Lovely day. Time devoted to the ordinary exercises. Evening at E. Brooks’.

I began this morning a series of Sunday Morning readings which I purpose to continue with my daughter Louisa. She read today the two first chapters in the book of Genesis and committed a hymn of Dr. Watts.1 She is now old enough to begin to think for herself upon matters of conduct and I wish to instil into her a sense of right which shall help her to govern the impetuosity of her character. She is a fine child with noble powers of mind and a good heart, but like all such she has strong impulses and a fiery temper. Religious and moral affections are what I rely upon to correct these.

Attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham in the morning preach from Galatians 5. 7. “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” Upon the discouragements under which men often relax their hold upon good. I liked the afternoon discourse the best. Matthew 9. 16. “And the rent is made worse.” A curious text upon which to work a discussion of the projects of moral reforms in the present day which have such extensive approbation and which yet are as the preacher said, calculated for the most part upon a mistaken estimate of man.

Read a discourse of Bishop Smalridge. Psalm 42. 11. “Why art thou cast down, O my Soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope then in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.” A text I have often read with a deep sense of its 204consoling import although I have never yet been tried by affliction. This was a sensible discourse upon the subject.

I tried Burr but failed and much dissatisfied. Evening, we went to Edward Brooks’ where we passed an hour much in the usual way.