Morning cool and cloudy with rain. Read some of the North American Review. W. H. Gardiner’s article on Prescott’s book, an ox dancing an Irish jig.1 What is it gives me such a distaste to the literature of the day? My own fastidiousness or vanity, or its inferiority?

Attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham from Nahum 1. 15. “Perform thy vows.” A good discourse upon the making and performing of promises, with an application to the practice of associations so common in this country. Afternoon. Proverbs 29. 20. “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

Upon my return home I read a Sermon of Buckminster’s being the first in the published volume.2 Galatians 4. 4. “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his son.” Upon the mission of Christ and not containing much of original view, but remarkable as showing 389the Unitarian position of the time which was by many afterwards departed from, although with most it remains much the same. Evening at home. Call from H. G. Gorham. He staid rather late.