Thoreau writes in his journal:
To Middleborough ponds. There was no boat on Little Quitticus; so we could not explore it. Set out to walk round it, but, the water being high,—higher than anciently even, on account of dams,—we had to go round a swamp at the south end, about Joe’s Rocks, and [Daniel] R[icketson]. gave it up. I went to Long Pond and waited for him . . .
Amos Bronson Alcott writes to his wife:
Thoreau has taken my host away to Middleborough Pond for the day but brings him home to supper, and this evening’s conversation at Charles W. Morgans in town . . . (ABAL, 242).
Daniel Ricketson writes in his journal:
Rode to Quitticus Pond with Thoreau, also visited Long Pond, and took our dinner to the old Brady house. Channing came up to tea. Attended third conversation of Mr. [Amos Bronson] Alcott at C[harles]. W. Morgan’s this evening, the subject, “Diet and Health.” Owing to some supposed disrespect for Christianity and the customs of the Quakers, some members of the society left, although I think from what I know of Mr. [Amos Bronson] Alcott if they had remained through his course they would have been better satisfied.
(Daniel Ricketson and His Friends, 300-301)
In Concord, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote to James Elliot Cabot about books possibly available for the Boston Athenaeum Library:
My list was so short that it did not seem worth bringing to you. I had marked down some important books, which, on new examination, I found had been added to the library . . . Thoreau has the Upanishads, which English [Thomas] Cholmondeley gave to him. Tis as inestimable little book,—good enough to make me hesitate to put it in the library . . .
