Morning at the Office, after seeing at the House, Mr. Conant, one of the Tenants of the Farm, at Weston. He came to make inquiry respecting my determination in regard to the place. I told him that I supposed I must accede to his Terms in the end but proposed an experiment in order to try and find whether the place would not be so improved as not to need all. He said he thought they could agree to it.1 I was occupied during the morning in reading Marshall, and in drawing up the Accounts of my brother George’s affairs which I am desirous to commence closing. I accordingly again wrote to Genl. Winthrop for a settlement of his debt.2 As I went into Hilliard’s I obtained some further Numbers of the Library of Useful Knowledge and obtained a Life of Sir Isaac Newton which I read—And wondered at.3 A mathematical genius is a singular gift and a precious one, but which I never could envy perhaps appreciate. Indeed there is no character on record which I would not sooner desire to equal and my taste must therefore be considered as decidedly poor.

Home to dine and as Abby went out in the afternoon I passed it in reading La Harpe. His remarks upon the Epic and the different specimens in ancient times which approach it are very interesting and I only broke off in the evening to go down for Abby to Mrs. Frothingham’s. Calling in to see how the Private Debating Society flourished, a meeting of which was called for tonight, I found only Quincy, and Park, the President and Secretary and myself.4 This looked poorly so I went in to Mrs. Frothingham’s and took a little Supper and chatted with them for an hour before returning home. I feel infinitely more at my ease with them now than formerly.