Cold east wind but clear. Services as usual. Evening visit to Mrs. Everett.

I passed an hour this morning in my usual exercises with Louisa. Tried to teach her the ten commandments. But she learnt three only imperfectly.

Attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham preach from that beautiful text in Ecclesiastes 12. 7. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” I was disappointed in the sermon which is natural. I incline to think that the most beautiful and pithy sentences in the Bible are not those 221best calculated to amplify into discourses. The starting post is too lofty. There were allusions to the late melancholy accidents here and at Lowell which destroyed two useful men.

After dinner Dr. Palfrey from James 4. 14. “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life.” The strain of reflection upon the nature of life and the predominance of it’s good over it’s evil is encouraging.

Read a Sermon of Dr. Clark in the English Preacher. Job. 23. 15. “Therefore am I troubled at his presence when I consider I am afraid of him.” The difference between Religion and superstition.

In the evening Mrs. Adams and I went to Governor Everett’s to pay an evening visit. I had much talk with the Governor about the MS in my possession which he wishes to see for the sake of some information respecting the North Eastern boundary.1 Home to read Tucker.