The morning thick and hazy. I went to town accompanied by my father. Of course got in somewhat later than usual. Time taken up in Accounts and collecting Money. This is now nearly accomplished. The first few days of a Quarter must always be devoted to Collections, and I congratulate myself somewhat that I have now got things in such a train that the money comes in with considerable punctuality. 374At half past twelve o’clock, my father was very punctual, and we proceeded according to arrangement to Medford.

We reached Mr. Brooks’ where we were to dine in time to go down and give my father the opportunity of taking possession of the farm under the Mortgage of Judge Adams to him. It is about a mile on the line of the Canal.1 This done we returned and found as a Company, Mr. J. Parker, Jo. Tilden;2 E. Everett, Gorham Brooks and his Wife, Mr. Shepherd, two Miss Phillips’ and Mr. Brooks’ family with our own. The dinner was not at all amusing to me, first, from my having a seat of the least interesting, second, from the tenor of the conversation which was all upon money. Mr. Parker is very wealthy, and cannot avoid discussing the only subject which engrosses his mind. I am not one of the men who consider riches in the character of a Philosopher, but I do not set them in quite so exalted a situation in life as to make them the subject of perpetual conversation.

My father returned with me and we reached Quincy early in the evening. The Ladies arrived soon after and we all retired early.