Weather cleared off during the Night so that upon this morning it had turned cool and promised an entrance upon Winter. I went to the Office as usual. Had some Conversation with Mr. Welsh about the House in Hancock Street and from that diverged until we got upon the last Election and the prospects of Mr. Webster. He was explaining his agency in the matter when I was obliged to leave him to see Mr. Degrand who came up to ask if I had any orders for the sale of the State Bank Shares, belonging to my Father. I told him, No, and we then proceeded to talk upon subjects in general relating to Stocks and Property of all descriptions which he seemed to have a pretty accurate knowledge of—But talked in an ambiguous manner as all brokers do. After him Richardson called and sat a few minutes talking as usual of nothings. I engaged him to accompany me to Weston next week which he assented to. Dr. Welsh came in apparently to give me some Message but did not owing to the presence of Richardson. The remainder of the morning passed in completing Marshall on Insurance, the Chapters on the Insurance of Life and of Fire which led me to examine the Policies of the Mutual Fire Company, and I then found myself having spent the morning. Afternoon, as usual occupied with Aeschines, a considerable passage of whom I read, but did not com-67plete the whole of my task in the short time I had to perform it in. Two hours each afternoon are not a very large allowance for a study resumed after a lapse of four years or more. My time is not yet entirely employed to my satisfaction. Evening, read a part of Clarissa Harlowe, to Abby, but we were interrupted in our pursuit by the entrance of Mr. Hall, the Clergyman of Northampton, and Cousin of Abby’s.1 His was a short visit, and after it I read a Chapter of La Harpe upon the early Historians of the first Class.