Earliest Diary and Autobiography of John Adams Volume 1, June 1753 – April 1754, September 1758 – January 1759 Front Matter Title Page Copyright Page Sponsors of Print Edition Advisory Board Contents Descriptive List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Editorial Method and Apparatus Documents Introduction[view document]... [view document]... 1753 June 1753 8 June 1753Harvard Colledge June 8th. 1753.8 Friday.At Colledge. A Clowdy, Dull morning, and so continued till about 5 a Clock, when it began to rain moderately But continued not long, But remained Clow... 9 June 17539 Saturday.At Colledge, the weather still remaining Clowdy all Day, till 6 o’Clock, when the Clowds were Dissipated, and the sun brake forth in all his glory. ... 10 June 175310 Sunday.At Colledge a clear morning. Heard Mr. Appleton expound those words in 1. Cor. 12 Chapt. 7 first verses, and in the afternoon heard him preach from th... 11 June 1753Monday 11 June.At Colledge, a fair morning, and pretty warm. About 2 o’Clock there appeared some symptoms of an approaching shower, attended with some thunder, and l... 12 June 1753Tuesday 12 June.At Colledge, a Clowdy morning, heard Dr. Wigglesworth Preach from the 20 Chapter of exodus 8, 9 and 10th. Verses. ... 13 June 175313 Wednesday.At Colledge, a Cloudy morning, about 10 o’Clock the Sun shone out very warm, but about 12 the heat was, in part, allayed By the rising of the wind. ... 14 June 175314 Thurdsday.At Colledge, a Clear, warm, morning But about 2 o’Clock came up a very hard shower, acompanied with some thunder and lightning. ... 15 June 175315 Fryday.At Colledge, a Clear, warm morning, and so Continued. ... 16 June 175316 Saturday.At Colledge, a fair morning, but, not very warm. ... 17 June 175317 Sunday.At Colledge, sunshiny-morning, heard Mr. Appleton expound those words in 1. Cor. 12 Chap, from 7, to the end of 11 verse, in the afternoon heard him p... 18 June 175318 Monday.At Colledge, a warm morning, at 11 ’Clock read Theses on this question, (viz) antliarum et siphonum phaenomina solvuntur ex gravitate aeris. ... 19 June 175319 Tuesday.At Colledge, a very warm morning, at 11 Disputed on this question (viz) systema Copernicanum est verum mundi systema. ... 20 June 175320 Wednesday.At Colledge, a most Charming and Beautifull Scene is this morning displayed. All nature wears a Chearfull garb, after so plentifull a Shower as we wer... 21 June 175321 Thurdsday.At Colledge, a warm morning, and Something windy, about Sunset Came up a very hard shower attended with some Thunder, and very Sharp lightning. ... 22 June 175322 Fryday.At Colledge, a Charming, pleasant morning, read Dr. Niewentyts Demonstration Concerning the rays of light emitted from a Burning Candle in a second of... 23 June 175323 Saturday.At Colledge, a Clowdy morning, and in the afternoon, Came up a Clowd of thunder and lightning. Towards night fell a very hard shower. ... 24 June 175324 Sunday.At Colledge, a Cloudy morning, heard Mr. Cotton of New-town vociferate from the 19. of Proverbs 2nd verse. In the afternoon, from those words in the 3... 25 June 175325. Monday.At Colledge, a very rainy, morning, at 11 o’Clock Disputed from the question assigned us last tuesday But on which we Did not then Dispute By reason o... 26 June 175326 Tuesday.At Colledge, a very rainy Day, as it has remained since yesterday-morning. By reason of my illness omitted Disputing from this question, generalia aes... 27 June 175327 Wednesday.At Colledge. A Clowdy morning. Afternoon, together with Lock, took a ride to Watertown-Bridge and from thence round through Brookline Back to Colledge... 28 June 175328. Thurdsday.At Colledge, a Clowdy-Day. ... 29 June 175329 Fryday.At Colledge, a Clear morning. Heard the valedictory oration, pronounced, By Oliver. 2 o Clock set out for Boston, Designing to go from thence home. ... 29 June 175331 January 175429 June 1753–January 1754.Sat out from Boston, home where having tarried 7, or 8 Days I set out on a journey together with Mr. Adams to Piscataqua, to which I went By way of Li... 1754 February 1754 1 February 175428 February 1754February 1754.This winter, we had a vacation. In the winter of 1754 we had no snow at all save a smattering or two, But perpetuall rains and warm weather thro’ought... March 1754 1 March 175431 March 1754March 1754.Beginningof March Had a small flurry of snow. ... 8 March 1754March 8th.A Clowdy morning. I am now reading my lord Orrerys letters to his son Concerning Dr. Swift and his writings, which for softness and delicacy of style,... 17 March 175417? March 1754.Kept sabath at Cambridge. March about the middle. ... 18 March 1754March 18th.In the Evening we had several very sharp flashes of lightning, attended with a Distant grumbling of thunder. ... 19 March 175419 March 1754.This morning is beyond description, Beautyfull, the Skie bespangled with Clouds which shed a lustre on us by the refraction of the rays of light, toge... 1758 1 October 175831 December 1758On the Law of Nature and the Moral Sense among Animals and among Men, October–December 1758.Query. Has any Species of Animals, besides Mankind, ever given Proofs that they have any idea of Justice, of Right or Wrong. That they have any Discer... 1754 April 1754 1 April 1754April 1st. 1754. ... 1758 1 December 175831 January 1759Notes on Civil Law, December 1758–January 1759.Sequestration is when two, or more, deposit a controverted Thing, with a 3d Person, on that Condition, that he, at the Conclusion of the suit, Dispute... 1 October 175831 December 1758Rules for Determining the Excellence of a Language, October–December 1758.What are the Rules, Criteria, to determine the Merit or Excellence of a Language?—Suppose you was to examine, which was the best, and which the worst ... 1754 April 1754 1 April 1754Winthrop’s Lectures on Experimental Philosophy. April 1st. 1754.Mr. Winthrop began a series of Experimental Phylosophy, and in the 1st place he explained to us the meaning, nature, and excellence of natural phyloso... 3 April 1754April 3d. 1754.The second lecture, which was wholly taken up in explaining the Propertys of the Centers of gravity and motion, which were applyed to the instruments,... 5 April 1754April 5th. 1754.The theory of the Ballance, scales, steel-yard &c. and the 3 species of lever’s continued to which (viz) the lever he referred allmost all the instru... 6 April 1754April 6th. 1754. The nature of the Pulley, axis in peritrochaeo, and inclined Plane explained, which all depend on the laws before laid down (viz) that the quantity o... 8 April 1754April 8th. 1754.The Theory of simple machines and in particular of the inclined plane, of the wedge and screw, and other machines compounded of these simple ones, fin... 9 April 1754April 9 1754.Sir Isaac Newtons three laws of nature proved and illustrated, together with the application of them to the planets, which are kept in their orbits by... 10 April 1754April 10, 1754.The theory of Centrifugal forces, continued; and aplyed to the Cases of the planets; and from this Centrifugal force, Mr. Winthrop confuted the hypoth... 11 April 1754April 11 1754.Some thing’s observed concerning gravity, which encreases as you approach the Center of the earth in a reciprocal proportion of the squares of the dis... 1758 1 October 175830 November 1758Letters to Three Friends on Studying Law, October–November 1758.Mon Ami My letters, for the future will come to you, not from a School House but from the Cell of an Hermit. I am removed from Worcester to Braintree... 1 October 175831 December 1758On Some Friends Who Nourish Wounds in Their Hearts, October–December 1758.Vulnus alit Venis, et caeco carpitur igni. Alo, alere, alui, alitum, to nourish. Vulnus, a Wound or Hurt. Carpo, carpere, carpsi, carptum, to waste aw... 1 October 175831 December 1758A Letter to Richard Cranch about Orlinda, a Letter on Employing One’s Mind, and Reflections on Procrastination, Genius, Moving the Passions, Cicero as Orator, Milton’s Style, &c., October–December 1758.What is Wisdom? Is it, to write dramatic Poetry, like Milton or Shakespear? Is it to write on Astronomy and Physicks like Newton, or is it to know the... Document Group Part Editorial Note on the Case of Field v. LambertBy L. Kinvin Wroth and Hiller B. Zobel 1 December 175831 December 1758The Case of Field v. Lambert, December 1758.The Mistery of Masonry not Freemasonry, comprehends the Plaistering of Walls and Cielings, as well as the Laying of Bricks and building Chimneys, so t... October 1758 1 October 175831 October 1758A Letter to William Crawford Telling “How I Live,” October 1758.How it is with you I know not, but if I am rightly informed, I am yet alive and not dead. And to prove it to you, I will tell you how I live. I sleep,... Document Group Part 1 December 175831 December 1758The Case of Field v. Lambert, Continued, December 1758.2 Horses—10th. of Octr. 1758. One Pound L.M. To answer Joseph Field &c. in a Plea of Trespass, for that the said Luke Lambert, at Braintree aforesaid,... December 1758 1 December 175831 December 1758On Indigence at Home, December 1758. They will hardly emerge from Obscurity, whose Virtues are obstructed by Indigence at home. To whose Virtues, a narrow Thing at home opposes. ... Document Group Part 1 December 175831 December 1758The Case of Field v. Lambert, Continued, December 1758.For that the said Luke, on the 10th of Octr. last, with force and Arms entered the said Josephs Close in Braintree aforesaid, and then and there wi... 1 October 175831 December 1758A List of Pleadings, October–December 1758.Bond to give Deed. † Trespass on the Case vs. Sherriff for the Default of his Deputy. † Case by Baron and feme vs. Executor, on a Promise made to the ... 1 October 175831 December 1758Notes on Probate Law, October–December 1758.Tis absurd, for a Testator to say, after he has devised his Lands to one in fee, that they shall go over to another. There is no Remainder to an Esta... 1 October 175830 November 1758A Letter to William Crawford, Describing a Visit to Boston, October–November 1758.Mr. Crawford. Am returned from Boston, and according to my Promise begining to write you a Discription or a History of what I saw, and heard, &c. I ... 1 December 175831 January 1759Further Notes on Civil Law, December 1758–January 1759.Judicial stipulations are those which proceed from the mere Office of a Judge, as Surety vs. fraud pursuing a servant, who is in flight. Surety conce... 1 October 175831 December 1758Shakespeare’s Characters and Figurative Language, October–December 1758.Shakespeare, in the Character of Lady Mackbeth, and of Gertrude, the Wife of old Hamlet, and afterwards of King Claudius, and in the Character of Lady... 1 December 175831 January 1759On a Petition from Braintree Troops Enlisted for the Expedition against Canada, December 1758–January 1759.The general Court agreed to raise 7000 men, to cooperate with his Majesties Forces, for the Reduction of Canada. Agreed, consented by a Vote an Order ...
