I remained at home all day. Weather cloudy and yet mild with a Southerly wind. Read the remainder of the twenty seventh book of Livy containing the account of the masterly stroke of Claudius Nero the consul, which by the defeat of Asdrubal put an end to the contest in Italy and of the reception of the news in Rome, which is a perfect picture. The narrative power of Livy appears to me not to be surpassed. I occupied myself during the rest of the morning in assorting the MS, but still not actively enough. This must be next week systematically pursued.

In the afternoon, I walked over to the ledge of Mr. Colburn, found that he had caused to be cut the Stone which I had directed and it turns out very good, and will furnish a considerable quantity of stone. I do not feel able to make many experiments but have no doubt if I could, that I might draw all I want from the immediate vicinity. I then went to Mr. Colburn’s ledge and from thence followed up the line of my father’s land along back to where I started from. I saw enough to satisfy me that there was a great abundance of stone on this part of the farm which in case of need might be brought into use. But the great profusion of the article renders it hardly worth while to go beyond the most prominent points as yet and perhaps the fashion of the material may go by before any further search would become necessary. In the process of going round this land I have now attained to a tolerably correct idea of the extent of this farm. This must necessarily be one of my objects here if I keep hold in this quarter, the understanding what the land is. At home in the evening. Mr. Price Greenleaf called and I concluded to walk over tomorrow to see his father’s Quarries.