Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2

24th. JQA

1787-03-24

24th. Adams, John Quincy
24th.

We had last evening a Class meeting; a petition drawn up by Little, as additional to that already presented, was read to the Class, and approved by them: the Committee, were ordered to carry it down to the President. I was employ'd the greatest part of this day in projecting my Eclipse for exhibition. The elements are as follows.

Elements.
for a solar Eclipse. May 15th. 1836. D. H. M. S.
1. True time of New Moon at Cambridge, in May 1836. 15: 9: 29: 13
° ' "
2. Semidiameter of the Earth's Disc 0: 55: 0
3. Sun's Distance from the nearest solstice 35: 17: 42
4. Sun's Declination, North 18: 58: 0
5. Moon's latitude, north ascending 0: 26: 26
6. Moon's horary motion from the Sun 0: 28: 14
7. Angle of the Moon's visible path with the ecliptic 5: 35: 0
8. Sun's Semidiameter 0: 15: 55
9. Moon's Semidiameter 0: 15: 0
10. Semidiameter of the Penumbra 0: 30: 55.

Charles watch'd at Mr. Dana's this night.

Peter Eaton1 of Haverhill was 22 the 15th. of this month. I have 185not the pleasure of an intimate acquaintance with him; but all those who have, speak well of him. As a speaker he is distinguished, and as a scholar respectable; his public exercices have been in general equal if not superior to any in the Class since I belonged to it: but he is very modest and diffident, so that he has not brought himself so much into notice, as several others in the Class, who without his abilities have a much greater share of confidence.

1.

Eaton was ordained at West Boxford in Oct. 1789 and remained there as minister throughout his life (Sidney Perley, “The Dwellings of Boxford,” Essex Inst., Hist. Colls., 29:85–86 [April–June 1892]).

25th. JQA

1787-03-25

25th. Adams, John Quincy
25th.

We heard Mr. Evans preach, all day: he attempted to be quite pathetic in the afternoon; but when art is seen through it must be disgusting; and when a person appears deeply affected upon a subject, which cannot be very interesting, we must conclude, that he grieves for the pleasure of grieving.

This night I watch'd at Mr. Dana's. I read a couple of novels in the course of the night; both of them perfectly insipid.

26th. JQA

1787-03-26

26th. Adams, John Quincy
26th.

Breakfasted at the judge's, and then returned to College. Finished the projection of my eclipse, for exhibition. Mr. Read gave out this morning to the Class, the calculation of a solar Eclipse for 1791 as the last exercice, on that score. This afternoon I calculated the elements for it.

Oliver Fiske 1 of Brookfield, will be 25. the 2d. of Septr. next. Solidity of judgment; independence of spirit, and candour of disposition, are the chief characteristics of this gentleman; as a scholar, he stands on the first line in the Class; and his honour is unblemished: his circumstances are not fortunate, and he has been often absent from College. He was with General Lincoln in Berkshire the greater part of the last winter: and wishes to follow a military life, after leaving the University: he would make I believe a very good officer, and whatever his profession may be, he will be certainly an excellent man.

1.

Fiske was a volunteer in the Revolution, and at Harvard he was instrumental in reorganizing the Marti-Mercurian Band. He studied medicine and practiced throughout his life in Worcester (William Lincoln, History of Worcester, Massachusetts, From Its Earliest Settlement to September, 1836..., Worcester, 1837, p. 259–260).

186