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I have somewhere seen an essay, to prove that a man’s temper depends greatly on the weather; I will not however give the argument brought forward to prove this important fact for two reasons.

Firstly because it appears to me self evident; and secondly because I don’t intend to write a them, but a letter.

Strange that any person in his sober senses, should put two such sentences as the above in a letter, but howsomedever, “what’s done cant be helped.”

Every thing goes on here as regular as clock work, and it is as dull as one of Dr Ware’s sermons. (A very forcible comparison that, you must allow).

The Davy Club got into a little trouble the week before last, from the following momentous circumstance.

Hen. Williams gave a lecture on Pyrotechny, and illustrated it with a parcel of fire works he had prepared in the vacation. The report spread through college, that here was to be a “display of fire works,” and on the night of their meeting the Davy room was crowded, and those unfortunate youths who could not get in, stood in the yard round the windows. As you may imagine, there was some slight noise on the occasion. In fact the noise was so slight, that Bowne heard it at his room in Holworthy.

This worthy, boldly determined to march forth and disperse the “rioters.” Accordingly in the midst of a grand display of rockets, et cetera, he stept into the room, and having gazed round him in silent astonishment for the space of two minutes, and hearing various cries of,—Intrusion—Throw him over—Saw his leg off—Pull his wool &c &c he made two or three dignified motions with his hand to gain attention, and then kindly advised us to “retire to our respective rooms.” Strange to say he found no one inclined to follow this good advice, and he accordingly thought fit to withdraw.

There is (as perhaps you know) a law against keeping powder in the college buildings.

The effect of “Tutor Bowens” intrusion was evident on the next Monday night, when Williams and Bigelow were invited to call and see President Quincy, and owing to the tough reasoning of Bowen, who boldly asserted that “powder was powder,” they were each presented with public admonition.

We had a miniature volcanoe at Websters lecture the other morning, and the odours therefrom, surpassed all ever produced by Araby the blest.

Imagine to yourself all the windows and shutters of the above named lecture room closed, and then if possible stretch your fancy a little farther and conceive the delightful scent produced by the burning of nearly a bushel of Sulphur, Phospuretted Hydrogen, and other still more pleasant ingredients.

As soon as the burning commenced there was a general rush to the door, and a crowd collected there, running out every half minute to get a breath of fresh air, and then coming in to see the volcanoe.

“No noise nor nothing.”

Bigelow and Dr Bacon manufactured some “laughing gas,” and administered it on the Delta. It was much better than that made by Webster.

Jack Weiss took some as usual. King, Freshman, took a bag, a and produced surprising effects, merely by running into all the unhappy individuals he met, who seemed by no means desirous of his company. Wheeler, Joe Allen, and Hildreth, each received a dose. Wheeler proceeded to dance for the amusement of the company, Joe signalized himself by jumping over the Delta fence, and Sam raved about Milton Shakespeare Byron &c. Sam took two doses. It produced great effect on him. He seemed to be as happy as a mortal could desire, talked with Shakespeare, Milton &c, and seemed to be quite at home with them. It was amusing to trace the connexion of his ideas, and on the whole he afforded greater entertainment than any other person there, it affected him however very strongly, and he did not get over it till he was led off the Delta and carried into Wheelers room; he was well enough however next day.

This letter containeth a strange mixture.

All possible allowance must be made for want of time, not being accustomed to letter writing &c &c.

Hope you are all well, at home.

Yours truly
A. G. Peabody

  Israel Rice thinks the first half of June is not commonly so warm as May, and that the reason is that vegetation is so advanced that the earth is shaded and protected from the sun by the grass also, so that it is delayed in being warmed by the summer sun.

  High Blackberry out. As I go by Hayden’s in the still cool morning, the farmer’s door is open—probably his cattle have been attended to – and the odor of the bacon which is being fried for his breakfast fills the air. The dog lies with his paws hanging over the windowsill this agreeably cool morning . . .

  P.M.—To Carlisle Bridge by boat.

  A strong but somewhat gusty southerly wind, before which C. [William Ellery Channing] and I sailed all the way from home to Carlisle Bridge in not far from an hour; the river unusually high for the season . . .

  P.M.—To Clintonia Swamp and Pond . . .

  Found a ground-robin’s nest, under a tuft of dry sedge which the winter had bent down, in sprout-land on the side of Heywood Peak, perfectly concealed, with two whitish eggs very thickly sprinkled with brown; made of coarse grass and weed stems and lined with a few hairs and stems of the mahogany moss . . .

  P.M.—Up railroad . . .

  Hear a familiar warbler not recognized for some years, in the thick copse in Dennis’s Swamp, south of the railroad; considerably yellowbird-like (the note)—tshe tshe tshar tshar tchit, tchit tit te vet. It has apparently a yellow head, bluish or slaty wings . . .

  Return via Clamshell. Yellow clover abundantly out, though the heads are small yet. Are they quite open? Comandra umbellata, apparently a day or two.

  Frank Harding caught five good-sized chivin this cold day from the new stone bridge . . .