Morning fine and promising to remain so. In consequence I went up to my house and was exceedingly busy in attending to the workpeople who are now engaged in painting and cleaning. The process of restoring a house that has been shut up is almost discouraging. I gave all the directions I could think of and then returned to my Office. My time here was necessarily short and interrupted by two or three applications from the Stone Cutters at Quincy who are in a tremendous fever about Stone. I have given them all the same answer as yet, although I foresee that it will not last and that the Affair must be conducted with considerable delicacy. I took a walk and called in at Clark’s where I made a foolish purchase of a marble slab for a Centre Table which will involve me in considerable expense. Home.

Afternoon, Finished the second Volume of M. Thiers in which he goes further into the dreadful scenes of the period. The affair of the 14 June and that of the 10 August. The unfortunate policy of the king. He is after all responsible. His weakness disarmed his friends. The historian makes a single and I doubt not a true remark, that explains the whole history. Had the king upon either occasion mounted his horse and led on his friends the Revolution would probably have been stopped.

In the evening, I accompanied my Wife and her father a short visit 122to our next door neighbour Mrs. Perkins, a woman with property but without much that contributes to adorn it. She is however very respectable. She had one son who is dead leaving Grand children. Home early.