Day clear and windy, passed at home in occupation of various kinds. I arose this morning an hour before daylight for the sake of catching the tide to fish. The moon was shining bright and every thing was perfectly still. I was there a little too soon and therefore had an opportunity to observe the scene, a new one in some respects to me. The most remarkable portion of it was the opportunity of seeing Venus and Mercury before sunrise, and so near together as they appear. I was tolerably successful and returned to breakfast, having now done what I never did before, fished by a solitary shore by moonlight.

My morning was devoted to superintending the workmen who are still at work upon the rocks in front of the house, and in beginning the work of transplanting trees. I moved today two of my father’s Pennsylvania maples and put them where two English oaks have failed. Also an oak and a buttonwood in the Avenue. Then Lucretius b. 6, 326–533.

In the afternoon Mr. Price Greenleaf made me a short visit and I drove my gig to Braintree to take Miss Sampson home who has been at work this week for the fourth generation of the family.1 Evening at the Mansion but so much fatigued, I was glad to get home.