Arose but much too late for the Stage in which I intended to have gone. I just gave
Tudor a farewell. He is going now and will perhaps not meet any of his friends for
many years, if ever. He appears to me, from some reason or other, not to be in his
usual tone of spirits but I shall recollect him with pleasure, as one of these high
souled generous spirits whom one seldom meets in this world. I went to the Athenaeum
and, having spent a few minutes there, I went to see the Freshmen who are examined
today for admission. I could only think of the time when I was trembling before the
Cambridge Government as a suppliant for their favour. I am now under unpleasant shackles
but, thank God, I see my way. The class is a small one and not very interesting.
1 College is degenerating, it appears to me. I could not sit here long so I went to
Brenan’s and spent half an hour with him conversing much in the usual strain. He feels
more bitterly on the subject of party differences than he used to, owing to the ridiculous
speeches of Cunningham. He told me some things which really showed this man’s folly
extremely. I am satisfied with my estimate of the man’s character and am sorry to
say my opinion is a poor one.
From here I went home and arranged my room as well as I could. I have managed in the
course of the past week to get through a long life of Burns written I believe by Dr.
Curry.
2 The account given of this man is astonishing. His remarkable powers of mind, his
prejudices, and his failings afford one of the most striking pictures for study and
observation that I have ever seen. Melancholy as the account is, it affects me more,
as with less talents I have seen another example of the same misfortune. It is a subject
which has made me think often but it is scarce one to be talked of or written of.
After a Whitney dinner, I got into the stage where I found fifteen and went to Boston,
stopped at George’s room scarcely a minute before the Quincy stage arrived, in which
I went off. After an unusually
{ 303 } tedious time of it, we arrived and I found the family much as usual. My Grandfather
exceedingly weak, he is evidently departing, I think. I spent rather a dull evening
and went to bed early. X.