A turn towards greater heat again today. I remained very quietly at home with the exception of a short visit at the house. Time devoted to reading, particularly Hamilton’s Report upon funding the State debts. He certainly puts into the back ground all the modern politicians of the modern school who know little of the value of Office but in it’s perquisites. Hamilton was certainly a great man if not in all respects a judicious one.

Afternoon Pliny’s long Panegyric. In the midst of tedious and fulsome adulation, there are passages relating to the time of Domitian which are of value as showing the character of his reign. An address of this kind to a reigning prince, delivered before a crowded auditory could not have treated of such matters if they were not generally known to be true. And what a picture they give, in connection with the details of the historians. Evening as Mrs. Adams has gone to town I took tea and spent the rest of it at the Mansion.