The morning was cheerless and gloomy, the East Wind prevailing in all its severity at this period of the year. Abby and I went together to Medford to pass the day as usual. We found Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Everett much as usual. We attended divine service during the day and heard Mr. Briggs, a clergyman from Lexington deliver two serious discourses one upon the immortality of the soul, the other I have forgotten.1 They were very well calculated for the Country being simple, and solid, but full of common places which very much diverted my attention. He dined with us at Mr. Brooks’, and we found him very pleasant and agreeable. I was much pleased with him, as he was lively without stiffness, conversible without the starch piety of some. On the whole he is a favourable specimen of the Country clergy, around Boston.

The remainder of the day was spent in reading some Articles in a late number of the Quarterly, which present the state of England in a view totally new. Indeed though no one could help being astonished that Britain has kept to such a height so long, yet the inevitable course of things is not to be stopped to indulge men with wonder. The debt of England is a load no nation can march under without staggering. It remains yet to be seen whether this will not finally fall with a ruinous crash. Conversation general.