Diary of John Adams, volume 1

Monday 23 October.

Wednesday 25 October.

Tuesday [24 October]. JA

1758-10-24

Tuesday [24 October]. Adams, John
Tuesday 24 October.

Rode to Boston. Arrived about 1/2 after 10. Went into the Court House, and sett down by Mr. Paine att the Lawyers Table. I felt Shy, under Awe and concern, for Mr. Gridley, Mr. Prat, Mr. Otis,1 Mr. Kent,2 and Mr. Thatcher were all present and looked sour. I had no Acquaintance with any Body but Paine and Quincy and they took but little Notice. However I attended Court Steadily all Day, and at night, went to Consort with Samll. Quincy and Dr. Gardiner.3 There I saw the most Spacious and elegant Room, the gayest Company of Gentlemen and the finest Row of Ladies, that ever I saw. But the weather was so dull and I so disordered that I could not make one half the observations that I wanted to make.

1.

James Otis Jr. (1725–1783), Harvard 1743, the celebrated lawyer and pamphleteer.

2.

Benjamin Kent (1708–1788), Harvard 1727, another leading lawyer and later attorney general of the Province.

3.

Silvester Gardiner (1707–1786), Boston physician and druggist; founder of Gardiner, Maine; one of JA’s early law clients.