This being the day fixed for breaking up our establishment at Quincy and returning to town I made all the necessary arrangements and started at nine o’clock. My morning in town was taken up very much in commissions and a variety of occupations. I have written a letter to Mr. Madison and inclosed to him one of my Pamphlets. I do not know what his health is but I hope it will enable him to give me an answer.1 I was obliged to go home in order to see what necessary arrangements must be made. The house looked as a house always does after a long absence—Things disarranged and cheerless.

Among other curious incidents of the day was a great fire that took place this morning and burnt J. G. Roberts’ book bindery with many other buildings.2 This is interesting to me as there are many of my books there, among the rest my Library of Useful Knowledge, and several valuable Volumes of my father’s. As there is no help for this so it must be endured.

Home to dinner. Afternoon, occupied in my study putting away and arranging. Yet I felt excessively depressed. I have enjoyed myself very much at Quincy this summer. And though the want of comfort there is very great, yet the kindness of the family and the agreement in which we have lived has more than compensated for it all. Not being able to fix myself to anything I went out to give some orders. Long walk. Evening it rained so that my Wife could not go out, as she had intended to Miss Gorham’s. Conversation with her. Wrote afterwards.