Morning cloudy and it rained occasionally throughout the day. I did not go to town and hardly stirred out of the House all day. My morning was consumed in another attempt to bring into order the Papers of my Grandfather. In this I undid a great deal of my last Sum-367mer’s work and did it over in a new shape—Alphabetical instead of chronological. Passed an hour in comparing the Journals of my Grandfather written when he was twenty. They display a power of mind which is as striking as his conduct in any subsequent part of his life.

Read more of the Dissertation upon Parties. A charge that the Dissenters favoured James the 2d. Is it true? I think not. After dinner, continued the reading of Seneca. Question, whether a man is justified in wishing evil to his benefactor so that he may have an opportunity of acquitting himself of his obligation by rescuing him from it. Decided that he is not. For it is not in fact doing a kindness. It is wishing what would meet the views of a violent enemy instead of a friend. The case is simple enough, yet he explains its details with considerable success.

I took a short walk in the evening with my father, pasted in a few labels for my father, read a little of Dr. Granville to the ladies and retired early.