THE DIARY OF WILLIAM SMITH

I one half page lacking and the [] to Prof Hadduck [] Latin Grammar, Sallust, & Cicero from him to Prof Shirtliff where I was to receive my last examination—After he got through the examination he directed me to call at the Presidents' at two o'clock at which time and place I should receive my destiny—l called where I found the four Sages1 seated in majesty—after I was seated the Pres. informed me that I was admitted a Student of Dartmouth College—And after paying $6.50 for admission I was sent to Mr. Farrar's Treasurer, for College Laws, precept, &c-Through Charles Ws influence I was admitted to the Club2 today so that I am in hopes I have about got through one page lacking] ] efforts to keep a Journal and Idleness, that inveterate enemy to everything that is good, always has conquered and come off each time victor May my good resolution this time prevail and may it always give me pleasure to reflect on this period of my life and that I have at length triumphed over my worst passions—May my collegiate lite be such that my heart shall never have reason to reproach me—conducting in all things towards my Fellow Students as I wish I had done when I come to part with them forever—Albert is already fast asleep I must leave this or I shall be in a bad state for Tomorrows taskone or more sheets lacking] my load of troubles—Today this regiment mustered3 and by what I could judge, it was a right New Hampshire Muster. The regiment appeared small and looked, as I thought, rather inferior to our own Vermont Regiments—Tho' I will confess that prejudice is blinding to one's eyes—By an act of the Legislature the Students of Dartmouth College are cleared from millitary duty, passed in the Spring of 1822—Tuesday 23d

I can hardly answer for my days work —In the morning I set in order my room fastened in my table legs. and got theGreek lesson that the class recited but did not recite with them. I went up at three O clock to recite in Roman Antiquities4 with the Class but the lesson did not reach half way to me. I have this Evening prepared myself for my first lesson in Greek Majora5 in part, and a lesson in Livi to be recited before breakfast—I met John Parker in the Street this Evening and had a very short conversation with him. He informed me that he had a fit of sickness here last fall of four months and that he has now come to make up lost time—Past 10 oclock—

Wednesday 24, Sept. 1822—

Got up at the first bell6 in the morning and repared to the Chapel7 they have not called on me yet to recite, so many in the class that before they gets so far as the letter S, our recitation runs out, though I expect I shall have to come on enough to make all this up—Public speaking commonly on this day but for some reason omitted Today—

This Evening met Dudley Barry in the Street I was glad to see him—he spent the Eve in our room, I wrote to Sally by him giving her an account of my success in entering College—I find my lessons exceeding hard to get Livi is very hard and Majora is not much better. Happy and wise is the man who can content himself to live in whatever station Fortune seems to place him, should I not have been enjoying myself much better in that path which Nature pointed out to me than here drilling on these despicable Greek characters—The fog prevents us from seeing the sun till almost noon What a dreary Country if They were destitute of this Institution they should be ranked among the miserable and deserve pity—ll o clock-

Thursday 25th Sept.—

Had the honor of reciting Today for the first time in Greek. I got along very well for begining—recited this afternoon at three O clock in Roman Antiquities I learn that our class is to be divided into divisions for speaking & writing composition that the first squad come on Thursday and the first squad of writers a week from Thursday among whom I suppose the letter S will be called—I can think of no subject fruitful enough for to write on at present8—I need all my forces to dig out the . hard places in Livi without wasting them in puting together sentences—Hale of the freshman Class was sent for today to attend the funeral of one of his Brothers—at New-Port, he has another laying very sick his life not expected. I met him this morning going to Chapel his countenance was entirely changed What tidings this must be to an affectionate brother if the heart is susceptible of the least feeling, nothing but time can heal the breach—Got acquainted with Ward Today the class have not much time to get acquainted their resitations ar so great—

Friday—25th9

A change took place in the weather last Evening it has been Today to warm for comfort, for several days past it has been quite cold—Albert had a friend by the name of Gowin call on him this Eve who invited him to spend a part of the Eve with him at the Hotel10 so that I have been a part of the Eve alone I called this afternoon to see Charles Walker not having seen him at his boarding house for several meals—l found him very unwell he has had a severe turn of the dysentery not recited for some days —One division of the freshman Class spoke this Afternoon Tutor Woods heard them and pronounced them good Speakers but found fault with their pieces being to long—l hope I shall have a letter next week from some of my friends. I owe several which ought to be answered immediately I am full of business but my gains are still small—11 Oclock go to bed Saturday the 28th September—

Saturday the 28th September-

It is a satisfaction after the toil of the day to sit down and record the various little incidents which every revolving sun brings about, and it is a very great satisfaction

one sheet missing here Monday 30

I let all my lesson alone till this mornang and find that it is rather to hard to get a Greek lesson before 11-oclock Next week I intend to privide beforehand I recited Today in Roman Antiq- uities, I escape wonderfully about reciting whether a favour or a loss—Took a walk this Evening with Charles Walker for he is just recovring from his ill turn which has lasted him about a week—I have to write composition this week which I do not like with all my other studies go to bed about 12—

Tuesday 1, st October 1822—-

I begin already to taste some of the bitters as well as the sweets of a College life—by the time one lesson is got another rises up before you which will take away all one's appetite for play, idleness, or any other amusement so that one has his choice either to neglect his studies to the disgrace of his reputation—or study continually—Mr. William Clark called in our room this Evening from Newport and frankly says that we are enjoying ourselves now the best of any time in life—forgive him I pray this sin for can it be that this is our best days O no surely not go to bed 10—

Wednesday 2 1822-

The troubles of the day have already been told over again & again which amounts about to the same thing—I was very sorry to hear Tutor Willard say this morning that he should not hear the Class again at present as he was going to hear the Sophomores in Euclid I am very much pleased with him as an Instructor, he appears to have a knowledge of history [so] that he can unfold difficulties, and is very particular in pronunciation which we all need The day has been rather cold, go to bed in rather low spirits—

Thursday 3.d 1822

Today I have been called on to read composition for the first time got along without trouble or I might say much for everything that I do is mingled with trouble—go to bed fatigued with my days work after 11 o'clock

Friday 4 1822,

The mishaps of the day are as few as time could produce in my knowledge I mistake we had a Lecture Preached this Evening by Professor Fitts of Yale College "Thy law is exceeding broad" It will be Styled here a great Sermon and indeed it was tolerable good for to come from that order11—got to bed about 11 o'clock

Saturday sth 1822 October—

Attended as usual to my resitations in the forenoon and this afternoon wrote a letter to my worthy friend Page, gave him an account of my examination &c— Heard another of Mr. Shirtliffs Lectures—This was on Truth—that it is immortal and of course all pertaining to it is immortal go to rest fatigued with my weeks work—

Sunday Evening 6th—

Mr. Shirtliff gave us another of his true othrodox sermons this forenoon. Mr. Prof. Porter of Andover Institution supplied his place in the afternoon Tex was in the eighth chapter of Daniel. Daniels constancy in prayer, his prosperity in the world as affording an example for all true Christians to imitate—Wrote a letter to Bates this Evening gave him an account of the preaching we hear in this place which I knew would be a subject that would interest him, read some in the bible Today and I hope not wholly misapproved the time—took a long walk this Evening which I ought to do every day and now think I shall 10 Monday 7th

I had the misfortune of reciting rather a bad lesson in Roman Antiquities Today—"We had for a lesson about 25 pages and only time to read it once over so it could, not be expected we should have it very thorough I have this to comfort me that others recite as bad as myself. Made a bargain with Albert that we will not eat any apples all day Tomorrow which I record on here for a witness against us if we violate this promise—

Tuesday Eveg—

The business of the day has been to turn the Sophomores out of their seats which they do not bear very peaceable and are threatning us very hard this evining that they shall again take their same seat in the Chapel Tomorrow. This we Gentlemen of the Freshmen Class absolutely forbid and if they dare infring upon our premises we shall have recourse, as the saying is ad vires and let the contest fairly decide. The Freshman feel themselves to large to be crowded into the ordinary share of seats allotted them and therefore have taken this measure Reed a letter this Eve from James, he tells me that I can have the School in Aunt John's district I can not say I desire to keep it, but if it is for the" best I shall do it willingly. I feel as I should have the Nightmare to night which I have been troubled with for some time. O the oppression is dreadful. I can not compare it any thing more like than the weight of a mountain upon one's stomach endeavoring to remove it but it remains unmoved and in this situation one often thinks to himself (for we perfectly know our situation,) that life surely will be short I am heartly troubled when I think of my situation I have forsaken a healthful employ for one that may be a means of abridging my life, but does not the author of all things do right—cease from such reflection—to bed—11 o

(To be continued)

1. The four Sages were: President Tyler; " Ebenezer Adams, professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; Charles B. Haddock, professor of Rhetoric and Oratory; William Chamberlin, professor of Latin and Greek Language and Literature. The entrance requirements of the time were, that the candidate should be well versed in the grammar of the English, Latin, and Greek languages; in portions of Virgil, Cicero, and Sallust, in the Greek Testament and in selections from Greek writers; in Latin and Greek Prosody; in "Arithmetick"; in ancient and modern Geography; "and that he be able accurately to translate English into Latin." Nothing is said concerning spelling and punctuation, in which matters Smith seems to have been, if possible, as uncertain as the average freshman of today.

2. Just what is meant by "the Club" is somewhat uncertain. Whether at. that time the various eating establishments in the village were dignified by the title of Club, it is difficult to determine. Some of the alumni may be able to provide enlightenment on the subject.

3. From the beginning of its existence as a state, until 1851, New Hampshire required active military service on the part of all able bodied male citizens. During times of peace the requirement was satisfied by periodical musters, or training days, held for purposes of inspection and practising the soldiery in the use of its weapons. It was in July, 1822, that the act exempting students of Dartmouth College from military duty was passed, not, it may be assumed, because of undue interruption of scholastic pursuits, but because of turbulent objections to being drilled. In fact, at this time, the military spirit, which had received stimulus from the war of 1812, was beginning to decline. [See McClintock's "History of New Hampshire"; Potter's "Military History of New Hampshire."]

4. Roman life and its social and political organization. . There were several text books on the subject.

5. Selections from Greek authors.

6-7. Two bells, with a fifteen minute interval between them, were rung as a Chapel call. The first bell was sounded soon after sunrise, the exact hour varying with the season; after 1822, however, the time was never earlier than 5 a. m. Chapel service was held in a building that until 1828 occupied a position not far from the present site of Thornton Hall. In that year it was removed to a new location where the Administration Building is now in process of erection. Somewhat later it was again moved and closed its career ingloriously as a barn.

8. In addition to his diary, Smith kept what he called a "Commonplace Book," a sort of general scribbling and notebook, likewise in the possession of Mrs. Bigelow. Among other miscellaneous matter, this book contains some four folio pages devoted to "subjects proper to be written upon." The . said subjects were no doubt dictated by the professor of Rhetoric, since they are carefully classified as colloquies, dissertations, poems, conferences, and the like. The general character of them, too, suggests a learned and ponderous ingenuity: for example, "On the present character of the inhabitants of New England as resulting- from the civil, literary, and religious institutions of our forefathers"; "On the pursuit of Fame"; "On the fallacy of history"; "On the causes of the variety of complexion and the figures in human species." Following these are some seven pages of "good questions to be discussed." Most of them are still in process of discussion and far from answered today: "Are the natural abilities of the sexes equal?" "Are monopolies consistent with a good government?" "Should Old Bachelors be taxed for the support of Old Maids?"

9. It will be noted that Smith becomes somewhat confused in his dates, repeating the 25th, and putting down Saturday as the 28th.

10. The hotel of that time occupied the site of the present structure. In 1821 it was known as the Curtis House, after its proprietor. The following year 'it passed into the hands of a spinster, Miss Rosina Fuller, whose bookkeeper and clerk, Markham, by name, shortly after became hopelessly confused in his accounts. To protect her financial interests, the fair proprietor cast herself into the balance and married the bookkeeper, whose name, henceforth for a number of years, was borne by the hotel.

11. Smith was a Unitarian. In fact, he entered college with the intention of becoming a Unitarian minister: hence his considerable interest in the college sermons and his somewhat patronizing attitude toward the orthodox Professor Fitts.