Colonial North America: Harvard University Archives

to the chosen as soon as may be.

Tuesday. The overseers and corportation met. The former chose Mr. Howard to succeed Dr. Eliot as secretary to [?] board. The latter chose Mr. Lathrop & Mr. Gannett to succeed Dr. Eliot and Mr. Hall in the corporation. We had a good sociable dinner. The scholars began to appear this: & preparation to be made for the vacation.

Wednesday. Vacation. To Boston, where I proposed spending chief of [?] vacation, and pursuing the French as much as might be. Engaged to dine aboard the Sagitaire the next day.

Thursday. Mr. Gannett, Mr. Winthrop & Sir Payson called me in the morning. Capt. [D'ettbert?] of the Sagitaire sent his barge to take us on board at long wharf at 9 o'clock. We pushed from the wharf about 10. But as the wind was not fair, we were about two hours in reaching the fleet in King's road. We were kindly and complaisantly received on board the Sagitaire; and immediately conducted into a very

good apartment upon the quarter deck, where we spent the time in chating (chiefly in English) till dinner. We dined before [8?] o'clock in a cabin more large and convenient than elegant. The table was served in French taste. We had about [50?] dishes and a good variety of wines. The whole concluded by a dish of coffee. Their priest or friar dined with us, but made an appearance that was rather contemptable; and seemed but very little regarded or respected by ship's crew. Some dined with, and some without their hats; and all made use of sharp pointed knives, and four timed silver forks. Their method of eating was rather inconvenient to me at first. But upon the whole their customs, manners, and appearance were not so different from the English as I had commonly supposed. After dinner we took a full view of the ships; but as I never had viewed a man of war before I could

not form a comparative judgment between that, and any of the English. About 4 o'clock we went aboard the Languedock, Count D'Estaing's own ship. Were introduced to him in his cabin, which was large and elegant: and which was lately ornamented, at the expense of {General} Hancock, with the portraits of {General} Washington, Dr. Cooper & {General} Hancock himself. We were treated with kindness and politeness thro' the whole and landed at long wharf a little after sunset. The common sailers appear rather clumsy and inactive; and their barges and their method of managing [these?] correspond to themselves. I spent the evening at Mr. Townsends, and found that a large catalogue of refugees and political absentees were forbad, by the count, to return to this state; and that [Mr. Blowers?] who had ventured to return was actually in gaol.

Fryday. Dined at Mr. Townsends with a Capt. Storer, prisoner from White-Haven,

who said that Caps Jones of the Ranger had been into White-Haven as we heard, set fire to several parts of the town; but it was soon extinguished. He went over the channel to Scotland, near where he was born and plundered a nobleman's house. This, perhaps, nothing but the [?] of [retosiating?] Britist. cruelty can justify. Spent 1 evening chiefly at Mrs Eliot's, but found a gloom still hanging heavy upon the whole family. Caps Squire with his wife and Miss Polly set out for Fairfield last Wednesday.

Saturday. To Cambridge after dinner. Spent the evening with Mr Garrnett at his chamber.

Sunday. Oct. 25. Over to Little Cambridge before breakfast. Preached all day: and drank tea at Mr. Wellington's. Spent the forepart of the evening very agreeably at Mrs Wendell's & the latter part at Dr Appleton's. It was fully believed that a fleet of about 150 sail left Sandy hook [caps?] monday. Their destination unknown: They hwere supposed to have about ten regiments on board from New York.

Monday. Went over to Little Cambridge before breakfast after some papers & accidentially left there: and to Boston before dinner. Vandale [asked?] [24?] dollars for two hours instruction in a day per week. No opportunity [contd?] be found for the pursuit of French. I therefore made but little progress in it. Drank tea at Dr. Mathers: Nobly [appeared?] in a [dea?], consumption: but the family is as full [posession?] of themselves, of patience and benevalence as was [peculiar?] to their ancestors. Tuesday. Took a sail in the harbor, in which was much shipping; six or seven continential frigates and a number of privateers and marchantmen were at the wharfs and in the stream. The harbor was considered perfectly secure while the French Squadron were in the road. This, however is said to be ready to put to sea and is only waiting for a fair wind. ------- The remainder of the Bristish troops, and all the [Germans?] received orders to be in readiness to march to Virginia, at an hour's warning.

Wednesday Oct 28 1778 Boston Wrote French and read Derrin's [?] Grammar at my Uncle's. ________ In my walk down long wharf I found many more French than English. I wished myself able to converse more feeely with them and was determined to practice as much as opportunity would admit. Spent a joiecable [enjoiable?] hour or two at Mrs. Eliot's Thursday. Heard Dr Cooper at the Lecture, whose softness of diction and ease of [expressions?] are, at best, equal to the importance of his ideas. ______ Drank tea at Mr Wendell's with several gentlemen and ladies that were to attend Gen[era]l Hancock's ball in the evening. ------This ball was attended by Count d'Estaing

were estimated at about 1500 £. Some French gentlemen gave ladies whole [?] of [?] for the pleasure of waiting upon them. By all I could collect the general customs and aims of the French were not so different from ours as might be, or as had been expected. Fryday. Spent my time in hearing news, walking the streets, translating French and such-like amusements. Spent the evening with Mr Lang a French Gentleman lately from [?] in the Providence frigate. He did not understand English better than I did French. we were both desirous of improvement. I therefore spent an hour or two agreeably and profitably, in the course of which time I made as great a progress in understanding French as I ever had done before. -- Slept with Mr Whiting who keeps store at Harriad [?] corner, in partnership with Mr Bond.

Saturday. Waited upon Mr Lang, but chatted with other French men that were there, by which I made continual improvements and only wanted more practice. Having the rudiments and some general idea of the pronunciation, I was soon able to express myself intelligible, tho' very incorrctly. Walked up to Cambridge in the rain.

Sunday. Nov. 1. 1778. Preached all day at Little Cambridge, and agreed with a new Committee to supply them a month including this day. It was strongly rumored that the troops were evacuating New York. ----I attended club at Dr Appleton's as usual. The good old gentleman holds out about as well as he was when I first knew him.

Monday. Confined at my chamber day by a storm. Perused an English Grammar wrote in French by {Misters} Miège & [Bacjer?]. This was constructed for the French to learn English by.

Tuesday. Waited upon Mrs Langdon to Boston, that she might see the President's sister: but she found her a corps. Went to Mr Lang's lodgings; but as he was gone out I chatted with some other Frenchmen till 3 'oclock.

Wednesday. Went to Boston to attend a vendue; but every thing went for very high I bout nothing but a Mahogany tea-chest at 55 [{pounds}?]. Spent the evening with Mr. Lang whom I found of a sociable, inquisitive turn. He had his education at Paris and Stratsburg; spoke good French. I found he was assisted in speaking the English language. I slept with Mr. Newcomb; found him anxious & doubtful where he should [fin?] for life. -------- Yesterday the Corporation made a choise of Dr Kneeland as Steward in the room of Mr Hastings resigned.

Thursday. Rode up to Cambridge in the first

snow squall for this year. [Sat?] my horse into the Tutors barn which had been prepared for Mr Gannetts and mine.

[Tuesday?]. Translated French chief of the day. Perhaps it is not the most indirect method to gain the grammatical past of the language before any great attention is paid to the pronunciation. By this I think one will be able to speak it much sooner & perhaps not as accurately.

Saturday. No reciting this week, by any of the clases. ---- Yesterday young Dr Greenleaf was burie who died after a few days illness. He catched a putrid fever by attending some prisonners from Hallifax upon Noddles Island. These miserable objects were sent from close confinement at the place and died in large numbers before they could be [?] or properly attended to by our people. Dr Apple catched the same fever & in the same manner by which people were fearful is [would?] [?].