I was up very early this morning and got ready to start for town in good season. My Wife accompanied me and was left at Mrs. Frothingham’s while I went to the office and was called for by the carriage at eight o’clock to take me to Cambridge. Judge Merril, the chairman of the Committee was the only person with me, the other members being unable to go. We reached the hall before any body was stirring, but soon after we found the Tutor and the President. We had Mr. J. C. Gray with us too.

The examination was of the Freshman class, one section in the fifth and sixth books of Herodotus, and the other two in the first and second of Thucydides. The recitations were many of them very good. Indeed I thought very well trained. But there is one defect in this system of division according to proficiency, that it makes the worst division not merely bad but without desire to be better. Thucydides is an author hardly to be read with profit by boys so young. But I was satisfied that the system of instruction had improved much since my day, if this class was the standard of education in Greek. We dined in the Corporation room, President Quincy presiding and the usual number of proctors and tutors present. There was also a certain Dr. Adams.

Returned to town and I had time to go to my House and then to Hancock Street to see the House vacated there by Miss Oliver, then to the Office where I was busied in accounts. At five I called for my Wife and we returned to Quincy. Evening quiet at home.