John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

19. IV. Thursday. Boston— Meeting— Overseers of Harvard University.

I saw the dog star this morning—half an hour risen at a quarter past four O’Clock. It is therefore certain that with a clear sky, he might have been seen at least ten days earlier: and if the dog days have any meaning, they terminate in this Latitude about the ninth or tenth of August. I have been upon the watch to see him rise from the first of this month, at which time he must have risen with the Sun— Eight days later gives him time to emerge. I went to Boston with my Sons John and Charles, and Lieutt. Buchanan— Visited John Welles and I. P. Davis, but they were out— Edward Cruft with whom and his Son William I went to see an Anaconda, from Java, and two Boa Constrictors from Sumatra—a small Alligator, and a Harlequin or diamond Snake— None of these Serpents was venomous. And the Anaconda, and the two Boas having been fed yesterday each with a rabbit, they were this day very sluggish; coiled and intertwined with each other and lying nearly torpid in their cages the keeper himself could rouse them to very little action.— The Anaconda, the largest of the three was about 14 feet long—his body about the size of a Man’s thigh, about the centre swolen with the whole rabbet upon which he had feasted yesterday, as were the two others. Their principal movement was frequently thrusting out a thready and forked tongue— There was much resemblance between them; and their colours were disgustingly beautiful— They were perfectly tame and gentle, and their keeper handled them at his pleasure. I called upon Judge Davis and sat an hour with him conversing upon Railways, City Government, theological controversy, Professor Stuart, and Dr Channing— We went together to the Meeting of the Overseers of Harvard University, at the Council Chamber— At 1/2 past twelve O’Clock the Lieutenant Governor Winthrop took the Chair— President Quincy proposed several new By-Laws or Ordinances, which had been adopted by the Corporation; tending to the new tension of discipline; two or three of which were adopted without opposition. There was one, to authorize the President, at the written request of Parents to license the attendance of individual Students at the theatre in Boston, which James T. Austin opposed. He gave a horrible description of the licentiousness in the region of the Tremont Theatre, and protested against any colour of sanction to be given for attendance by any Student at the Theatre, under any circumstances whatever— The President said this Picture was entirely new to him and that he would not press the ordinance further— Mr Pearce the Minister of Brookline, seconded the views of Mr Austin, and said that the only graduate of several years, at Cambridge for several years, had narrowly escaped total ruin, by seduction at the Theatre to an infamous 525marriage— The subject was postponed and referred to a Committee of 3. Judge Davis, J. T. Austin and Savage, to report— Several honorary degrees were proposed; one of a medical doctorate to a person resident at Quebec; which was opposed by Dr Spooner. There was a rule that there should be thirty days interval between the proposition to the Overseers of these honorary degrees and their confirmation— There was a question made whether this rule should be suspended which passed in the negative. The Meeting was adjourned before two O’Clock to commencement Morning— About twenty Members in attendance, a majority of whom were Boston Clergymen. I returned to Charles’s office; where Lieutenant Buchanan soon joined us having paid his visit to fort Independence, and we returned to Quincy to dine— Unfortunately unhorsed a man at the Cross street at the bottom of the Mall, by running the Pole of the carriage upon him— He was hurt, but able to remount his horse, though already too much steeped in Spirit— Visited the garden after dinner. Planted Plum-stones, Pear Cores, and the Lime Seeds I had gathered the Evening before last— Began reading the Bible again, and finished the third Tusculan, upon Affliction— I read the first chapter of Genesis, in the Greek Septuagint; but the type is too small for my eye sight.