Warm. To Cambridge. Examination, home, head ach.

A very unusual thing with me my head ach continued through the night and troubled me all day though not sufficiently so to be positively disqualifying. Arose early and rode to Cambridge through Roxbury, Brookline and part of Brighton. I have never seen the country look more beautifully. The crops are all reaching maturity and these towns by their nearness to the market are becoming perfect gardens. Certainly the prosperity of this part of the country resting as it does so largely upon industry is wonderful.

Attended the examination of the last division of the Sophomore Class in Alcestis of Euripides and Electra of Sophocles. It was very indifferent. The young men were either of the lazy or the stupid and made but a poor figure. There was no other member of the Committee present, but they called in two supernumeraries, Mr. Dixwell the teacher of the Latin School, and Mr. McKean. The dinner afterwards was very stupid, and much smaller than usual. I recollected Dr. Frothingham’s remark how stupid they were, and how true it struck me upon this occasion.

Returned home through town. Finished the first volume of the Annals of Tacitus, and worked a little upon my ground. Evening at the Mansion but my head prevented me from taking much pleasure in it.