John Quincy Adams to Abigail (daughter of JA and AA) Adams, March 15, 1786

Cambridge, March 15th, 1786

What shall I say to justify the date of this letter, after so many fair promises to be punctual, and so many obligations to be so, from your being so exact? To skip nearly four months without writing a line. Indeed, my only plea is, that which I have already offered—a want of time. I have been, indeed, very much hurried since I came to Haverhill, and of late more than ever. At the beginning of the year I was informed, that of the short time I expected to be at Haverhill, six weeks were to be curtailed, and that instead of entering at the last of April, I must come by the middle of March, in order to attend two courses of experimental philosophy. I might have waited till next commencement, and then entered as senior; and in that case I should have had time enough to write to my friends, but I should have missed one course of lectures. Besides, I had undertaken last fall, to be ready to enter before the class began upon natural philosophy. When I found my time shortened, I determined to lay aside every thing else, and attend only to my present business; supposing you would prefer to have me qualified in every respect for the place I was to enter in this University, to hearing from me often. And to enter here, it is not necessary to know any thing but what is found in a certain set of books, and I have heard it asserted, that some of the best scholars, after having taken their degrees, would not be received if they offered as freshmen, because they commonly forget those parts of learning which are required in a freshman. Since the first of January, I have not, upon an average, been four hours in a week (Sundays excepted) out of Mr. Shaw’s house. And now, I thank heaven, I have got through this business, and shall have time to write you more often.

Yesterday I came here from Haverhill, and this day passed examination before the president, professors and tutors. 1 After they had done with me, and laid their wise heads together to consult whether I was worthy of entering this University, the president came marching as the heroes on the French stage do, and with sufficient pomposity said: “Adams, you are admitted.” I have already come to the resolution of showing all the respect and deference to every member of the government of the College that they can possibly claim, but to you, I can venture to give my real sentiments, such as arise spontaneously in my mind, and that I cannot restrain.

It is necessary, after having gone through the ceremony of examination, to pass a number of others before you can be considered as a member of the University. 2 When I went the last time to the President, said he, “Adams, both Mr. Shaw and Dr. Tufts have informed me that you wish to live within the walls of the college, and when you return here you may come to me.” He did not tell me where I was to live; but I found out it is to be with a Mr. Ware, who took his degree last commencement, and is now keeping the town-school here. 3 He is very much esteemed and respected in college, and has an excellent chamber; this was a very fortunate circumstance, as it will be both more agreeable and less expensive to live in college, than it would have been to board in town. I strolled about with Charles Storer, heard the debates in the House of Representatives, and some pleadings at the Supreme Court, which is now sitting. 4