I arose uncommonly early this morning for the purpose of being ready when called for to go to Cambridge. Shortly after eight the carriage stopped for me on it’s way. Our party consisted of Judge Merrill, T. K. Davis, G. S. Hillard, and myself. We reached the recitation room about nine and found there F. Cunningham, another member of the Committee.1

The examination was of two sections of the Freshman class in the fifth and sixth books of Herodotus. They came in divided into four portions and consumed all the morning. The mode of examining was for the Tutor to specify a passage which was translated by the Scholar, the dialects then marked and any questions asked by the examiners which they thought proper. The members of the Committee took part, rather unequally in the examination, Judge Merril being fond of etymology and inclining to that branch. I got through with my share tolerably well. I thought Hillard seemed disposed to display knowledge. This is the first time I have met this gentleman and the impression he gave me was a very mixed one. The youths acquitted themselves very well, and I thought manifested a decided average above what it was in my day. But there was a want of fire, or deficiency of enthusiasm which was very striking. The genius which inspires is wanting.

We dined together in the Corporation room, President Quincy being with us, and then home. I was amused at the development of character made at the table. I find Merrill an ultra Tory of the most violent stamp, endeavouring to conceal it under the garb of submission to our republican Institutions. On the other hand, Hillard is an Abolitionist and a perfectibilian, at complete odds therefore, while Davis and I lean to rather liberal opinions. The President is an ultra Tory also, with liberal feelings. How we shall get on, I do not know. The dinner done, we returned to town which we reahed at about three and I immediately went out to occupy myself with the printing. Home late.

Evening to the Theatre for the first time this winter. The Hunchback. Miss Ellen Tree as Julia. The performance appeared to me very good. Miss Tree performs very correctly and in perfect taste. She appears to me deficient in the highest power, but to be well calculated for the performance of the characters she takes. I have seen three performers in this part. Miss Vincent, Miss Kemble and Miss Tree. Miss Kemble’s was the most unequal and yet the most powerful. Miss Tree’s the most proper and Miss Vincent’s the least artful of them. I think the piece a very pretty one.2 Home early.

Morning dark with snow. I went to the Office and was occupied as usual. Accounts and Diary omitted yesterday. Mr. Walsh came in and we had talk. Nothing of consequence. My time slipped away without my very clearly knowing how. Home however at the usual time, where I finished the last of the books of Livy. This has been something of an undertaking, and I think has fully compensated me for my patience. In the afternoon, read Burnet and Chateaubriand. Also Forster whose account of the Revolution of the Netherlands in 1790 supplies a vacuum in my information.

Evening to the Theatre. Shakespeare’s “As you like it.” A piece which always has a poetical charm with it to me. The wildness of the scene, the poetry and the philosophy of the text delight me. Home 189early. Read a little book, called Three Experiments of Living,1 a work of the domestic economy sort very well calculated for our Community.