THE DIARY OF WILLIAM SMITH OF CAYENDISH, VERMONT, A FRESHMAN IN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, SEPT. 23, 1822-AUG. 3, 1823

(CONCLUDED FROM DECEMBER NUMBER)

Wednesday 9

The disturbance of the Gentleman Soph. & Hon Freshmen was once Today amicably settled but this Evening it has broaken out again and Tomorrow They will have another contest, I suppose, I must accuse my class of being quarrelsome or they would suffer the dispute to have ended this day—We received the afflicting news this Evening that Cousin John Smith is laying at the point of death Can it be that that family are not already sufficiently afflicted. Must they be so soon deprived of a Father and Brother both, The ways of providence are just and we should quietly submit to his will. O may his sickness be warded off and he again restored to his friends Took a short walk this afternoon—

Thursday 10th, Oct. 1822—

I have anxiously waited to hear from John by Todays mail, but alas! no letters—What to think concerning him I am at a loss. We should not likely have heard from him if he is getting better at present, neither am I sure that we should so soon even if he had died the forepart of the week I hope surely that we shall near Sat— Nothing has occured through the day worth mentioning—

Friday 11th Oct 1822-

We have had word, by a Student, that John Smith was thought to have been struck with mortification, if so we shall not hear of him again alive—all my hope is that this was a fals report I hope Tomorrow we shall hear— [ one half page lacking ]

Saturday 12th Oct. 1822.

This Evening brought us the last news from John. He departed this life the 8th of Oct. How can I think that I am never to meet him again (in this world.)12 He lived long enough to be loved and respected by all that knew him. "How unsearchable are the ways of the Almighty" A young man promising usefulness to the World to be taken off in the onset of his career, is to us, altogether mysterious. Life is but a vapour and soon, very soon, passeth away, all distintion of rank is altogether vanity, we strive for distinction here, but in the grave there is no distinction — How sad must be that aflicted family. They have but one place to fly for refuge [ one half page lacking ] Sunday 13th

I have had the pleasure of hearing President Tyler preach Today for the first time, His sweet voice and good delivery would draw the attention of his hearers of itself. I think him to be a very good Preacher of that order, tho, I cannot cordially receive all that comes from his lips, his sermons are sound orthodoxy but he mingles in them sentiments that are interesting to every Christian. His sermons Today were aimed to much, it might be thought, on the passions. In the forenoon his discourse was on the promises of those who fullfilled the commandments. Text Numbers 12-29—Where Moses exortes his brethren to follow him and God had promised to bless him and them. He showed parents their responsibility to bring up their Children unto the Lord. He explained to them their awful situation at day of judgment should they behold their children lifting up their eyes in torment and begging Abraham to come and ease their pains— and this undoubtedly would be the case with every unregenerate sinner-O. truly if this be the true doctrine our passions could never be to much worked upon, but can it be even questioned that—

Sunday 24th Nov—

President Tyler gave us another of his warm orthodox sermons Today—he undertook to show us the true meaning of the most important doctrine of Christianity—Text the 22d Chapter of Rev. 17th Verse the last part, "And whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely" He began by making a simple explanation of the Text, showing that all had free access to the Gospel, and if we should say that we could repent till God wills, we should charge the Deity of being unjust, he then showed us what we might understand by "total depravity" it was mearly this, the being unwilling to accept the offerd means of Salvation, to reject the precepts which have been revealed to us, for our everlasting good, and that election was the verifying of the doctrine of total depravity that one who was unwilling to conform to the doctrine of salvation as it is laid down in the Gospel was of course not elected. So far, his explanation was conformable to what an unpredgudiced mind would naturally assent to from this he leads us on that we might a little more plainly understand his discourse he lets us know that it is God alone who gives us that willingness to conform to the offered terms of salvation and that without his aid we seek in vain, how truely mysterious! and wonderful are the ways of God ! he alone has the power of giving and we have not: the power of receiving except it is given from him,and still it depends on ourselves whether we will be saved or not. he desired us all to return and read the Text he had been explaining to us in a humble manner wishing to know the truth, he showed what we might understand by reprobation but I cannot remember enough of it to explain his meaning.

A Mr. Walker preached in the forenoon I was very much pleased with his discourse and the fairness with which he treated the subject. March 13th 1823—13

Returned this evening from Chelsea with forty dollars of money in my pocket and of course feel pretty well (as the saying is) for this small sum I have laboured hard twelve weeks and feel very glad to get settled down again at the tedious labour of Latin & Greek 14 much prefered to teaching the young Ideas how to shoot. I have spent the winter perhaps as pleasant as could be expected considering the employment I have been in O how I want to see my parents Brothers and Sisters. O May Vacation much to be desired—

April 6th Sabbath Evening-

This afternoon Mr. White a young minister who has just had a call at Bath supplied Mr. Shirtliff's place. I was very well pleased with his discourse—His subject was the Character of Peter. He in the beginning showed us how little of his Character was known—That the first of our knowledge of this Apostle was at the Sea of Tiberias after the draft of Fish had been taken up when he throwed himself at the feet of Jesus and desired him to depart from him for he was a sinner—but the repley was follow me Peter and I will make you a fisher of men—he refered us to almost every transaction of the Apostle. Showed his impetuous and generous Soul his warm attachment to his friends. And at last his unkindest act of all the denial of our Saviour at the time of his Crucifixion, and closed it by applying to christians the liability of all to err and counteract the divine commands Therefore be extremely cautious of rejecting Christian Bretheren for it may be that they like Peter repent of their backslidings as Peter by lamentation— The weather looks like Spring tho' considerable snow on the ground yet. have not heard from home since I came back.

Monday 7th April

Another gloomy day has passed and its now almost 12 o'clock quite to late to sit down to write in a journal, but a good resolution ought never to be made void have a little of a headache Today but am not so much troubled with it as I was last fall— The nightmare I trust has left me at least for a season as I have not had it since I returned from the healthful climate' of Virmont (Chelsea) about six weeks more of term time—go to bed—Thursday 10th

The Sophomore appointments15 were given out yesterday and I believe there was never more general dissatisfaction than there is in this Class. They all agree in saying that, virtue is pushed over unrewarded. I have heard nothing but their troubles for two days. I hope I shall study some Tomorrow—it is now about 11 o'clock—

Thursday 11—My friend John Dix called on me Today on his way to Sharon—I went with him as far as Norwich and kept him continually busy in answering my numerous questions—l received a letter by him from Mother and James which has given me much pleasure—how happy I should be in my present situation if I did not think I had parents at home labouring in their old age to support me at College. I pray that I may see the time that I can repay in part this great debt of parental effection. have I done right in quitting them it is a question that I am unable to answer for how is it possible that I can ever be in a situation during their life time how many times does this question rise, up in my mind but—It is to late to philosophise—James wrote the death of Esquire White who died with a Cancer and Frederick Carter's death I scarcely hear from home but I hear the death of some Townsmen or near & dear fried—how little is thought of the solem admotions taught by these messages, may I improve them more for the future —Albert went home Today with Lambert Lime16 so that lam alone this eveJuly 4th

Mr Delano delivered an oration this day which I believe has been favourable rec'd. He in the first place mentioned how the day ought to be regarded and what emotions it would ever excite in the breast of every true patriot he compared it with the revolution of France and the difference now existing between the two Countries—he showed the mild laws which existed amongst us, and on the contrary, the effects of a revolution in France and the stride of their unequalled Conq[ue]or, who made crowns his plaything and Kings his Servants Howes Sketches 1 Vol-Page 456 Industry, manufactures and wealth are the fruits of peace and advert to what follows, Luxury, a never failing concomitant of wealth is a slow poison that debilitates men and renders them incapable of any great effort Courage-magnanimity heroism come to be ranked among the miracles that are supposed never to have existed but in fable The same Page 422 The effects of despotism The finest Countries have been depopulated by despotism—witness Greece, Egypt and the lesser Asia—The river Meram in the kingdom of Siam overflows annually like the Nile depositing a quantity of Slime, which a rich manure—the river seems to rise gradually as the rice grows and retires to the channel when the rice-approaching to maturity needs no longer to be watered nature besides has bestowed on that rich Country a variety of delicious fruits requiring scarcely any culture—In such a paradise would one imagine that the Siamites are a miserable people? The government is despotic and the subjects are Slaves—they must work for their Monarch six months every year without wages and even without receiving any food from him

July 27th

My health is not good I am not able to attend to my College duties punctual; or do I enjoy much comfort—In addition to my health my eyes have been a great affliction—What am I—and for what purpose borne—I surely have done very little good in my day, and the prospect of my future prosperity is gloomy -The headache is almost my constant companion—And the Nightmare, which ranks very high on the catalogue of insufferables oppresses me by night, which makes Sleep by no means desired—Tho, I think this affliction lately has not been so oppressive as last fall, have not had it till last night for some time—little more than three weeks will let me fiee perhaps from College affairs I am determined to do something for my health before I come on to College again if I ever do come—I reed, a letter this week from Mother and James, this has done me some good, but I think it would take a multitude to restore my crazy brain wholly—l do not intend to study much this week without I feel better—Cease thy complainings

August 2d 1823

Returned today from Sharon where I have spent three days with my friend John Dix very pleasantly, found him on the eve of purchasing half of Walkers Works when I went over which I persuaded him not to engage from my precedence of never having seen a young man set out in early life by borrowing money prosper—However he was easily disuaded and seemed to rejoice that he had given up the idea, although it appeared to him a very fair opportunity-he accompanied me home today by the way of the Copperas mines in Stratford —I had heard before of American Copperas, but had forgotten that it was the Country that produced it—The hill where it is found is considerably large principally covered with this stone from which the Cop[peras] is made. They first dig the stone from the mountain and break it up into pieces about two or three inches diameter, pile them up in a heap and set it As it is impregnated with sulphur it burns with almost as much velocity as a Cole pit-After it burns over it is put up in the manner of leaches and from the leaches brought by troughs to the kittles where it is boiled down, the factory being placed under the hill 'before the leaches. After it is boiled it is emptied into large sisterns and sticks throwed in for the Copperas to gather upon— This is boiled in lead kittles very large, weighing about 28 cwt. a piece—

This property belongs to people in Boston, who (I should presume by the looks of those beggarly fellows about it) converted the profit to their own use —I do not feel very brisk for studying nor do I care but very little about the examination on Friday a fortnight from next Friday—l must write to Sally by this mail in answer to her good letter of the 25th—

Aug 3- Trouble and anxiety appear to Surround me—One year ago I thought if I ever got so far in my College life that I should have no doubt or fears about the future, but I find it different I am now perplexed to know how to act—I am told by my father to go on in my pursuit if I think it will be for my ultimate happiness, altho' I perceive that it is his highest wish to have all his children about him. . And does not. I Am sensible feel able to support me at College —The thoughts of his being obliged to labor at this advanced age thro necessity as it were, takes off all relish for continuing here—Do I not owe my first and greatest debt to my parents—And if by my returning home could render their old age more comfortable, it should surely be cheerfully complied with although contrary to my present feelings —I am very sensible that I can do much to lighten this burden that now devolves upon them—If I quit College now, I must leave forever, as I am too old, to think of commencing again after laying aside my pursuit for a few years—It now remains for me to determine what course to take and what part to act —If Igo home, shall I throw away all my Classic knowledge which has cost me so many fatiguing days and nights labour, Shall I place all my mind on property, and have that for my only hope and comfort—or enjoy a mixture of this worlds bounties such as reading, mingling with society and act the part of a Philosopher by totally disregarding this early disappointment—

Reading, I am sure will be a very pleasant as well as profitable way of spending my time but still I shall be cramped by the narrow limits of my library—certainly for some years As for Society, I do not .take that satisfaction in spending my leisure hours gabbling with A B & C that I once did—not that I feel myself in any respect better, but that which we once liked does not always appear the same way to us,our taste alters, what we take pleasure in at one time, may not prove so at another I must adopt some system of working and reading as I am very sensible that I cannot stand it to work but part of the time—I do not see that I shall have any time for looking over my Latin & Greek. I believe I must defer it till at least I get abel to live without working very hard. As I must study history for one or two years, as every one ought to know something about his own Country, which I understand but little about—I am at a loss to know how I shall spend my sabbaths when there is no preaching—I hope the time will come when Cav[endish] will be able and willing to unite in supporting a minister, I mean to study contentment and economy which are both essential for my future happiness—When I shall see my father free from debt, then I shall thing of turning my attention a little more in the path of literature—17

I wrote a letter this Evening to Sally, i gave her a short sketch of home affairs of my calculation of leaving College. James marriage, F. D. absence—and mentioned to Mr W about not being able to get the information which he wished about the staining wood, &c &c &c—Albert went to Hartford this morning with his Classmate Marsh and will probably stay tonight—The freshmen put a drove of cows under the College last night—18 The bell was rung in meeting time for help—but none of our Class turned out—

12. These three words were partially erased.

13. The long gap in the diary at this point is mainly explained by Smith's absence from college while" he was acting in the capacity of district school teacher. College vacations, at the time, were as follows: four weeks from Commencement, which occurred the next to the last Wednesday in August; seven weeks from the first Monday in January; two and one-half weeks from the Thursday preceding the last Wednesday in May. The long winter recess was designed for the distinct purpose of enabling the undergraduates to gain considerable experience and a little ready cash by teaching. Until well into the eighties a large proportion of them took advantage of the opportunity, and even as late as 1897—though by this time the recess had been shortened—it was not uncommon for the Dartmouth man to serve a twelve weeks' term in charge of a country school.

14. The emphasis upon Latin and Greek here is not unnatural. The course of study for freshman year consisted of the following subjects: First term, Latin, Roman Antiquities, Greek; second term, Latin, Roman Antiquities Greek, Rhetorical Grammar; third term, Latin, Greek, Review of "Arithmetick" and Algebra. Exercises in reading, declamation and English composition were required, at times, throughout the year.

15. Appointments for a kind of exhibition consisting of declamations and debates. Places were awarded in part by the faculty, in part by class vote, and as considerable honor was held to attach to them, the choice of candidates invariably led to grumbling and dissatisfaction.

16. Or possibly Lambert of Lime, who was in the same class with Albert Smith, cousin to William.

17. As might be judged from this outpouring, Smith gave up his college course at the end of the year and returned to Cavendish. Contrary to his expressed belief, however, he lived to vigorous old age, dying at the age of ninety. His year at Dartmouth was not by any means in vain. After leaving the College, he read and studied by himself, took a broad interest in the men and affairs of his time; twice represented his town in the Legislature, and traveled in Europe when it was a rare event for anyone to go abroad. As a business man he achieved some success as owner and operator of a woolen mill in Cavendish Village. He likewise went with some of his neighbors as a pioneer to Michigan, though he remained there but a short time, prefering to settle in Vermont upon the farm which his father had cleared. There he remained until 1885 when he moved to Proctor, Vt., where, until his death, he resided with his son.

18. This cheerful diversion was not uncommon. In 1822 it was the custom of the villagers of Hanover to pasture their cows upon the campus, a proceeding to which the students somewhat seriously objected. Their retaliation lay in driving the cattle into the cellar of Dartmouth Hall. When the irate owners of the animals went into the cellar in search of their property they naturally presented fair target for "such unpleasant missiles as might be dropped upon them from the dormitory windows above.