Mild day. We appear to go on without winter extraordinarily. I have gone out daily dressed as in October. Dwight last evening asked me to reflect upon a proposition of his to require of the Banks to keep at least one sixth part of their capital in specie, while discounting. And I looked into Mr. Gallatin’s Pamphlet respecting it.

Attended divine service and heard a Mr. Peabody1 preach from Luke 11. 2. “And he said unto them, when ye pray, say Our Father.” A sensible sermon upon the duty and effects of prayer, accompanied with the very coldest of all cold modes of going through all the rest of the service. Afternoon Ephesians 6. 4. “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Mr. Bartol talked of the proper care of educating the young. Both these gentlemen made long poetical quotations. The tone of Unitarian preaching is essay writing. I do not think it can be called practical religion.

Read a discourse of Sterne’s upon the inequality of God’s dispensations. Psalms 73. 12.13. “Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.” I was pleased with this discourse because it recapitulates the strongest arguments upon the question, particularly that connected with man’s free agency, which I think perfectly conclusive. Evening at home. Visit from Mr. Beale and his daughter Ann, who stayed until a late hour. Then writing.