I read a little of Goethe’s Werter this morning before starting for town. My father’s lonely situation gives me much pain as he seems to take it patiently. My mother does not talk of coming on yet1 and I like to take no decisive step until I see the ground before me.

My arrival in town being late, I made a short stay. Mr. Thomas Davis came in and sat with me so that I did nothing. At one there being a call of the La Fayette Committee I attended. The object seemed to be merely to appoint subcommittees for the necessary arrangements. I left in the middle and returned to Medford.

Afternoon interrupted. I read some of Hamilton’s book however and several of the Lamentations of Ovid. Mr. and Mrs. Everett paid an afternoon’s visit here.