of course arrested my attention particularly – ladies of great refinement & propriety of deportment & grace. After spending two or three hours in looking at the curiosities, getting a glimpse of the Mastodon which is partly put up in the mineral room & seeing the only book the College Library contains which was printed for General Knox while he was a bookbinder in Boston before he joined the army, we went to Mr. Chase's where we took tea together.

             Received Curwen's Journal from the Editor. 

April 19, 1846

            Sunday. In my room & on my bed part of the day. 

April 22, 1846

            Wednesday. Rode to Boston & back. Stage-fare raised from 15 to 20 cents. Purchased books at auction for the College Library. 

April 23, 1846

            Thursday. At Auction again in Boston. Books almost thrown away. – Called on several publishers, etc. of the "Orthodox" denomination, who seem quite pleased with the idea of sending pamphlets, etc. gratuitously to the College Library. Received such gifts with assurances of more from N. Willis (father of N. P. Willis), former editor of the Boston Recorder, Martin Moore, present Editor, B. Perkins, bookseller, etc.  etc. Order of Procession for the Inauguration published in newspapers.

 April 27, 1846

             Monday. At Mr. G. Livermore's – saw a notice calling a meeting at the Liberty Tree in Boston to hear the resignation of A. Oliver, Stamp Distributor, in these words:

 
"St-p!   St-p!   St-p!   No:

 
"Tuesday – Morning, December 17, 1765.

The True-born Sons of Liberty, are desired to meet under Liberty-Tree, at XII o'Clock, This Day, to hear the public Resignation, under Oath, of Andrew Oliver, Esq; Distributor of Stamps for the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay.

"A Resignation? Yes."

                                                                                                 "MY. Sec'y"

  The "My. Sec'y" was put upon the notice with a pen, though it may have designated something which was understood among the Sons of Liberty. Oliver was obliged to resign. The Liberty tree stood near the head of Essex Street, in Washington Street, nearly opposite Boylston Street, & was cut down by the British during the siege of Boston. The British associations with it were not very agreeable probably, as it was the rallying place of the rebels.

             Not being able to attend church yesterday, I composed within twenty-four hours from the time I first had an intention of doing it, the following lines, in view of the approaching inauguration. More time would have made them better. A person must practise to write well and I have not often been guilty of practising poetry. Still they may amuse me hereafter.

 
            Amid the forest-wild, beneath

The azure dome of the God above,

An altar here our fathers raised

To Learning, Liberty, and Love.

 
            This holy place, endeared by toil,

And tears, and prayers, the children claim –

They are but one, though scattered wide;

But one—the beating heart the same.

The sylvan shades and classic halls,

The walks, the graves, the absent, dead,

And guides in youth – a numerous host—

And heroes who for freedom bled: –

How fast they rise – how strong they bind

Each heart to heart and mind to mind.

            Around this hallowed spot we come,

And welcome on the swelling tide

Our Alma Mater's favorite child

The feet of rising sons to guide.

O God! This sacred season bless.

The heart is full.  The season bless,

            And grant that we the armor bear

Of Christian love and Christian power,

And, faithful to the altar raised

Beneath Thy dome, in peril's hour

Stand forth like champions from above

And wield the sceptre of Thy love.

 
             Everything seems to give note of preparation for the approaching Inauguration. Marshals are chosen by the Theological & Law students & the several classes of undergraduates & meet Colonel George T. Bigelow, the Chief Marshal to make arrangements. The appearance of students about the College is rather that of students on holidays than in term time. The order as published in newspapers reads thus:

 "Inauguration of President of Harvard College.

 The inauguration of Hon. Edward Everett, LL.D., as President of Harvard College will take place on Thursday, the 30^th day of April, with appropriate ceremonies, in the First Church in Cambridge.

Invited guests, and other persons designated in the order of procession, will assemble at Gore Hall, which will be opened at 10 o'clock, A.M. At 11 o'clock, a procession will be formed, in the following order:

 Undergraduates in the Order of the Classes.

Resident Graduates & members of the Divinity and Law Schools.

Librarian with the College Seal and Charter.

Steward with the College Keys.

Members of the Corporation.

Professors & all other Officers of Instruction & Government in the University

Ex-President Quincy & former Members of the Corporation.

Ex-Professors.

Sheriffs of Suffolk and Middlesex

His Excellency the Governor and the President Elect.

The Governor's Aids.

His Honor the Lieutenant Governor & the Adjutant General

The Honorable and Reverend Overseers.

Trustees of the Hopkins Fund.

Committee of the Boylston Medical Prize Questions.

Committees of Examination for the present year.

Guests specially invited.

Presidents & Professors of other Colleges in New England.

Professors in Theological, Law, & Medical Schools in Massachusetts

Judges of the State and United States Courts.

Other Officers of those Courts.

Secretary and Treasurer of the Commonwealth.

Members of the House of Representatives.

Mayor, Aldermen, President of the Common Council, & late Selectmen of Cambridge

Town Clerk, and Treasurer of Cambridge

Alumni of the College.

The church will be opened, for the admission of Ladies only, to the galleries, at 10 o'clock A.M.

           After the ceremonies in the church, the Procession will again be formed at Gore Hall, and proceed thence to Harvard Hall, where a dinner will be provided.

                                                                         "George Tyler Bigelow, Chief Marshal"

 April 29, 1846

             The Summer House of Rev. John G. Palfrey, D.D., LL.D., Secretary of the Commonwealth, which stood a short distance beyond his house north of Divinity Hall was burned last night, the fire breaking out about 11 3/4 o'clock. It was built of parts of the old pulpit of the Rev. Dr. Osgood's meeting-house in Medford. The great pulpit window, with its pilasters was the back of the summer house & the sounding board the roof, the first sermon ever preached under the sounding board was by the celebrated George Whitefield who officiated at the dedication of the church.  This 'tis said is the first fire which has ever happened "in the City of Cambridge."

            The meeting house in Cambridge in which Whitefield preached & Washington worshipped when his head-quarters were in Cambridge, in which Commencements were held during its existence, was taken down when the present meeting-house was erected on the Southside of the old burial ground. The old church stood south of Dane Hall & crowded upon Harvard Street. The summer house was set on fire.

             An attempt was made last Saturday night & another last night to burn Massachusetts Hall by building fires against the doors in the lower story.

             Among the waggish manoeuvres a notice was put upon the advertising board a few days ago requesting all the students to carry the keys of their doors to the Steward's office to-day as he would want them to carry them in the procession to-morrow to the Inauguration.

 April 30, 1846

            Cambridge has been buried with dust for many days as deep as at anytime in summer. Last evening it began to rain & this morning rain fell in torrents. Still the violence of it did not last long, though through the day there were occasional showers, & it was cloudy. The procession went at the hour appointed, from Gore Hall south door, & passed up on the west side of the building then by the South & West sides of University Hall to Holworthy east entry, then to Stoughton, passing on the East of that & of Hollis till it came opposite to the gate between Massachusetts & Harvard Hall where it passed to the meetinghouse, & when the head of the procession had reached the meeting house the rear was leaving Gore Hall. No part of the procession opened but all went in in the order announced, were counted off, & packed as it were, in the pews, so that no vacant seat should exist. No persons had previously been admitted to the lower floor, ladies had filled the gallery, the President had the privilege of giving as many passes as he chose to his friends to go to the front of the gallery which was barred off & each officer had two passes, though the officers themselves & others generally admitted that this indulgence to themselves was unjust & not to have been granted. The house was thronged, so that people stood in filled the aisles during the exercises.

            With the exception of the voluntary, which was through an oversight of the Marshal omitted, the exercises took place according to the following printed specification:

 
"Order of the Day

at the

Inauguration of Hon. Edward Everett, LL.D.

as

President of Harvard University,

in the

First Church in Cambridge