SATURDAY 6. Commenced with a rain storm, continued with a rain storm,
and ended with a rain storm, i. e. it rained all day incessantly,
which kept us in the house all of the time until about 4 o’clock when
John & I went down town to make some purchases & there learned that 19
Wis. banks had been “thrown out” & every bill I had ($8) was on
them.[18] Wrote a long letter home,--or rather, wrote one & commenced
another--
Discredited money is worth 80 cts.
MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1861. Yesterday was a pleasant day again--Went with a
large company of students to hear Prof. Butler preach, it being the
last time he is going to preach for the present. His text was 1 Cor.
XI, 22, and a capital discourse. Mr. Bradford was with us in Prof.
Conover’s Bible Class. To-day is another rainy day The morning duties
passed as usual, at 3 o’clock, we were invited by some of the boys to
go to the City Hall & hear Geo. B. Smith[19] speak on a lawsuit
between Bird & Morrison The suit involves $180,000. Mr. Morrison
committed suicide last winter, it is said because he had perjured
himself in the suit. He was the def’t. Mr. Smith made a very able
speech.
TUESDAY 9. The day passed as usual, i. e. a continual rain storm.
About 5 o’clock, went down town, and learned by hand bills that Moses
M. Strong would review a speech of Jno. Y. Smith,[20] in the Assembly
Chamber to-night. Went to hear him--His speech was on the secession
question, arguing against war and a very sound effort.
A meeting was called after the speech & a resolution introduced
favoring Pres. Lincoln & the war policy, which, after some talk pro &
con, was laid on the table[21]
WEDNESDAY 10. A pleasant day at last & the first one really I have
seen since I have been in Madison. Was out with many others of the
students playing on the green after school. Rec’d a letter from Couse
& the Adv. from home.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1861. Went to the P. O. about 5 O’Clock and
received a letter from Libbie. The “discredited Wis. money” is down to
75 cents in many of the stores.