DR. CALVIN BROOKS MCQUESTEN'S DIARY, PART THREE
Farmington Aug. 5, 6, 7, 1859
Warm & dry

Still under the hospitable roof of our friends the Tappan's,[or Tappen] from whose hands we are receiving the best of attention, going after pond lillies, found a large quantity of blackberries, & a few ripe ones, having once tasted them my mind runs in search of blackberries wherever I go, we found quite a number of lillies which we brought home with us, Rodger seemed very much pleased because he made out to get four by his own exertions. Find the ladies very agreeable company, & such as I should be glad to number among my friends. Mifs [sic] B. is more of a forward young lady, more talkative, & willing to drop her work to entertain company & certainly she puts herself more in the way to receive attention than Mifs [sic] Ada. Mifs [sic] A. for all he [sic] retiring disposition is one to be loved and respect for worth & not beauty, also she is quite a poetess as well as Eugene. Mr. Tappen preached both forenoon & afternoon, both practical sermons & intended for the good of his hearers. The afternoon he spoke of "circuses" "nigger shows" taking off so much money, & the bad influences they carry with them. After he was through one of the members told him there had been one in the place the last week, so it seemed as if he was preaching against it but he said he knew nothing about it. Monthly concert in the evening John & Eugene took part. John spoke of Dr. Worcester of the Cherokee nation. It was a much more pleasant Sabbath than the last was.

This morning at 11 we walked up to the depot & had the ladies for company. Mr. Tappen & Eugene going with us over the lake. Had a very pleasant little chat with the ladies in the depot & would have asked for their company but Euge. Said they would not go. Bid them adieu & started for Alton Bay where we take the boat for Centre Harbor. The boat is a small one, but large enough I should imagine for the business, & not very well furnished. There was a good number on board though not crowed. All took passage on deck where seats are put up, there may be a cabin but did not find it, The view was very fine as we passed out of Alton Bay to Wolfsbough which is some five miles distance, the hills rise on either side & islands show themselves in all directions. Of Wolfsbough we had only a glimpse & that limited but its general appearance is good, its hotels are spoken of as the best on the lake. After leaving W. dinner was announced & all left the beautiful scenery to tend to the "wants of the inner man" which was accomplished as the table was well supplied with all the luxuries necessary. But the "inner man" being supplied the deck presented the most attraction having gained, we found ourselves in the most delightful of places; the island around us & near at hand seemed beautiful, but as we gazed of [sic] on the Hills rising one above another till they reached mountain tops & thence to the clouds, was a panorama of nature equaled by few places. As you see hills in the distance, the yankee disposition of knowing every thing comes up & you go in search of maps or information of what such & such a hill, mountain or place may be. We saw the White M. looming up far the the [sic] North east, like sentinels watching over the sleeping infant. At Centre Harbor we parted with Mr. T & Euge. who returned on the boat & found a stage for here which we boarded, passing on our way Senter house & Centre Harbor consisting of the Hotel Post Office & three or four other buildings making quite a small place the Hotel was crowded. Our rooms being engaged we took a stroll around the Village to see the sights. The first place we arrived at after passing a drug store, telegraph office and two or three other buildings was a wharf where the steam boats land their passengers & good for every other day either the Dover or Lady of the lake run into this port, here we spent a few minutes watching an old scow propelled by horse power come in take on a passenger & depart, where we also decamp for the depot, walked for the cars & returned to the Hotel. Had supper which was nothing to brag of & was sick after it. Retired early after smoking a bad cigar & am now writing in haste.

Two days more will make it a year since I kept record of things as I found them in every day travels. Time has worked some wonderful changes & some things were till recently much better then I could have expected they would be.

Saw my [father] the 5 & 6 of June last for a few hours only, it was the first time we had met in two years. He was quite pleased with my course since leaving Hamilton and again he opened up the way for me to advance and we seemed in fair way to become friends as a Father & son should be. But alas, for the frailty of humanity, for in our loyality 21 of us had to leave Meriden for the rest of the term & loose graduation. The cause was simply this. Prof. Richards laid down the rule that there must not be any celebrating the 4th before 4 a.m. & then those who were excused might celebrate with proper demonstrations, supposed to mean Chinese fire crackers behind the barn, & far enough away that we should not set fire to the apple trees. The boys thinking this altogether too strict, formed a band tried to get the Cornish cannon, & then getting the Lebanon, the latter they succeeded in. Having procured the cannon we fired it & then horns were blown. There were eight went over to Lebanon with one of Arthur's horses & one of Sleeper's, having brought the cannon to Meriden they deposited it in Frost's barn. Fletcher & I were the ones to go after powder, so the evening of the 3rd we drove down to Cornish. I went & had a ram-rod made while Fletcher went to his uncles after the powder. Having procured the articles we left for home in a rain storm & arrived safe with little wetting. Then Kent & I had to make the cartridges, which we did in my room with the aid of stove, paste, lamp, paper & a bed post. At 10.30 all was ready to be forwarded to S.F. Brentes's room where the stragglers were picked up & proceeded to the hill where the cannon lay, all was in readiness for 12 p.m. or a.m. when the charge was to be fired. When the first bomb was over the tin horns (forbidden instruments at Meriden) pealed out a chorus, then the cannon boomed up arousing the sleepy citizens & informing them of the advent of the glorious old 4th. Between Cannon & tin horns the music was kept up till 3 o'clock when Bill Andrews was chased by Prof. Wood, Buchanan, Skinner & Fisher under Davis' barn & was caught.

Again I am going to try my hand at journalizing, stirring times gives one an opportunity, of noting a few facts. Here all is quietness school affairs are moving on as pleasantly as could be expected. Mr. Rowe presiding as Prof. Richard's health to to [sic] poor to admit of his attending to the duties of the school, Charley hears his classes. I said it was quiet here, it is not so, there being considerable stir among the people about. P.O. affairs & some four candidates for the office. I am working for Mr. Thayer.

The political aspect of our country is low, moral courage is an element unknown to our President & his cabinet at least the first members of it, but his not meeting their expectations has lead them one by one to desert him, till only three old ones are left. The new members seem more inclined to uphold the union & lately Old Buck has issued orders for reinforcing major Anderson at Fort Sumpter. So. Car.[South Carolina] which is one step in advance. Already the So. Car. have fired the first gun & war has inevitably begun. The vessel Star of the West is going up the harbor was fired at 17 times, & Maj. A. sent word to Gov. Pickins inquiring if it was done by his orders & he said it was. On asking permission to send a courier through the State to Washington it was granted & Maj. A. has forwarded word to head quarter in relation to affairs.

With Mississippi out of the Union & [Floriday?] on the same footing, the horizon seems clouded, but, alas what is, may be only a foreshadowing of what will be, yet all is thrown at James Buchanan's door, & future generations will go & do likewise. A man cannot vacillate & be on one side while public opinion & strength are on the other, & I would say right & justice demands her laws to be enforced. When Toombs telegraphed home to secede he could not be arrested because a secession man was in the cabinet. Thompson alone defeated the ends of justices. Toombs likewise can wish all the senators who acquiesce in sending the Star of the West south were sunk with her & call General Scott a liar with impunity, while we northern men cannot even go south without a barrel of tar stand ready for us. Such is the difference between freedom in the two countries.

Could not get ready for church so staid [sic] at home. Priest Blanchard gave us two fair production but far behind last Sunday, when I suppose he delivered a sermon intended for fast day & truly it was a sermon, equal & superior to any of H.W.B. sermons I have read. The prayer he made was in accordance with the sermon.

News dull, not as much as was expected from Saturday report. Buchanan is taking more & more decided grounds in favor of preserving the government, coercion may be used only on the water, & that Blockading will starve them to it. Southern resources are very limited, there abilities for war much soon be found out. When we know money & food & clothing are necessary articles for war, we know without them war cannot be carried on & when ere examined the south we find they never raise food enough to support themselves three months, that this year their crops failed; that Georgia & Louisiana are now in want of food; that money cannot be raised without forcing taxes; such a condition speaks little for the great struggle about to come. Yet methinks a steamer at Charleston one on the Savannah one at Mobile, one, two, or more at the Mississippi mouths, & a two months trial would dispel the mist gathering around. South Carolina is already backing down, commission have been sent to Washington to treat on some ground favorable to the south & disastrous to the North no doubt. Buchanan in his last message reiterates some doctrines of the former, but think he has delayed long enough. "Time is a great conservative power" no doubt of it, but hope old Buck's conservative principle have been tested long enough & now maybe go to work to uphold the doctrine of union & if he must have Congress back him why all right, but don't lose the mice by playing with them, hold them while you have them.

The news today is not so important as yesterday but we have not yet found out the full extent of Sec. Floyd treason & robbery & Virginia is beginning to repudiate him as an [offscout??] & wretch to vile to pollute even her soil.

The Crittenden resolutions are being asked for & petitions are being sent up to the House, should they pass or any sort of a compromise, my opinion is a "national departure", In the first place the people north & south are not prepared for such a step, their minds are excited & what might alleviate will not cure; In the second place a compromise admits that the constitution is defective; that it is not what we want, And in the third place it will place us on the side of concession & we have conceded & conceded, while the south is always asking for more concession. If the republican platform is not what is wanted, get a new one; if it is what we base our principles on & we mean to maintain the constitution of the U.S., do so and in its present form till we find it lacking in some points, then & not till then should any change take place. At the right time a committee should be appointed the constitution should be overhauled, a new one formed & ratified by the people. The south cannot & will not be contented, while slavery is a local institution & one concession will lead to another, till slavery is universal, which thank God never will be, while the north exists.

Today will be a rough one on the ocean, the wind blows hard & the snow drifts, many will be the records of noble vessels gone to pieces on rocks, many hopes & joys will be blighted & dreams unrealized. Such is God's providence; man cannot control the events; nature works her changes; chance may be propitious, but all must accord with the unseen, invisible, but none the certain laws. How analogous is the condition of our country to the noble vessel breasting the gale at sea; both are strong and noble, both are under the command of men, both are liable to accident, both may nobly contend for mastery, & both may succumb to the fierce elements warring without. It seem the destination of the Star of the West was not intended to be Charleston, but Gen. Scott was so intent on his purpose that he got off before James B. could intercept his order, & thus she started on a journey which turned out as insignificant & pusillanimous as any expedition every started.

No mails today. The scrape we got into last term, in pounding a "Towney" has not yet died out; it seem the democrats are going to try to get a bill before the Grand Jury and have a trial, & their intention is probably to carry it along & torment us as much as possible. It will not do Cole any good for we all know he has a hand in it. I am going to carry my case before the Grand jury again & see if I can maintain my rights & vote in this little contemptible town.

Today have felt very little like working, hence have done little at studying. Virgil passed off well logic dry. Have been quiet, waiting for the mail, wondering what new phase would turn up in J. B. Administration. Yesterday mail arrived but not todays. Gen Scott stands firm for the Union, but J. B seems to be in a bad place. I cannot judge rightly perhaps, but it seems to me if there is a right way in this enlightened age one can find it and when found the course to pursue must be straight ahead, but J. B. does not so understand things. Vacillation marks every step he takes, decision does not seem to form a component part of his policy, action, or desire, such action cannot be expected to bring any good to the originator. Virginia has not taking [sic]decided ground against the Union, and Louisiana seems to favor Union, but the minority may yet carry the day. The border states want Crittenden's resolutions to pass, but many if the republicans will not vote for them, Petitions are going up from all quarters to vote for the resolutions, but there are more opponents than administrationists or in favor of them. South Car. has sent peace commisssioners to Washington but they demand the evacuation of Fort Sumpter which of course would then fall into the hand of S. C's and we might growl, they are not yet to be given up, but all is doubt.

Returned from newport last evening, just in time to miss the Philidelphian Public meeting. Buchanan and I were drawn to vindicate our rights and see if we could not convince the selectmen of plainfield that we had a right to vote. While waiting there the Senatorial convention for the tenth District met, and the members for Plainfield being incomplete, Pres Chelis appointed Buchanan and I to fill vacancies, thus we are acknowledge voters by our party and I cast the first vote for public affairs in the county convention at Newport. Yesterday Buchanan went before the Grand Jury and after two hours gained the day, the vote standing 14 to 3 there being only seventeen jurymen. My case did not come on as Barton did not want to try the jury to much. But another case was brought, a young man by the name of Stowell who worked for Rainsford was not allowed to vote, although he had voted here and his name was on the list, but he intended to leave town. Next week the trial comes off, we do not expet the petty jury will agree.

The Minervian's had a good meeting Miss Laithe had the poem and a good one it was, better than any I have heard from the society Jamson Barrows had very fine written essay and Miss Laurence recited very well the "Culprit Jay".

When I returned on Wednesday found a letter from my father containing Dft. for $100 and in answer to my letter left to my judgment what to do in regard to the state of my health. Shall go to Boston and may go to Portland to see Dr. Quimby, but have no faith in him. Last Friday morning Prof. Richards came into school and gave us a lecture and came down on smokers, sent forth an edict that those who used the "vile weed" might call on him and he would settle the matter, those that did not would be expelled. Some twenty have called. I have been down twice but have not had to talk with him yet as he has been busy.

Had a Levee this evening, there were about 20 girls and 60 boys, great times. A pleasant time was out of the question, for as soon as a fellow was seated besides a decent girl, some one was sure to bring some other one around, and up goes your apple cart. It was provoking to see the way they acted, everyone was sent on destroying the good times of anyone. Rovel came over to my room and we played back backgammon till twelve and left the Levee to take care of itself.

Politics are subsiding. The Pacific Railroad Ball was quashed by Douglass and Cuttendens' resolutions are not going to be adopted. Southern men are coming too, times are looking brighter.

This morning took the sage for Lebanon at 10:30, intending to be in Boston this evening, but the fates conspired against me and our old coach thinking its sides presented more surface to the pound than the runners, made an attempt at proving it by keeling over into a snow drift about two miles this side of Meriden and piling the ladies in close quarters. A little phisical [sic] force soon had the ladies up through the side and on to "Terra Firma" all safe without any broken bones, although we had a Dr. in tow. A few minutes righted the crash and we proceeded in for the ladies who has gone on to Rowels to warm themselves. Arrived at here in time to be too late for the train, so put up at the hotel till tomorrow morning 2:27 a.m. when will start again. The [beauties??] of upsetting has been fully had and found wanting. Mifs Rent was aiming the number in the coach and quite a time she had of it, but did not get hurt. Barney, Putney, and myself are bound for a time on a small scale. We found little amusement so played back gammon and are trying to bed soon as we want some sleep. Prof Richards came home and gave us a parting advice and was sorry he had been away so as not to attend to the smokers, but for my part was highly delighted. There is to be a social at Meriden this evening.

Yes truly it is pleasant to be disappointed, and such at least was not my feelings on finding, after waiting five hours for the train, that it would not be along till 12:33 so made the best of it we could under circumstances, for Lebanon is a not very good place to kill time. After dinner found the train would be another half hour late proving disapointment never came single, but arrived here on time and just in season for a late supper, being somewhat tired from sleepless nights and hard days I did but little running around and hurried off to bed which will be in about ten minutes. Am stopping at the Marlboro Hotel for varieties sake, find it very quiet and so far very pleasant but should imagine not very convenient.

Awoke this morning greatly refreshed, went out and found Mr. Jufts at Corner of Arch and [Franklin?] St. Then roamed around to see how Boston looked, found it about the same as usual. Busness is waking up Washington St. and many new buildings have been put up since I was here. As a general thing busness is quite down on account of the troubles and the Bostonian seems desirous of peace at all risks of party or afterward mishaps. Have made little examination of things as my feet are very sore, homely faces are apparent everywhere, poor cigars, are thick idle stove keeps, at all places.

One of those unpleasant days which keeps the fairer portion of Boston within doors, as if they were vines to [sic] frail to meet the cool blasts of winter; yet every pleasant day them out [sic] in number to see and be seen. One meets few pretty, no handsome, but many intellectual ladies in this City of Literature, fashion with the ladies is much more marked, for gentlemen seem to vie with each other in keeping up some old custom. Business is very dull the houses are doing little in the wholesale line, and the people are clamoring for peace at all risks and all sacrifices, perfectly regardless of any afterword consequences. Trade must be stopped is there motto, give me money, give me luxuries, but oh! for goodness sake don't stop trade. State street is in a ferment and one would think that State Street was a large part of all creation, but many times they will deceive themselves if they think any such nonsense. Amusments are plenty and not of the lowest kind, the theatres have some very good actions and they are sure to have the stars as soon the horizen brings them into full view. Concerts, aquarial gardens and the museum afford lovely profit for time spent in viewing the curiosities. The rain has made the street so bad that few are out and this evening the Music hall and other places will be thiner than they otherwise would.

Breakfast at 8 and Prayers at 9:30. Yes prayers for the Marlboro has a pious name far and new, yet methink it is only skin deep--young man who made you a judge of thy neighbor's acts? No one! Then you had better head [sic] your own warnings, the heart is deep and within, eyesight only sees the face and without, but you may say, the face reveals the heart, time it may sometimes but not always. After Prayers laid around to see what was going on, and found all quietness, silence and respect pervaded the whole, altho' some did not go to church but talked politics.

In the morning I went to the Music Hall and heard R. W. Emerson deliver a discourse on "Natural religion". Deep thought, fine reasoning, aspiring sentiment, easy course of life, pervaded the whole atmosphere. Morality was religion, humor, gospel, even heaven itself, my opinion it may be necessary to all these but each is made up of other ingredients. Hearing him one is lead to aspire after knowledge to command an audience as he does, not the aspiration after thing unseen.

In the afternoon McDuffs came up and we went over to hear Dr. Stone, and was much more interested in his discourse than Emerson's, a feeling pervaded all he said, that influence one in his every day conduct, it preserves him from acts he would otherwise indulge in. His style is rather to much affected for me. It always has seemed to [sic] much studied, but I liked him formerly more than this time.

Not having seen John Learned I hurried thro' breakfast, paid my bill, sent my valise to the Quincy house, and started for Cambridge where I arrived and found it [?eation?], but soon learned that John was around and at Divinity Hall. Knowledge is all to me hunting after a body, not possesing the article it was some time before I found myself at 22 D.H. when there my bird had flown and on [equirey?] he had gone to the Island south of B to the poor farm. The want of knowledge kept me from seeing some sights I might have seen, so must console myself with my ignorance. Returning I waited till evening when just as we were going out John made his appearance, we chatted then walked out and returned passed a very pleasant evening till 10 oclock when he thought it time to start for Cambridge. From what I learned he is very pleasantly situated, has some friends and aquantances and between school and duties his time is fully occupied. Politics are still the rage, some pulling one way some another, there was a discussion at the State House about sending commissioners to Washington to meet commissioners from all states and make up some document that will be accepted by the Border States. There is quite a strong feeling against them, but a majority will go for the appointment. I went to the Mass. General Hospital on Saturday, consulted the consulting physician paid my dollar, got my receipt and have heard my case was not desperate but will get well.

Waited for McDuffs till this morning and found he would not be ready in time so came up here. Found Uncle's health good for him and all well but poor David's face was not around to enliven the time. Eight weeks ago today he died, Aunt seems to feel it the most, and sad it is, a warning to us all. Foster is away to Milford and will not be back till tomorrow evening so will not see hm. John and I went over to the City and saw John McQ. and wife. Some change has come over John but he seems to be happy and contented with that little wife, who is in a fair way of adding ere long another to the race of human beings. We only made a call John left work and walked out part way with us. I stopped and had a long chat, he may yet move out to Kansas. Politics rage here but in a more stable form, not so much Union as principle and the constitution, such men one finds much more tractible. Republicans predominate and the regular black ones without going to extremes and making Abolitionists out of them . One great first the south has is their confounding the two parties and the Abolitionists are not with the south, for by war slavery will end. While the south mixes the two, we can unite the strength with the Abolitionists as both strong for war. The news from the South is failing while newspapers are circulating all sorts of stories.

Cars and Team brought me here save last Wednesday, without any accident, having had a very pleasant time and feeling much better after my short visit. One piece of news more important than all was that the selectmen of Plainfield have been found guilty of keeping legal voters of [sic] the list. When the grand jury found a Bill I never expected the petty jury would agree but they did and now they will appeal and press on, but little consolation it will be to them for the judges will be apt to settle the affair very sumarily [sic] and put on a few dollars more cost. The Boys are coming in but it was so very cold yesterday and the day before that not many have come as yet and it seems much more than probable that the school will not be as large as usual. Prof Richards is going to hear our Virgil and Greek, Charley will be assistant.

What Lincoln will do and what he won't do is very much talked of but people may yet be much disappointed for I have no idea he will be rabid, but on the contrary that he will be conservative. He has said nothing lately and all must be inferred from his works on some little detached sentences, care and watchfulness are prominent in his course methinks he will feel around pretty well before he gets in the presidential chair and will act for his country and not for his party altogether.

The large body of snow is fast disapearing by warm weather and rain, a flood may yet be the effect but is some cooler this evening. This diary being for my own special benefit and not for the public, it will be necessary in order to acomplish [sic] any and note change of habits, designs, of any act that are likely to bear in the future. After thinking the matter over have given up Latin and will review or study English altogether, in reference to the medical profession, will take Chemistry, Astronomy, and Intellectual philosophy. Will write Father telling him my decision and plan. I now intend entering my name with Dr. Philips of Windsor, if I can and agreable to Father, next spring. Take only one study here and continue a course he may lay down, then in the summer either go north to Montreal and learn French or continue with him till time to attend lectures in New York or Philidelphia. How much of this plan will be carried out I can not say, but if it meets my Father's approbation am bound, God willing, to carry it through. Reform has seized me, and am making with a change in my habits, have renounced the "weed" in tote, ever since the first of the term and have given up tea and coffee. Doing rather to [sic] much to have it last long but will try.

Time wears along and still our union is preserved, although some blow about a Southern confideracy, which if admitted has Jeff. Davis as President and Stephens as Geo Vice Pres. There convention is meeting or sitting at Montgomery Alabamma, they are labouring hard to maintian their ground but the fact is we are altogether to [sic] quiet for them, we at the month are experiencing a cold winter which keeps our blood, hence we do not worry them but allow them to do it themselves; then while Lincoln is journeying towards the White House they are on the road to ruin. The Peace congress at Washington are doing little or nothing as present, what great measure they may yet bring forward is not known but believed there is more in the name than the meeting, they have sent a committee out to report some measure and they came back with Guthrie's resolutions, but it is not supposed they will pass a full convention. Some prospects of Floyds coming before the committee to examine into the Bond defaulcation [sic], if so methink he will not return in a hurry to Virginia or other places outside of a jail. Lincolns [sic] tour to Washington is quite a boisterous and important affair, his speech at [blank] did not take very well [sinth??], it forboded firmness what they despise as by it they may yet loose their [formed?] confederacy, but at the north his remarks are well liked by all.

The day of compromise seems not yet to have dawned on the Republican party, some few have turned aside and asked the passage of any resolutions to save the country, others would have the Crittenden, Brekenbridge, or whatever you call them, resolution pass, but there is a cry from the East and the Great West of the Chicago platform. Compromise is left out and rights are demanded. Why should it not be so? Lincoln was elected on the Chicago platform and of course he must abide by it, and until we hear of his desire to avoid the consequences we may resonably hope he will maintian our faith pure and unsullied. The speeches he is now making on his way to Washington are true and patriotic, while the people are jubilant all along his course. There is no flaging of disposition; no cries of "peace, Peace, when then is no Peace," no cries of Crittenden Resolutions. All with one accord give him praise and trust his discretion know honor is word familiar in his ears, and accords with his own heart. Seward's speeches are eagerly grasped by the democrats and paraded around as containing doctrines different from, but methink they can derive little consolation, for now we find him as strong and as determined as ever to maintain the inviolable the constitution and Republican party.

Yesterday Brest Blanchard preached as usual and in the morning a very able discourse. We had no Bible excersise on account of bad weather with colds and coughs.

Today peace seems as far off as ever, the Guthrie proposition being accepted and discussed, will be rejected by the senate and House, so the committee will have to continue fighting or dissolve partnership. One great point is delay, then we can form some more definite plan for we can have a man as the helm of affairs who can be trusted. Should the South hold of her depredations till they find determination will not be wanting. I hardly think they will undertake to be very desperate, for now even they are beg

¹ See also Box 15-001a, box 15-001b, and Box 15-001d for the complete diary from April 4th 1859 to January 2nd 1862.

Also see end of diary at Box 15-001d for more information on Dr. Calvin Brooks McQuesten.

For more information on President Abraham Lincoln and the Bixby letter, see Box 04-002a; and W-MCP4-6.064 for Lincoln's assassination and John Wilkes Booth. A biographical sketch of Dr. Calvin Brooks is available under "Family" on the home page.