Beautiful morning. Went up to the House to give some directions and almost lost my breakfast being detained by Martin the Stone cutter who came at my desire to contract for some work. He seemed willing to do it for almost anything. And it is a tolerable evidence of the times that he contracts to do work for just one half what it cost me last season. I had not time to finish with him, but took a hasty breakfast and then to town.

My time much taken up in various commissions about town. Conversation with Mr. Everett. He still seems to hang upon the Government. Well, this is perhaps as well as any thing. I see no path through the briars and am therefore making up my mind to act without reference to them.

Home to dinner, then to the House where they go on vigorously. Mrs. Frothingham and Mrs. Everett with some of their children came out today, and took tea. There were also other visitors. So that I did nothing and in the evening felt so much fatigued that I retired early.