Interesting manuscript diary kept by an introspective young man reading medicine in upstate New York in a doctor's office outside Syracuse. Our diarist is prone to self reflection and examination and while not overly enthusiastic about his medical studies or his preceptor, is certainly diligent. He had previously attended Geneva Academy, is intelligent as well as literate, and had clearly read Montaigne and taken that author as a model for his own diary.

       July 13, 1838

       "This day I commence keeping a Diary or daily journal of transactions & matters with which I am concerned - My object is not the narration of surprising adventures or labors extraordinary. The tenor of my life is far too humble & its every day scenes too commonplace & monotonous to afford that tissue of thrilling incidents worthy to be chronicled in daily chapters & to furnish either instruction or amusement to any curious eye ... Learn to live well is the language of wisdom, but how shall I acquire this lesson without first learning how I live? And what will show for better evidence of the consistency of my life than a fair copy of it written out from day to day? ... It will provide the rational solution of experience for the Apostles inquiry: "For what is your life?...

             J. D. N. a Van Buren man told me to day that he disapproved of the Sub Treasury but would support Van Buren. From this I learn that there is a class who support men & not measures."

      July 14

      "Walked to Canton in the morning ... I was able to read in the Doctor's office with little inconvenience till the hour of twelve. My attention was given to Dyspnea & Asthma in Good's Study of Medicine..."

      July 16

      "... read seven hours - Temper morose & irritable like incubus brooding hard on the breast of the distempered dreamer - Saw or heard little to be pleased with. Found beasts unreasonable & men contradicting their preeminence. I saw a neighbor provided with a jug of whiskey for haymakers! He thought it did a great deal of good! This season will see more liquor used in this town than did the last. O the march of improvement! The Black Prince has his full quantum of suffrages & his interests are well sustained in this town. Temperance men should stand out in decided opposition to this rallying foe."

      July 17

      "Read ten hours - felt dull & heavy headed. The infirmities of mortality are importunate companions. Precarious health straitened circumstances with a spur behind & prick before born to the taskmaster imposed by poverty and ill-quieted ambition ..."

       July 18

       "... Every day exhibits of chapter of human nature to the philosophic observer for the study of mankind. To day a young man came into the office & presented me a small strip of paper bearing some straggling marks of black ink which at first sight I took as a sample of some new hand writing but soon discovered it to be a petition for charity declaring the petitioner to be of poor parentage & otherwise afflicted by divine Providence viz: with the hip complaint & that he was in need of about six dollars to bear his expenses to Ohio where his parents reside. The young man of about my own age, urged his application with an air of great indifferent complacency and intimated no reproaches tho my last six pence tarried in the deep folds of my pocket. This case is a novelty in American youth - I hope such will be "few & far between." This land of abundance should afford her unfortunate sons an independent livelihood. Traveling mendicancy suits not the name of citizen ..."  

       July 25

       "Occupied as usual with reading but did little at it. Called on by a Frenchman - unable to converse with him without an interpreter - I must acquire the French language ... Today the young man in Rochester hanged for the murder of Lyman."

       July 27

       "Cautiousness, I am told is a prominent trait in my character - I am inclined to think it true independent of Phrenology for I learn it from vexatious experience. While I am naturally too cautious, the nick of time, the best opportunity for doing well is lost. Of this almost every day has an example & the present one is not deficient. I have no one to blame. The error loci et temporis is a growth of my growth & must be rectified by myself."

      August 11

      "I have not had opportunity to note for the three days past ... The Book Store boat was at Canton on that day where I might have made some advantageous exchanges but, to afford another instance in proof of the truth of Phrenology that ruling organ, which is to be my eternal embarrassment - excessive cautiousness, prevented the advantage of instant decision & sagacious management till the hour of visitation was passed ... No great credit would be given me for confessing this mental abstraction & slowness of apprehension - with so great an infirmity I can hardly forbode a greater affliction with a certain Montaigne, who thought he saw in the defection of his memory a likelihood of his living to the time when he should forget his own name ... On the ninth I went to Syracuse ... saw considerable pieces of wheat standing out - people threshing at several places - Yesterday found business in Cooper's Surgery... I understand several buildings were struck by lightning in Syracuse this afternoon - one barn entirely consumed in Onondaga..."

      August 16

      "A rainy day - went to Canton - took pills - saw Blair. He is getting ready to go to college. I should like to go along with him & leave the carnal sacrifices of Esculapius - The Doctor pf Physic & the practical surgen are, indeed the servants of humanity & often low servants too - laver tenders & scavengers." [sic]

      August 3

     "Vanity & vexation - the fruits of busy idleness & empty importance - Yielded judgment to importunity & became accommodating for the sake of others. In the evening attended the Academy Exhibition at Elbridge Enjoyed a pleasant ride by moonlight. I participated likewise in a Whig meeting this day."

      September 1

      "Rode to Syracuse - attended the Whig county convention - saw & heard some novelties & came home well tired at night."

      September 7

      "I will take my delinquent pen & dash a skeleton of this day's history - All praise to its meteorology ... Politics noisy - A political squall is gathering of adverse & heterogeneous elements - Conservatives, sub treasurers & Loco Focos are all whirling in one vortex - The giddy gyration is tending netherward & the repulsions of opposites must be merged in central attraction, or the combustible amalgamation will soon work its elements into a volcanic irruption ... While Loco Focos look unutterable amazement & even the Whigs hold their breath in suspense till the "ides of November" shall settle the contest & clear the horizon - Neighbor D. C. B. said today, The issue between the two great political parties is now tangible - an Independent Treasury or a National Bank - Wonder which he intends to support ... I might write a chapter on bores from recent experience but I forbear - It is a hard matter to feel always pleased & satisfied - I lack the spirit of Paul to become all things to all men, & to count these "lighter afflictions" my ultimate gain - O the spirit of man! Who knows it!"