Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2

19th. JQA

1786-07-19

19th. Adams, John Quincy
19th.

At about 7 1/2 in the morning I set out for Cambridge, and arrived there just as the Clock struck ten. I found the Crowd large. At about half after eleven the procession arrived and took their Seats in the meeting house. The performances began, with a Salutatory Latin Oration by Champlin, which was followed by a Poem on Commerce by Fowle, which was very good. A Syllogistic on the Question whether the Soul thinks between Death and resurrection. Bradford respondent. A Forensic, “whether religious disputation promotes the interests of true Piety,” supported by Crosby, and denied by Bigelow extremely well. A Poem, containing a sketch of the history of Poetry, by S. Gardiner, well written, and well delivered. A Syllogistic, “whether virtue consists in benevolence alone,” Norton respondent. A greek dialogue, between Lincoln, and Warland. A Forensic between Lowell and Taylor. “Whether the happiness of a People depends upon the Constitution, or upon the administration of it.” Lowell had as many antic tricks, and made as many grimaces, as any ape could have done. A Syllogistic, whether the mosaic account of the creation respects the solar System only. Simpkins respondent. A Conference upon History, Metaphysics, Poetry and natural Philosophy, between Parker, Dwight, Harris, and Hubbard, this Closed the morning performances, though it was past 3 o'clock.1 I returned to the meeting house, at half past four, but the procession did not come till near 6. There were then. A Latin Oration by Andrews,2 a Forensic “Whether the Powers of Congress ought to be enlarged” between Sullivan and Loring, who maintained the wrong side of the Question by far the best.3 A Syllogistic Whether the heavenly bodies produce certain changes upon animal bodies. Wyeth respondent. Part of this was omitted which caused a pretty general clap, and finally an English Oration by Blake;4 which did him credit.

The candidates for Master's degrees then came on, and an English Oration upon the present situation of affairs, was delivered by Mr. H. G. Otis, and after they had gone through the ceremony of receiving the degrees, a valedictory Latin Oration was spoken by Mr. Townsend.5 The president then wound all up with a prayer. The house was as full as it could hold, and there was a little disturbance happened in the afternoon about some places. The Class are rather disappointed by the absence of their favor-68 image ite Thomson who is so unwell, as prevented him from appearing this day.

I spent great part of the evening with Bridge. The new Sirs, got quite high, at Derby's chamber, and made considerable of a noise.

1.

The English oration by Thomas Thompson, which was to follow, was canceled because of his illness. Thompson's subject was “The obligation nations are under to keep their faith, fulfill their engagements and in all respects govern themselves by the strictest rules of justice; and the influence of such a conduct upon the public prosperity and happiness; with wishes that the United States of America may thus distinguish themselves” (MH-Ar: Faculty Records, 5:230–231).

2.

Upon “The importance of the Public's doing every thing in their power to promote the interests of the University; in which oration our political Fathers were particularly addressed, and their patronage warmly bespoken” (same, p. 231).

3.

The faculty records list Joseph Loring's name first, presumably taking the affirmative (same).

4.

Upon “The love of true glory, and its happy tendency, when united with public Spirit in virtuous men, to excite and engage them to accomplish themselves for great usefulness in the world—and the importance of fostering such a disposition” (same, p. 232).

5.

Horatio Townsend, of Medfield, who studied law with JQA in the Newburyport office of Theophilus Parsons and later practiced in Norfolk co. (History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, comp. D. Hamilton Hurd, Phila., 1884, p. 15).

20th. JQA

1786-07-20

20th. Adams, John Quincy
20th.
A List of the Class that graduated yesterday.
John Andrews Divinity.1
Samuel Andrews Law
x John Bartlett  died in 1786.
Timothy Bigelow Law
Joseph Blake Do.
Samuel Borland
Nathaniel Bowman Physic.
Alden Bradford Divinity
Christopher Grant Champlin
Daniel Colt
Amos Crosby +
William Cutler Physic.
John Derby Commerce
William Dodge Sea
Josiah Dwight
Robert Fowle Divinity.
Elias Elisha Gardener
Samuel Pickering Gardener Commerce
69
John Gibaut Sailor
Robert Gray Settled at Dover Divinity.
James Gray
William Harris Divinity.
Ebenezer Hill
Nathaniel Howe
Dudley Hubbard Law
Jonathan Leonard
Henry Lincoln Divinity
Joseph Loring Physic
John Lowell Law
Porter Lummus
Jacob Norton + Settled at Weymouth Divinity.
Isaac Parker Law
David Pearce Commerce.
Thaddeus Pomeroy
Jonathan Edwards Porter
Isaac Rand
John Simpkins Divinity
x James Sullivan + died in 1787.
John Taylor Law
Joseph Thomas
Thomas Thompson Law
John Eugene Tyler
x John Warland died in 1788
Joseph Warren
Tapley Wyeth + Physic

I set out from Cambridge between eight and nine. Stop'd and dined at General Warren's in Milton; and got home at about 4 o'clock. Mr. Shaw and my brother Tom, arrived soon after me.

1.

Death dates and occupations were probably added on at least two separate occasions. The reason for the crosses after the names of Crosby, Norton, Sullivan, and Wyeth is uncertain.