Rose before six, got café au lait at my request. Found the Lowell stage
would soon be here; though a mail coach it goes up and down collecting
passengers; this enabled me to see more of the town; more than an hour
in getting out of it. Took a seat with the driver and though a very hot
day found a breeze when in motion; the last fourteen miles, partly a
sandy road, we had six horses. Saw three hop plantations; arrived at
Lowell at eleven; took my return at two. Went straight to the carpet
manufactory but found strangers not admitted; at length I was introduced
to the manager, a Scotchman, upon my assuring him that I was in no way
connected with such business he took me through the spinning and weaving
rooms; a beautiful shearing machine, also the winding effected the same
way, the carpets woven by cards as the bed quilts in England; the
Brussels from bobbins with weights attached to each thread and tumbling
over wires introduced. The rugs done by locks of coloured thread tied
into the warp, and then hemp or wadding driven up by the lathe. So
extremely hot that I remained in the first shade I came to till near two
o'clock. Very many handsome-sized cotton factories, the machinery all
turned by the river Merrimack. Work begins at five, then 1/2 hour for
breakfast, 3/4 of an hour for dinner, stopping at seven, making 12-3/4
hours each day, and Saturdays the same; the boys and men well dressed,
the girls and women in neat gowns and hoods. The bells larger and of
different tones as if for worship. The coach promised for two, did not
arrive so I came off in another and got to Boston at half past seven.
Paid for fare both ways 2-1/2 dollars. This has been one of the most
disagreeable hot dusty days I have experienced. Found a letter this
morning from James Dean.