Morning mild though with an East Wind. At the Office as usual. Time passed in a rather useless manner. As I have finished Williston and not yet assumed any other reading, I found myself soon at a loss what to do, after I had got through the measures proper for bringing my Accounts into order for settlement. I got hold of a copy of Bacon’s Essays however, which could not but be good reading, and studied two or three of them with the usual pleasure. Wonderful the power of that man’s mind. Strong and sound thought.1

I tried to find Mr. Degrand to talk to him about Atlas Stock, but could not, so that I must go into Market and appear a buyer tomorrow if I wish to invest at all. Called to see Mr. Brooks, and afterwards gave the proper directions for the little repairs I wish in this building. I am now getting my Carpenter to attend to little minutiae very well. And I am gradually bringing all this property into better condition than it has been for a long time back. The Store looks now exceedingly well, and on the whole I feel tolerably satisfied with the present appearance of affairs.

Whitney came up to see me and seemed disposed to settlement. He agreed to pay me a part Cash, and a part by Note, but as he appeared unwilling to close, I acted in rather a Cavalier Style, satisfied that my appearing a little careless would have a better effect than my former anxiety. We parted standing as we were.

I dined with Abby at Chardon’s, as usual. Afternoon at home passed in reading the reviews of Demosthenes in the Edinburgh over again. They are excellent and if not a little too sneering and dogmatical would deserve the first rank for papers of criticism. As I had felt a 201little inclination to head ach during the day I thought it would be advisable to walk a little. The Evening was fine, and I had a pleasant though lonely stroll on the Common. After which I went to Chardon’s to the usual weekly Meeting, which was pleasant as they commonly are.