September 1, 1860

Met the seniors and had a talk with them.  They gave their reasons.  A committee went to Dr. Metcalf and he talked with them.  He was inclined to move that the fine be recalled, and did so, and it was done on the ground that what took place was a private matter between him and the class.

August 31, 1860

Dr. Metcalf called to see me about the seniors who are in rebellion about two fines imposed last term for not reciting to Professor Bates.  They cannot recite till they have paid their bills, and these fines are part of their bills.

August 30, 1860

College opened with prayer, at ten A.M.  The Chapel was well filled; the students are very generally back.

August 29, 1860

Professor Wheeler had come to enter on his duties of Professor of Greek, to which he was elected at our last Commencement. I have great faith that he will give a high character to his department.

August 21, 1860

Wrote to John Henry Parker for information about the Bampton lecturer with a view to giving Mr. Ayrault information, as he is meditating something of the same kind.

Arrange with Mr. Douglas to go to Watkins tomorrow to see about stone for our Chapel (we decided against it).

August 16, 1860

Gibson offered the memorial for the College on behalf of the Alumni, as agreed at the Commencement dinner; and Martindale, the lawyer from Rochester, offered the resolution I had prepared, and made a short speech followed by Governor Seymour and Governor Hunt and Rev. C.H. Platt. S. spoke like a politician, H. earnestly and handsomely, but P.  bore the palm.

August 15, 1860

I went to Grace Church to meet a committee to consider about drawing up a resolution for the College to be presented tomorrow.  I agreed to draw on and did so.

August 14, 1860

Preach in Trinity Church, Utica, and make an appeal for Hobart College.

August 13, 1860

Went to see Mr. Gardner’s house in reference to our material for College Chapel. I think the effect of this stone, as managed, is very fine.

August 10, 1860

Had to write to S.H. Coxe and J.M. Clark today on a snarl in College affairs in relation to the preacher before the convention.

July 31, 1860

Mr. Ayrault handed me the subscription book with his subscription of $10,000 written in! God be thanked. And he disclosed to me yesterday more of other generous plans for Hobart College: such as founding a lecture like the Bampton and a Chair of Agricultural chemistry and advised with me about them.

July 30, 1860

Went with Mr. Page in Mr. Ayrault’s carriage to visit judge Carroll – to solicit his aid in our effort for the College.  This morning Mr. Ayrault and I agreed on a form for writing in his subscription.  Go to see Mr. James Wadsworth.  Have a brief conversation with him and introduce the subject of the College and our plans.  He said he would, with pleasure, consider our pamphlet and plans.

July 28, 1860

Talk with Mr. Ayrault about College matters.  He seems to feel very kindly and to regard his $10,000 subscription, which he seemed to take back, as a matter of course.  He assumes it.  Talk with Mr. Ayrault about endowments and plans.

July 27, 1860

Go to Geneseo. Went to see Mr. Ayrault.

June 30 1860

Waked soon after four by the sounds of an approaching serenade.  The senior class had a supper at twelve o’clock last night, and sat up till morning, and then, as is their custom, went around to serenade the Faculty.  Here they sang, “Home, Sweet Home,” and gave three times three cheers for the Rev. Dr. Jackson, President, wishing all prosperity to the College, under his administration. 

            At half past seven, took cars to Syracuse to see Mr. White about the Rhetorical Prize – his agent having implied that it was not on a sure basis.  Stopped in Auburn to see Mr.  Chedell, to whom Mr. White referred me two weeks ago, when too ill to see me.  Mr. Chedell could tell me nothing.  Mr. Hill met me in Syracuse, saying Mr. White was not well enough to see me.  However, just as I was about to leave, he drove me around to see Mr. White, and I had a clear understanding with him about the prize.

June 29, 1860

Commencement is over! And today the reaction comes.  Write to our new doctors, informing them of their honors.  Signed diplomas and received calls. 

June 28, 1860

 Commencement.

Trustees met at quarter to nine.  Brought up the matter of degrees for the graduating class.  At ten, procession formed.  Commencement exercises in Linden Hall.  Such a crowd as I never saw before; no going out or in; men almost wholly excluded from the room and confined to the stage.  We had at a table on the stage, reporters from the New York Times, Herald, Geneva Courier and the various country papers.  This shows a growing interest in the College.  Dodworth’s band discoursed superb music, twenty-six pieces.  The speaking was fine, some of it very superior.  Poor MacDonald could not speak his valedictory for a sore throat.  Worthington read it for him exceedingly well.  The distributing of prizes was an impressive scene and conferring the diplomas; and the singing of “Old Hundred” to the music of the band, was sublime.  It seemed as if nearly every voice in that vast room joined in it, and the audience was solemnized by it so that while I pronounced the benediction there was the deepest stillness.

            There was an Alumni meeting after the exercises and at half past three we sat down about a hundred strong to a dinner prepared by Suydam, in Military Hall, over Linden.  The dinner was good.  Toasts and speeches followed – by Dr. A. Schuyler, W. H. Bogart, Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer, Mr. Ayrault, Mr. Swift, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Neely, Mr. Gribson and others.  I spoke on endowments and others of the above followed, and there was a great animation and spirit and everything passed off well.  Huson presided as President of the Alumni.

            In the evening there was a crowded levee at our house.  There was a reception by the class in Linden Hall largely attended by the young people, dancing to music by Dodworth’s band.  This band has been a great attraction to this Commencement, and was the main reason for the great crowd.

June 27, 1860

Attend meeting of Trustees at nine.  At ten preside at the speaking for the White Rhetorical for two hours and a half.  At four go to hear Mr. Ayrault’s address on Growth, in Linden Hall.  A good vigorous thing.  Go to the concert for a while in the evening.  Dodworth’s band, tremendous crowd, superb music, a great crowd of strangers in town.

June 26, 1860

Trustees met at ten. At four, preside over reading of White Prize essays. In the evening go to Scotch Presbyterian Church to hear Dr. Morgan’s address before the Brotherhood – a brilliant thing, admirably delivered, to a small audience.

At the meeting of the Board everything passed off pleasantly. There were no parties there and no sinister objects appear. The business men of the Board seem thoroughly to understand its financial affairs, income, expenditure, investments, securities, &c; and in all other matters relative to the organization, discipline of the college, appointments of officers, &c. they seemed to place the greatest confidence in me and are willing to carry out my views. It is very pleasant to see such confidence, for I cannot live in an atmosphere of distrust.

June 25, 1860

Dr. and Mrs. Morgan are our guests.  Up late working at my reports as president, and as chairman of the endowment committee.

June 24, 1860

 Baccalaureate Sunday.

Service in the afternoon.  Dr. Metcalf and Dr. Bissall read the service, and I preached without notes from Isaiah 26:3.

June 20, 1860

Go to Prof. Towler’s picnic in honor of his birthday at Mr. Stone’s on the lake shore. In the evening had a talk with Prof. Wheeler about joining us as a professor in the Greek department, and what salary he would be willing to come on.

June 17, 1860

Preached in Waterloo on the “Truth making free” and applied to education and the College.

June 14, 1860

Stop in Syracuse on my return.  Call on Mr. Horace White and on General Granger.  Find Mr. White so feeble he could only see me for a single minute.

June 13, 1860

Went to Whitesboro to preach before the convocation of the clergy of Oneida and adjacent counties.

June 12, 1860

Wrote to Prof. Wheeler telling him that Prof. Folwell has decided to go abroad, and that we should want him in College next year.  Letter from T.G. Salter asking for a D.D. for Rev. T.R. Lambert.

June 10, 1860

Preached.  Also made an address in behalf of the College in Grace Church.  Collection in aid of students for the ministry.  Made an appeal for the College in the afternoon at the Christ Church. 

June 6, 1860

Dr. Hadley who is now arranging the Mineralogical cabinet for the College, dined with us.  Dr. Hadley intends to devote two weeks to the cabinet for $50, which the Trustees appropriate. 

June 5, 1860

Dr. Wilson and I went to Bishop DeLancey’s to meet him as a committee to choose the committee for the White Essays.  He agreed on Rev. J. M. Clark, Rev. G.H. Hills and Charles Stebbins, Esq.

June 3, 1860

 Seneca Falls.

Preach and make an appeal for the College.