The morning was cloudy and very cold. I have not experienced a day yet which felt so cheerless and wintry. We returned to town suffering very considerably from the cold. After warming my body which had become thoroughly chilled, I went to the office. My time was so much taken up with other occupations as to render me unable to continue my translation. Having seen by the Newspaper that the Gold Hunter, a vessel was arrived from Cronstadt, I was obliged to issue a Writ immediately to take one of the Men who was on board in satisfaction of a debt which I have had in my hands to collect for a very considerable time.1 Mr. Titcomb called to see me to talk a little for he never seems ready to pay. Mr. Curtis came to show me the Deed Mr. C. P. Curtis had made in place of my own. It varies only by abridging my own. He gives an opinion accompanying it which I do not agree with—And against which I am disposed to write an opinion. My deed is perhaps too good for the purchaser but not on that account the less acceptable to me who am anxious to give that which I think will bind. Mr. C. also left with me Papers to make an assignment of all the Property belonging to Mr. Boylston in Maine. I had not time to do it today and to tell the truth scarcely felt in the mood.

I returned home and read in the Afternoon a page of Aeschines, translating as much. This business progresses slowly and consumes much time but I flatter myself it is done thoroughly and will show me tolerably well the spirit of the Ancient Orators so that comparing it with Cicero and with our Modern eloquence we may form some accurate idea of their relative merit compared to each other. Evening passed in reading to Abby in Clarissa Harlowe which drags its slow length along. After which a little of the Life of Admiral Blake.2 But from some reason or other I was not satisfied with the day’s work.