Examination week has arrived again and has brought all its usual
indescribable occupations, feelings, and troubles. A faithful sketch of the
weeks history would be invaluable, and if I am destined to complete my
Collegiate course, I will give one of a succeeding examination. At present
however a rude sketch of the principal events, is the "height of my
ambition". I commenced by deputing Gov.
Holmes
to supply my place in the
Chapel at
morning prayers, I myself preferring to enjoy the luxurious embrace of the warm
bed. Most willingly would I have continued his authority, and made him my
deputy at the breakfast table: but my offended stomach gave sundry growls,
which plainly indicated that my pursuit of such a course would be at my own
imminent peril. Reluctantly, therefore, but speedily, I arose, and induing my
garments with all practicable haste, I described a course to
Miss. Nancy,s,
2
which, not slow at first, was continually accelerated. And—oh horrible
dictu! after all my suffering, I did not get a good breakfast.
Page 2
We were examined this morning in the Junior Recitation
Room on Natural Philosophy by
Prof.
Phillips
, and (contrary to his expectations expressed a few days ago in
a very scurrilous speech to the Class) stood a very fine examination. The class
indeed did itself distinquished credit and recited very well. The hour to
dinner,
to I employed in writing a
letter to
James W.
Cade, and had I time, I should enter extracts here; a sufficient remark
is that I reciprocated his desire to meet, and expressed warmly my friendship
for him. After dinner we were examined on Logick by
Prof.
[William] Green
, and that in separate divisions, though we have recited
together all the session. The recitation was much better than I expected, and
showed that the class had a much
more thorough
knowledge with Logic than I had supposed. At night I attended a wine party at
Tompkin,s
room, where he had abundance of fine Madeira and
possum.
Spaight
,
Bunch
,
L. Dancy
, and
yellowley
were present, and
J.
Summerell
. I enjoyed myself very much and shall long recollect it:
perhaps for ever, as I deem it more than probable that I shall never meet the
two first in a social party again.