Cold morning. I went into town and was occupied in business at the Office. Had two or three persons to call. Mr. W. Forbes about an old claim upon me for the board of the horses sold by him. I paid the bill thinking it useless to contest the point with a rogue. I took the opportunity however to take a receipt from him such as is sometimes advisable from a man with whom one has had dealings and finds dishonest, and I gave him my opinion of his conduct at the same time.

Mr. Ayer, the Carpenter was also here upon the plan. I submitted to him all the details for execution and he gave his opinion upon the various questions which yet remained open. Some of them we settled together, others were left open for further reflection. I conversed principally with him upon the terms upon which he would undertake it. I told him that the Quincy people would perhaps feel a little hurt at my selecting a chief workman out of their limits but I was willing to incur that risk provided it would cost me no more and I should be compensated by the superiority of the work. He seemed to hesitate about the price and said he doubted whether he could work in competition with Country workmen. I told him that I should consider farther what agreement I should think proper to make but some decided one I 70should insist upon. I then took the plan, rolled it up and brought it off to Quincy to submit to the ladies of the family. Their comments upon it were few but they pleaded for a portico so strongly that I agreed to extend it along the front. This is all of portico that I can agree to, for the prevailing fashion of putting pillars for every thing strikes me to be a mistake. I passed some time in writing Diary which at length appears to show progress.