Diary of John Quincy Adams, volume 2
1786-07-10
We recite this week to Mr. Hale; with whom we shall probably finish Locke: and next Quarter we begin in Reid on the mind.1 It is said at present that Mr. Hale, does not intend to leave College: and he is determined to see what direction the Storm, that has lately been raised by Honestus,2 will take, before he goes upon the practice of the Law. It is not very agreeable news here; though there will never be a Tutor I believe, who will be so easily satisfied at recitations, as he is. Mr. Williams brought some Letters for me, up, from Boston, dated as late as May 26th.3
We had a meeting of the A B. Gardiner Chandler, gave us an 64Oration on Patriotism. Harris read an indifferent piece of Poetry, and the others read essays. There were only six of us Present.
Thomas Reid, An Inquiry into the Human Mind, On the Principles of Common Sense, 4th edn., corrected, London, 1785. This is JQA's copy, now at MQA, which he may have owned at this time or used in his senior year.
Under the pseudonym “Honestus,” Benjamin Austin had published articles in the Boston Independent Chronicle, between March and June which attacked the legal procedures in the Commonwealth and called for the abolition of lawyers, a profession which had become prosperous, it was alleged, during a period of economic hardship for others.
Probably AA to JQA, 22 May; JA to JQA, 26 May; and possibly AA2 to JQA, 25–29 April (Adams Papers).
1786-07-11
We did not recite this day. As the quarter draws near to a close, the Students are falling off quite fast. A third of our Class are absent now. This day completes my 19th. year. I finished studying for this Quarter.
1786-07-12
The freshmen carry their enmity against the Sophimores, a great deal too far. They injure themselves both in the eyes, of the other Class, and in those of the government. This afternoon while Cabot, was declaiming, they kept up a continual groaning, and shuffling, and hissing as almost prevented him from going through. The freshmen, in the end will suffer for their folly, and before they get out of College, will repent it.
1786-07-13
We finished with Locke this morning, and were told to begin next Quarter, in Reid. In the afternoon we set off for Braintree, where we shall remain till commencement. All the Scholars, are put out of commons every year, the Friday before, so that the dinner may be prepared. We got home at about 6 o'clock. We found Mr. Weld, and Mr. Wibird here, and Miss Hannah Hiller, a friend of Miss Betsey's. About 15 I fancy, a beautiful countenance, and fine shape; but very unsociable owing either to too much diffidence, or to a phlegmatic constitution; which her countenance seems to express. The generality of our young Ladies are so apt to fall into the other extreme, that this now 65pleases me because it gives some variety, and furnishes matter for observations of a different kind.