Morning cold and cloudy but it cleared afterwards. I went to the Office and was occupied very busily in Money affairs. I deposited a sum of money and then began the work of paying it away. The debts have very much accumulated this year owing to the difficulty in which I have been to cash the Stocks I had intended to use in building.

Mr. Ayer came in by my desire and we had some talk about sundry portions of the work for it. The main point I find is to check his tendency to expense. He wishes to do more than I desire to have him. I was obliged to remind him of this very decidedly today.

Home late. Afternoon reading Plutarchs Essay upon the Administration of public affairs, parts of which I admire extremely, and some of Burnet who appears to be a careless kind of a writer. Evening at home. Finished the strange tirade of Mrs. Trollope, after which Goguèt.