Owing to unusual negligence I did not close the month of May until today. I did not enter the office yesterday as I supposed that my Uncle was not in a mood to bear my presence with much coolness as I had also spoken pretty warmly. I was only able to finish the month of May today as I had not good opportunity to read over the Journal for the month in order to write a review. I was very politely turned out of the office and therefore went to sit with the industrious people who are fitting out Thomas for West Point. My stock of regular Poetry is exhausted so I took up a copy of Chesterfield1 and entertained myself with it until dinner. It appears really one of the most valuable books in the language as it contains the true directions to make a man pleasing to the world in general and this certainly is a desirable art.

Mrs. Adams was in a terrible humour all day and has been sour this week. Probably on account of these family difficulties. She is a woman whose equal will seldom be found. I am a prejudiced man as respects her character. I see so much to blame that I can see nothing to praise. Extravagant without the means and knowing that she plunges her husband deeper in his wretchedness, at every step she takes, she does not mind it, cunning and deceitful, hypocritical to 168a degree beyond belief and malicious as a serpent. She has done more to hurt the peace of our family than any one. She is kind to her children and attached to her blood relations however, and has some deep feeling for her husband—at least has had for it is now pretty nearly gone. Her character is decidedly bad as she is ungrateful and unprincipled in revenge. A mass of pride withal which would dignify the most immense lady in the universe. She is too unpleasant a subject for me to dwell upon. All my regret is that she has two young girls to teach hypocrisy by her example—and I am sorry to say that it has been done with effect.

After dinner I walked down with Thomas to Hingham bridge or Ben’s point as they call it, where we fished for some time with not much success. We staid until late, by quick walking, got home to tea. The family went to Mr. Marston’s in the evening, whilst I, after some conversation with Louisa in which she displayed her bitterness sufficiently, went into my Grandfather’s room and read to him a part of the North American Review. I whipped little Joseph2 this evening for naughty behaviour at tea. Spent a little while in the parlour after the familys return. XI.