Fine day. At home, an hour spent in fishing. Afternoon ride and evening at the Mansion.

Locke, 2 vol. p. 42–84. A valuable Chapter upon the remedy to abuse of words. In that which treats of the extent of knowledge he supposes it possible for the Deity to make matter think. His defence of this position is not marked with his usual strength. The ultimate deduction must necessarily be materialism as the presence of spirit as an independent power is thus dispensed with. Lucretius, 503–713, groping about in the dark for some explanation of the appearances of the natural world.

I lost some time in attempting to catch fish at Greenleaf’s Wharf without success. My father rode with me round Mount Wollaston. Dined with him and spent the evening at cards. The men were blasting rocks all day below my house.