Cold, gusty day. I went to town and passed an hour there in business. Received a letter from T. B. Adams inclosing a bill in payment of his Note to me.1 This required attention which I accordingly paid.

At ten, I started for Quincy in consequence of my being so much disappointed by the rain of Saturday. I might have saved myself my trouble on both days as the principal object I had in going was frustrated. I nevertheless saw Mr. W. Spear and transacted business with him. The remainder of the day until my time of starting to return was taken up in examining the garden and reading in the Library.

At three after dinner I set out to return to Medford which I did through the Country. I passed through Dorchester, Roxbury, Brookline, Cambridge and West Cambridge embracing the prettiest portion of the vicinity of the City. I was much struck with the great change and improvement in the appearance of things in these towns since the time when I was at Cambridge and frequented them more. The tide of wealth is certainly flowing into this quarter of the world. But in all the modern buildings I think I perceive a tendency to make things too small, which gives a contracted look to places. The Cottage form seems 311to be nicely calculated as our houses are to the smallest possible quantity of room.

Evening at home. I read aloud to Mr. Brooks, the speech of Mr. Clay in answer to the President’s protest.2