I passed my morning at home and was engaged in writing and a variety of occupations. Read the remainder of the twenty fifth book of Livy, giving the account of the vicissitudes of the Punic war. There is great reason to believe that Livy drew his accounts from partial historians and yet how manifest is the deathstruggle which the Romans were carrying. Hannibal was unquestionably second only to Caesar in Antiquity and was at last conquered like Napoleon, rather by nature than by man.

I tried to write the first of a series of political essays for present use, but the ideas would not come. There is something about the present contest for the Presidency which very much disables one from taking a 77very active part in it. I will do what I can in my way but it must be mine. I will not submit to have it any body else’s.

Afternoon I went up to the Meeting House where I met Mr. Spear and made a selection from my father’s Pews.1 He is to notify the Tenant to move and I am to receive it as a gift in consideration of having it carpeted and cushioned. I went into the burying ground and looked at the tombs there. It is many years since I examined them before.2 There is however not much change. Those placed by my grandfather are still in good preservation, although they do not look to me as if they could long remain so. The soil is eminently unfavorable for the object, it being very spongy, springy land. I was a little surprised to find inscriptions recording so many deaths young. This is not the general character of the Quincy climate and I can only account for it by supposing the larger number of aged people to have been placed in tombs. This is the case with most of those whom I know.

From thence I went upon the hill and examined the stone upon it generally. It is remarkable that almost all of it is pudding stone or breccia according to the scientific. This and the granite are the two decided formations here and how very different from one another! I also went round to trace the boundaries and form some distinct idea which I have not before had of the nature and extent of the property. My principal wonder was that any man should have had the courage to undertake the cultivation. But my grandfather was a man of that iron will which his descendants have but in part inherited.

Home and read a little of Davila. Evening to Mrs. Quincy’s. A Quincy party. Nothing new excepting my proposed building which luckily affords conversation in plenty. Home early by a bright Moon.