Morning mild and foggy. I went to the Office and occupied myself much as usual. Tried to put a little more method into my private Accounts, a thing I have been in vain attempting ever since my Marriage. Read also a little of Gibbon embracing the account of the death of Julian and the accession of Jovian. He seems to slight the indiscretion of the former and to press upon the consequent misfortunes of the latter. Probably because he had taken his side upon the subject of Christianity and thus failed in the first duty of the historian. The weather was so bad I did not walk.

Afternoon. Concerned in bottling the rest of my new wine and in making some alterations in my Library with a view to a little more room and also to setting apart my Classical Department by itself. This consumed the whole of my time until it was the hour fixed to go to Mrs. Frothingham’s. The weekly parties of the family are to be resumed. Found there in the course of the time Edward Brooks, Gorham and P. C. and Wives, Mr. Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. Parkman, Miss Hall and ourselves. Mrs. F. was quite unwell. The time was pretty agreeable. 228Returned home in time to read the last book of the Iliad and the Guardians.