Missed Prayers this morning according to privilege, which I do enjoy most exceedingly, it comes more pleasantly as it is more rare. After breakfast I did very little until the time for Chapel, merely writing my Journal. I attended and heard Dr. Ware preach an amazingly long and dry sermon, which put me to sleep although I had reasonably refreshed myself last night. The President has gone to the Springs for the recovery of his health which would be in bad order from all the accounts we receive of it in the Prayers.

In the afternoon, I took up Shakespeare’s “All’s well that end’s well” and could not stop until I finished it although I was conscious that by it, I retarded my Journal and every thing else for a season. It was so interesting however that I could not help it. There is much fault in the plot of the play, I think, and generally I should call it by no means one of Shakespeare’s best, yet the humour of the clown is remarkable and Monsieur Parolles is no inaccurate hit at an extremely common character, but nevertheless difficult to draw. I did then intend to have slept away the heat but I recollected Paley was not read which stopped me immediately and I went over it attentively. I was however prevented from studying quite as much as usual by the entrance of Mr. John Howard, who dined here, spent the afternoon at Otis’ and just called in to see me. It is a more difficult thing to get along with this man than with any one I know. He has I know not what about him which debars all conversation on any pleasant subject. His stiffness, 258his affectation and his vanity have so run away with him that it is out of the question to speak of any thing but self with him and this is too sickening for me to attempt. He has some high feelings too, and in a short reference to the conduct of the Porcellians, I was amused at his vivacity, and force in his reply. Thus we remained until the time for another sermon from Dr. Ware which was dryly and heavily passed, in vain attention to him. The Chapel was amazingly warm however and prevented all comfort or ease even in sleep.

After tea, I took a walk with Richardson and upon returning went with Sheafe to Willard’s for a little refreshment this exceedingly hot night. We met Rundlet there and spent an hour in conversation of some sort or other, principally on the old and, I should suppose the worn out subject of College popularity, and affairs. This company has interested us so much of late that we have talked more about it than we otherwise should have done, at least I should for I had no idea of becoming interested in the matter. We remained here longer than I intended and on my return, I found it was the doleful week in which we had to study our lessons in the Evening, which I accordingly did and read my Bible and retired. X:30.