Diary 5, 1847-1857

This subseries contains six diaries and a farm journal. All information is arranged chronologically. Diary 1 contains copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence; funeral information; baptism lists; and autobiographical material. Diary 2 contains copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence; funeral information; baptism lists; reports to University of Alabama trustees; repair and funds for the President's House; student registers; tutor selection; water baptism and foot washing; and visit to a coal region. Diary 3 and 4 contains University of Alabama information concerning student assignments; infractions; discipline; trustees' decisions; drunken students noted; and tools owned by the University. Diary 5 contains copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence; funeral information; baptism lists; report to University trustees; student and family activities; student register; secret society constitution; treatise on divorce; Biblical justification of slavery; reasons for leaving the University of Alabama; and his daughter's wedding. Diary 6 contains copies of incoming and outgoing correspondence; funeral information; baptism lists; yellow fever statistics and antidote; account of captured Africans; Alabama State Evangelist travels; plantation and financial transactions; secession events; runaway slaves; overseer problems; trial of James T. Murfee for slave killing; agreement with freed slaves and dealings with them; and petition of amnesty. Diary 6 also contains the inauguration prayer for Jefferson Davis on page 37 written by Basil. He mentions inauguration day and of the election events preceding inauguration day. The farm journal contains descriptions of land purchased and owned; planting, harvesting, and the yield; cow-calving; and hog-killing, curing, pickling, and yield.