Fine morning but heavy wind and rain in the Evening. Boston and Hingham.

I went to town this morning and was much occupied with calls at my house to watch the progress of the painters and thence to see some of the Tenants about repairs. After the period of business was over, I called in to see the Mechanic’s fair which was held in Quincy Hall over the market. There were many curious things exhibited, and many useful ones. I was most pleased with the agricultural machinery and the cutlery and some pieces of furniture. But I had not time to examine with minuteness as I had engaged to dine with Mrs. Frothingham at two o’clock prior to meeting my father in order to go down to the Boat.

A certain Mr. Greenough had invited a number of persons to go down into the harbour to see the effect of a certain new kind of Oil which he thinks burns brighter in a light house than whale oil or sperm oil. We being of the number went down and found many persons of the party but a great doubt of the propriety of trying the experiment on so windy a night. After some dispute as to the prospect of it’s continuing to blow or of it’s becoming calm, it was finally decided to go as far as Hingham and there act according to the event. The boat had a rough time and the evening set in dark and gloomy. I found on board A. H. Everett, O. W. B. Peabody, B. T. Reed, and a few others of my acquaintance with whom I had a pleasant conversation.

When we reached the landing Mr. Greenough invited us to the Old Colony House whither by the officious interference of Captain Sturgis of the Revenue Cutter we were marched up to the music of his band with a form which I thought made us only ridiculous. After taking tea, as the trip out to the Light house proved impracticable, Mr. Greenough proceeded to execute experiments in the hall. He showed two lights, one of which was supplied with his preparation, the other with common oil. And the result of all the different trials was undoubtedly in favor of the former as giving a whiter and better light. But we were not able to judge of the quality of the oil or of his preparation nor of the expense of the different substances. He showed us that his mixture was more inflammable than oil or even Spirits of the ordinary strength.1

These experiments lasted until nine when the boat returned with the gentlemen to town, but we preferred hiring a vehicle to take us 301directly home, so that we reached our houses at about half past ten in a pretty heavy rain.