December, 1819. 1. Spent most of this day with Mr. Reed, Engraver, East Windsor, Connecticut, respecting Engraving Plans of Ancient Works, in Ohio, &c. George & Rebecca-my nephew Moses' son and daughter, came to keep thanksgiving day with me. 2. Thanksgiving day throughout the Newengland States. Went to Church. Wm. Andrews, and my nephew's son and daughter dined with me. Lent Mr. John Brazer,1 for Dr. Holmes two MSS. of Increase Mather-one his Diary. Belonging to the Library of the Am. Antiq". Society. (returned) 3. My nephew's son and daughter returned home. Diploma,2 Engraving & printing for Am. Antiq". Society 110.00. John Brazer, the son of Samuel and Betsy Allen Brazer, of Worcester, Mass., after receiving the common school education was placed in a store in Boston. Α mercantile life not being congenial to his tastes, however, he privately prepared for college, entered Harvard in 1810, and was graduated with the class of 1813. He studied theology, and at the same time served as tutor in Greek from 1815 to 1817, when he was made College Professor of the Latin Language and Literature. In 1820 he resigned this chair to become the minister of the North Church in Salem, where he remained until his death. In 1846 he went to South Carolina for his health and died there on the plantation of his classmate, Dr. Benjamin Hager on Cooper River. Dr. Brazer was a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard from 1829 to 1846; and in 1836 he received the degree of D.D. from that college. He was a frequent contributor to the North American Review and the Christian Examiner, and also published many sermons, addresses and essays. He married, 19 April, 1821, Annie Warren, daughter of William and Sarah Warren Sever of Worcester. [Born, Worcester, 21 September, 1789. Died, South Carolina, 26 February, 1846.] 2 The original copper-plate of this diploma, which was engraved by Abner Reed, is supposed to have been lost in the Stationer's Hall fire in Boston. At the top of the diploma, which was ten by sixteen inches in size, is an engraving, representing Columbus standing upon the fore deck of his caravel, which is being driven on by the gale, its sails partly reefed and partly torn. Before him stands a cask, and five men are shown with him on the deck. Above this engraving, and within the scroll surrounding it, is the legend:-"He (Columbus) wrote on parchment an account of his discoveries, wrapped it in a piece of oiled cloth & enclosed it in a 4. My Grandsons returned to Northboro'. Settled all accounts at Wor. Bank. 5. Went to Church twice. 6. Mrs. Manning & Miss Lynde visit this evening-W. Andrews sleeps with us this week. 7. Mrs. M. T. had a party -Mrs. R. A. T. present and Mrs. K. 8. Moses Thomas & wife, visit. Killed a very fat pig, 7 months old. A Frenchman-sent up a paper Baloon. of more than 30 feet this Evening-it was illuminated, and rose handsomely. Miss Anne Lynde spent the Even. 9. Met with a number of Gentlemen in the Court house, This Evening to express an opinion to Congress of our disapprobation of permitting Slavery in any of the new States.1 Balloon sent up. cake of wax, which he put into a tight cask, and threw into the sea. (Belknap.)" On either side and beneath is the quotation from Virgil:-“Olim meminnisse juvabit.” Then follows the certificate of election: "To The AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, instituted for the purpose of COLLECTING AND PRESERVING Materials for the History, and for promoting the Arts and Sciences of this Western Continent, did on the day elect you a Member, and ask your aid. In testimony whereof I have caused the Seal of the Society to be affixed to this Diploma. of in the Year of our Lord | Solomon Strong was chairman of this meeting, and Levi Lincoln, Jr., secretary. After an address by Rev. Aaron Bancroft, Oliver Fiske, Isaac Goodwin, Edward D. Bangs, Bezaleel Taft, Jr., and Samuel M. Burnside were appointed a committee to prepare resolutions expressive of the sense of the convention upon the subject of the toleration of slavery in the country west of the Mississippi. In the report of this committee, which was submitted on the following evening, was this resolution:-"Resolved, that this meeting most earnestly requests their Representatives in Congress to use their unremitted exertions to prevent the sanction of that honorable body to any further extension of slavery, within the extending limits of the United States-more particularly, in giving a precedent in the case of the admission of Mis souri-a precedent which, in future, may be the means of depopulating the vast wilds of Africa, and rendering our boasted Land of Liberty pre-eminent, only as a Mart for Human Flesh!" 10. Do. passed Resolutions. 12. Went to Church twice. 13. Visit to Miss Lynde. Mrs. T. cold. 14. Went with Mrs. K. this Even. to see another illuminated balloon ascend-managed by an elderly poor Frenchman, it was made of paper 4 or 5 feet in diameter, and about 10 in height--he inflated it with ease, and it arose handsomely. 17. Comee. of Publications of the Am. Antiq". Society met at my house. Mrs. T. had a Tea party. 18. Come of publication met again this day at the same place, examining the Communications from the Western Country on its antiquities. 19. Went to Church twice. 20. Sub council of the Am. Antiq". Society met as usual at my house. 21. Miss Lynde-visit Even". Court Martial. 22. 23. Moses Thomas-visit. Went to visit my Brother in Lancaster-called on Rev. Mr. Nash in my way. Called on Capt. Ward, Rev. Mr. Thayer, and on Mrs. Putnam, who is in a decline and Mrs. Seaver who keeps with her sister. Lodged at my brother's, Parker at Mr. White's at the Toll gate. 24. Returned home--called again on my way home on the same persons that I did yesterday, all of them. Mrs. Putnam is not expected to continue long-She sat up in her bed to receive me. Dined with my nephew in Sterling. 25. Settled a dispute with G. A. Trumbull, and, to accomodate, consented to allow him 60 dollars for which he had no honourable claim. 26. Went to Church twice. 28. Mr. Ewer from Boston. |