Arose this morning very much refreshed although in very low spirits on account of the loss of my trunk, for I had been thinking over all my journal and the destruction of my future plans, of which this book was one. But I was obliged to be patient. The weather had turned into rain. On coming to breakfast I was again thrown into the society of my friend Captain Pedrick, and had a better opportunity of knowing the man than before. The morning was spent at Worcester until the Springfield stage arrived when the Captain and myself got in to come on. He had come yesterday in the mail waggon from Hartford and had arrived very tired and having passed through many dangers of flood and field. He had been tumbled into the water, in the mud and met with various other accidents which he related in an amusing manner.

He is a good natured, good hearted man and had born quizzing from my yesterday’s acquaintance without murmuring. I came near getting into quite a poor business with him, as I began to be severe upon Mr. Gist’s doctrine of steam boats or carriages and laughed at his enthusiasm when he checked me suddenly by a serious belief in his doctrines only that the machinery was not known to Mr. G. as he was not versed in mechanics. He informed me that there was no difficulty in the affair at all leaving me to wonder out why it was not put in practice. The former man said that there was but one difficulty. It would not go, but this man denies that, and although he says it is of immense advantage to mankind, gives us no reason why it is not instantly put in use.

This Pedrick is a very odd and amusing character. Enthusiastic in his ideas, he made himself appear singular. His dress, travelling baggage corresponded. He had three cloaks in the stage, and mineral specimens in great numbers. He was collecting a cabinet, for his son or the lord knows who. He said nothing concerning the establishment of the distillery in St. Petersburgh as I expect he got discouraged.1  98But appeared very much rejoiced at having recovered an old debt sufficient to pay all his expenses in his journey, which was also unexpected. Mr. Edson of my Senior Class2 renowned for his piety at College was with us also. I was in fine humour or at least affected to be.

At length we arrived in Boston and I got out at Earle’s3 with a heart not so light as it might be but still rather rejoiced at the end of the journey. Took Supper and retired immediately.