A light rain but not enough to wet any thing. A drizzle continuing with occasional showers. I was retained however in the house and followed up my Lecture with a good deal of diligence.

This is the best account of my day, for at dinner a kind of misunderstanding took place with my Mother which came near leading to serious consequences. This was occasioned by an incident respecting my boy John too trivial to be worth mentioning, but which my own quickness perhaps rendered important.

I rode to Boston with the view of remaining there, but upon due reflection, that my wife and Mary were both accidentally involved in the difficulty and I was making them pay the penalty of my fault, I concluded to return after calling at my own house. Upon reflecting over this matter, I approve of this last step. Every thing calculated to break down my spirit is useful, for of all my difficulties of selfgovernment, that of quick temper is the greatest.