Fine day. Morning to the Office. Occupied in business. Mr. Spear came in from Quincy and paid me the balance of his Note together with some other small sums. Conversation upon matters relating to Quincy affairs. Mr. Degrand came in about a transaction with the Market Bank, and I went with him afterwards to arrange it. This with my Diary completed my morning and I went to walk.

Edmund Quincy asked me to dine with him at Mr. Parker’s, where he lives.1 Nobody there but T. Davis. The wine was good. Mr. Parker was not present. He has gone to New York. There is a stiffness about a situation like Quincy’s which is painful enough. He must have to put up with many things.

We left him before five and as there was only a remnant of an afternoon I proposed to Davis to take a ride. We accordingly went to 306the Nursery of the Winships in Brighton a place I have passed without ever visiting before. The two persons at the head of the Establishment received us very cordially and showed us the Greenhouse Mr. Cushing has been constructing for them. It is very pretty and quite expensive. We returned home by sunset. In conversation with Davis, I regretted to perceive a tendency as I thought to free opinions in matters of religion. He has been dipping into the free thinking works of the present day. This will not last long, and it is to be hoped that it should not. Young men generally have one moment of such trial. Quiet at home.