Morning very cold again with indications of the usual progress of the winter. I was quite occupied at Market and elsewhere in getting up my dinner. Afterwards at the Office where Mr. W. Spear from Quincy called in and paid me a sum for Rents due and remained some time to talk. Mr. Hurlbert called also and I went up to see Mrs. Fuller—So that I made some pretty heavy collections today. This with the accounts necessarily attendant kept me well occupied all my time. Home, intended to have spent an hour upon Livy but had to devote it to curing a smoky chimney.

My company to dine, Mr. Frothingham and Mr. Lothrop, Mr. T. K. Davis, T. Dwight and H. Inches. Mr. Peabody entirely disappointed me. Pleasant enough. I found Mr. F. however the great support of the company. He was more amusing than I ever knew him to be. The company separated early and in very good order. I procured in this case one or two improvements. The mixture of serious company while it enlivened the conversation checked the tendency of my younger friends to drinking, which I have sometimes found a little excessive. 311I was myself very moderate, and spent the evening quietly reading Voltaire’s Correspondence.