Browsing: Diary of John Quincy Adams, Volume 2

Mr. Hutchinson sailed yesterday for Ireland. The weather for several days past has been quite moderate; but this afternoon blew up very cold again. I pass'd the evening with Townsend and Pickman at Dr. Sawyer's. Play'd quadrill with Mrs. Sawyer and Mrs. Hay; the family is very agreeable.

The severity of the weather has been increasing, and is this night but little inferior to the greatest extremities of the winter. Our social club, met this evening at Little's. The walk was rather long, and bleak; but our enjoyment was sufficient to compensate for that. Notwithstanding Mrs. Jones's opinion, I confess I do not dislike clubs. I think they may be sociable and friendly without being slavish.

A number of us spent the evening at Dr. Swett's. I play'd on the flute, an hour or so.

I have heretofore mentioned Mrs. Swett. The Doctor perhaps may come under the denomination of a reformed rake: in his youth he was wild; but he has become quite a useful man: Such instances are rare!

The weather is very severe: The month comes in like a Lion, and according to the farmer's proverb it must go out like a Lamb. I passed my evening in contemplation, and in writing at home; and have very Little to say for this day.

We had no meeting at Parson Carey's. I was employ'd in writing all the forenoon; but after dinner, went to hear Mr. Spring. The speculative sentiments of this gentleman, upon religion, are not such as I should admire. They may I think safely be called illiberal; though I am sensible such charges, are not in general very liberal. He has adopted all the fancies of the Hop• {p. 370} kintonian sect1 as they are called. These people while they profess to found their system entirely upon disinterested benevolence, by what appears to me a strange inconsistency, suppose that it may be agreeable to the general plan of the supreme being, to condemn to eternal torments all the human race except such as have experienced the effect of saving grace; The point upon which Mr. Spring continually harps; is that holiness consists in a total exemption from all selfish ideas, and that all sin originates in selfishness. I suppose he has not preach'd a sermon these ten years without introducing those favorite sentiments: his repetitions are so frequent; that they become very tiresome, to one whom they cannot convince. But his delivery is very agreeable; there is an earnestness and a solemnity in his manner which I wish I could find in preachers whose doctrines are more comformable to my ideas of truth.