Arose and after breakfast commenced my preparations for departure. This house is today to lose many of it’s late inmates, some perhaps never to return to it. I did not feel extremely grieved at going as it is not a place of happiness for me. I am too much attached to my own little personal comforts to be perfectly content where I cannot enjoy them all. I had a little and very little conversation with my Father on the subject of my debts and future situation but I obtained my request and am in future to act somewhat more like an independent man. I am to have no further connection with my Uncle but I am to receive monthly payments from George at the rate of fifty dollars a month. After this very satisfactory communication and a leave taking of my Grandfather, who seemed to be in low spirits enough, I departed with George in a chaise and took the direction to Boston through Cambridge at which last named place, I stopped to enter my name and prepare my room for my reception tomorrow. I then went to town and arrived at Mr. Cruft’s at the precise time that my Father and Mother had got there from Quincy. I dined here with her and the family. I like Mr. Cruft although he has very little of the courtier in his manners. When you know him however to be so entirely sincere, it makes up very considerably.

In the afternoon I did two or three little services for my mother and rode out with her but spent most of my time in her company. Mrs. Pickman was here this Evening, the sister of his wife.1 She is a good sort of a woman without much beauty or much any thing to recommend her that I know of. Mr. Cruft did not come in until pretty late, but the Evenings grow quite long. Soon after tea my Father and George arrived from Mr. John Welles’s2 where they had dined. Mr. 334Pickman came in and then the whole of Fosters who came in and sat until it was time for me to go. I took my leave and walked with George to his room stopping to inform Elizabeth when she should be ready tomorrow and bid her Goodbye. I had some conversation with George on “secrets worth knowing”3 and then went to sleep. X:30.

Arose and dressed myself quickly in order to get to Mr. Cruft’s in time to see my father and mother again before they went. We got there soon and breakfasted with them. The stage arrived earlier than was expected but we delayed them. Our leave was taken at last and I felt inclined to be sorry for a few moments and but a few. I think I am much happier when they are not here as they come now, for I am so anxious on account of my mother’s health and every thing is so out of order and regularity that I have but little comfort. This is the last time however that such a visit will be made. I received a letter from John1 at Mr. Cruft’s which confirmed me in my opinion on a certain subject, if I was in any degree doubtful before. After they had fairly started, I went to my brother’s room where I spent the morning, reading and talking with him. While here, I ran through a small publication lately made, called the Manuscript of Knickerbocker Jr., a close imitation of Irving and a total failure. I was very much disgusted. I arranged my accounts, received some money and talked politics with George until the Cambridge Stage came, and called me to the old town of towns which I return to with pleasure increased by the idea that I am on the last heat of the race.

I was employed part of the afternoon in again arranging my books which the late painting has very much disordered and then wrote my Journal which had fallen back two days as I had no opportunity of writing it yesterday. Sheafe arrived yesterday, Otis and Richardson were here early in the afternoon so that the whole future Lyceum had got here in excellent Season. It looks and feels small as we have been accustomed to think of six inmates to it. They came down and sat with me sometime except Sheafe, who had gone to town, and we talked on old matters. Moreover we all appeared exceedingly glad to get back again which is a sure sign that College is not such an unpleasant place 335as it might be. I was at Otis’s part of the Evening and writing up my Journal in my own, making up my Index,2 taking up my Bible and finally reading Pope’s first Moral Essay on the characters of men, in this way resuming all my old associations and retiring content. XI.