The weather this morning was clear and cold and we enjoyed our ride to town notwithstanding my own peculiar inconvenience from the violent cold which I had contracted. My father came in with us, to finish the papers respecting Mr. Boylston. After an hour at home and seeing Mr. Frothingham, who was from Medford, I went to the Office and read a little of Marshall but was much interrupted by the arrival and departure of different individuals between my room and the Probate Office–Mr. Curtis and my father and several others. They found a difficulty about bonds and as I believe did not settle it after all. So that my father left town having accomplished little or nothing. Mr. Champney is one of my father’s Tenants and called to pay some arrears which were due on his tenements.1 He is in appearance a very clever young man and though in arrear, it seems to have been only for the reason that he was allowed to go behind.

Returned home to dinner and passed the afternoon in my study, writing and arranging my Accounts. My cold has had a very unfavourable effect upon my spirits and temper—and Abby and I had a conversation at dinner which gave me regret. For I perceive, so very 30strongly the seeds of difference between herself and a member of our family now absent but who may still hereafter be thrown into some intimacy with us, that I fear the result will scarcely be agreeable, and endeavour earnestly to correct it.2 Evening with Abby at home, but not pleasant as I suffered much and she was a little out of sorts. This evening R. Sturgis was married again to Miss Hubbard and we had a portion of the Serenade.3 It was flat and poor.