The temperature altered so much as to make the weather fine and clear and cool today. After reading Demosthenes again, I went to the Office and was busy for an hour in finishing the Deed and Mortgage &ca. but at last got the Parties to execute it and thus the transaction was made complete. The whole of this gives me a tolerable fee and supplies my deficiencies for some time past as a Lawyer.

T. B. Adams Jr. called in for half an hour with a Note from my father.1 He talked a little about his funds and I concluded from his application to lend him a sum of Money on his Note, in preference to his drawing away the amount of his Dividends. Perhaps I am wrong. But I mean to check what I see to be a growing disposition to extravagance.2 If not he must add one more to the long list of men who having good advice neglects it.

Returned home and in the afternoon read the third Book of the Letters to Atticus in which is the series of womanish complaints at his exile and persecution. Cicero is not a great man in his personal character. Read Bacon’s Essay on Innovations and a little of Blair. Tried more of my translation, closed with the Spectator. My Wife was much better today.