ing to meeting, so that I concluded to leave the subject until the next Sabbath, and preached old sermons.

Oct. 17, Lord's Day. Preached. Very much alarmed at a remarkable breaking-out upon Parker Dodge, supposed to be the small-pox. As I was in imminent danger, supposed I had taken it.

Oct. 18, Mon. It was confirmed by Dr. Manning that Dodge, who died last night, had the small-pox. So much surprised, that I concluded to go to Essex Hospital,* which is to be opened this day for receiving patients. Set out with Dr. Whitney and Mr. Robert Dodge, and went down in a boat from Beverly to Cat Island, where the Hospital is erected. Arrived about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Went up to the Hospital, and found Dr. Jackson and Mr. Gerry, who gave me encouragement that I should have a berth. I should have been inoculated, but the doctor had not brought down his bandages. He gave us physic, and promised to come from Marblehead early in the morning, and inoculate us.

Oct. 19, Tues. This morning very rainy. Sent for Dr. Jackson. He came about 11 o'clock. I should then have been inoculated, but Mr. Gerry would not consent to have any matter opened, until all were gone from the Island who were going that night. The people, by this time arrived in several vessels from Marblehead, and thronged the Hospital. As I was not a signer, I had no right to plead for a berth, and presently found I could not be accommodated, and was obliged, after I had taken physic, to go off the Island. Got to Marblehead about sunset, and came to Mr. Balch's, at New Mills, and tarried with him.

*The Hospital at Cat Island was erected by Azer Orne, Jonathan Glover, John Glover, and Elbridge Gerry, of Marblehead. Dr. Hall Jackson, an eminent physician of Portsmouth, N. H., who had distinguished success in treating small-pox, was appointed superintend ent, and, October 16th, entered upon his duties. The people of Marblehead, apprehending that the dread disease, by means of the Hospital, might become a pestilence among them, were violently opposed to it; and a party of men completely disguised, on the night of January 26, 1774, went to the Island and set fire to the Hospital, which had been temporarily closed, and the buildings, with their contents, were destroyed. See Road's Hist. Marblehead.

Oct. 21, Thurs.

About the parish among the sick.

Oct. 26. Visited a number sick with a fever.

Oct. 31, Lord's Day. Preached to a very full meeting. A great many notes.

Nov. 10, Wed. Attended the funeral of Mrs. Swain. A large funeral. Mrs. Cutler went with me. Mr. Willard prayed. Mr. Willard, myself, Mr. Hitchcock, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Miller, and Deacon Kimball were pall-bearers. Mr. Tappan and the ministers in Salem were sent to, but did not come. After we returned from the grave to the house, we had a supper of cold provision, and a glass of wine, which was provided by the people. The town (Wenham) was so generous as to bear the expense of Mrs. Swain's funeral.

Nov. 11, Thurs. Dr. Whitney returned this evening from the Hospital at Cat Island, in perfect health; likewise Mr. Robert Dodge, having had the small-pox very light.

Nov. 25, Thurs. Annual Thanksgiving. Brother Balch and sister, Mr. Moses Brown, Mr. O'Brien, and Miss Hannah Balch, kept Thanksgiving with us. Preached; and, after the exercise, the people had a contribution for the poor, and there appeared to be a very handsome collection.

Dec. 21-23, Thurs. Studied hard, and finished both my

sermons.

Dec. 25, Sat. Dr. Whitney went with me to Church in Salem. Mr. Gilchrist preached in the morning, and Mr. Nichols in the afternoon. Dined at Dr. Rust's. Dined at Dr. Rust's. A warm, pleasant Christmas.

Dec. 26, Lord's Day.

Preached a Christmas sermon.

Dec. 27, Mon. This evening Mr. Asa Everett came from Dedham with the melancholy news that Mr. Balch was dangerously sick.

Jan. 8, 1774, Sat. This day my honored father, the Rev. Mr. Balch, departed this life, at 8 o'clock in the morning, in the sixty-third year of his age, and the thirty-eighth of his ministry. An irreparable loss to his family and friends, and much lamented by his people. He left a sorrowful widow and seven children to lament his exit.

Jan. 13, Thurs. This day the Rev. Mr. Balch was interred.

The parish buried him in a very honorable manner. Eight ministers were appointed as pall-bearers, and four underbearers, or porters. He was carried from his own house to the Meeting House. The Rev. Mr. Dunbar prayed, then two hymns in the Funeral Thoughts were sung; then the Rev. Mr. Payson prayed. The coffin was then opened, and all the people had an opportunity to see the corpse; after which the funeral procession began, and was very long. The sexton went first, then the Church, then the body, then the mourners and friends, then the parish, then strangers. I was unable (from a severe attack of pneumonia) to go out, but ventured down to see the corpse, before it was carried out of the house. Feb. 24, Thurs. Fast at town on account of small-pox. I was sent for, and attended.

Mar. 1, Tues. Visited the people. This day received the first number of the Royal American Magazine.

Mar. 17, Thurs. Preached a lecture at Deacon Whipple's, by the desire of his daughter, Hannah, who, for a long time, has been detained from meeting on account of the ill state of her health. A full meeting. [These lectures were continued weekly for forty years.]

Mar. 22, Tues. Attended Judge Ropes' funeral, at Salem. Mar. 27, Lord's Day. Preached. Sacrament. A full meeting. Proposed to the Church to read a portion of Scripture at the beginning of public worship.

April 3, Lord's Day. Began to read the Scriptures. Read the first Psalm in the morning, and the first chapter of Matthew in the afternoon. Esq. Mansfield, of Marblehead, dined with us.

Apr. 19, Tues. Received the melancholy news of the death of my honored mother. She departed this life on the 8th inst. after a very short illness. Blessed are they that die in the Lord.

Apr. 20, Wed. Set out for my father's.

Apr. 24, Lord's Day. Preached at Killingly to a very attentive and much affected congregation.

May 4, Wed. Madam Holyoke came to visit us. Dr. Cooper and lady, of Boston, here.

May 8, Lord's Day. Preached to a large congregation.

Began to read in the large folio Bible presented to the church and parish by Madam Whipple.

May 10, Tues. Attended the funeral of the Rev. Mr. Jewett, of Rowley. Mr. Hale made a prayer in the Meeting House, the corpse being in the broad alley. Mr. Chandler preached a sermon, and Mr. Parsons made a speech at the grave.

June 30, Thurs. Fast on account of the melancholy situation of our public affairs. A very full meeting. Carried on the whole exercise myself.

July 5, Tues. Minister's meeting at Wenham. Mr. Adams, of Roxbury, preached a very honest, serious, good sermon. A very fine dinner. The two Mr. Barnards, Mr. Dunbar, Mr. Willard, and Mr. Hitchcock, present.

July 14, Thurs. Fast in most of the towns in the Province. In the afternoon rode to Topsfield to attend the funeral of Mr. Emerson. Mr. Leslie and Mr. Holyoke were applied to for assistance in their fast, and the funeral was attended after these exercises were over. A great number of people present. The bearers had gloves and weeds.

Aug. 7, Lord's Day. Preached at Beverly for Mr. Willard. This day Madam Whipple departed this life. One of my best friends in the parish.

Aug. 9, Tues. Madam Whipple buried. The largest funeral and attended with the most solemnity and good order of any person's that has yet been buried in this place since my settlement. She was laid in the tomb where Major Epes and his family are laid, and Deacon Whipple, her consort.

Aug. 10, Wed. Went to Salem to prove her will.

Sept. 1, Thurs. In Boston. Viewed the regiments on the Common and Fort Hill.

Sept. 2, Fri. Returned home by way of Cambridge, in order to see the vast number of country people, who were assembling at Cambridge in consequence of the powder, in the Arsenal at Medford, being seized by the Governor. There were about 4,000 men.

Sept. 6, Tues. The County Congress sat at Ipswich. Went over to hear the debates. They made a very handsome appearance.

Sept. 26, Mon. Mrs. Cutler and I set out for Dedham.

We passed through Boston, and observed the intrenchments the soldiers were throwing up, upon the Neck, to defend themselves against the country people.

Sept. 27, Tues. Brother Balch and I rode to Dorchester to attend Mr. Everett's ordination.

Sept. 28, Wed. This day Mr. Moses Everett was ordained. The Council sat at Dr. Holden's. It consisted of ten churches. Mr. Robbins began with prayer, Mr. Haven preached, Mr. Dunbar gave the charge, Dr. Cooper made the concluding prayer, and Dr. Eliot gave the right hand of fellowship. Fine day and large concourse of people.

Oct. 4, Tues. I attended the Council at Chebacco with the delegates of our church. The Council adjourned to this day three weeks.

Oct. 25, Tues. The Council sat again at Chebacco.

Oct. 26, Wed. The Council convened again, and finally united the two churches in Chebacco into one, and gave them the right hand of fellowship.

Dec. 8, Thurs. Training Lieutenant Robert Dodge's company. I marched over with the company and dined with him.

Dec. 15, Thurs. Thanksgiving appointed by the Provincial Congress, and not by the Governor. A proclamation or re

solve from them was sent to all the ministers in the Province. A wet, lowering day. A contribution made for the poor. In the evening attended three weddings.

Jan. 19, 1775, Thurs. Captain Patch made an entertainment for his company. Mrs. Cutler and I were invited. A very fine entertainment.

Jan. 25, Wed. A lady came to our house, who has made a great noise in the country, and has been the occasion of various conjectures. She calls herself Carolina Augusta Harriet, Duchess of Brownstonburges. Says she has resided in the Court of England for several years; that she eloped from the Palace of St. James. She appears to be a person

* Rev. Moses Everett, of Dorchester, graduated in 1771 at Harvard University. He married November 24, 1774, Miss Lucy Balch, of Dedham, a sister of Mrs. Cutler. Mr. Everett died March 25, 1813.