Did not rise very early this morning. But I hope to be able to do so for my time now slips away exceedingly fast. For the two past mornings I had succeeded in starting early but again fell back on this. As I did not feel desirous of reaching Medford very early, I read a little of Brumoy’s Preliminary Discources and two of Blair’s Lectures upon Oratory which interested me very much.1 They are full of interest to a young man who like myself is endeavouring to fix some school for himself to pursue. And they contain much advice which had occurred to my mind spontaneously. The whole study is exceedingly fascinating, and if I could only give my whole time to it, I should be pursuing the most anxious wish of my heart. I feel favoured in many respects, by the independence which I enjoy, by the circumstances of birth and character which I need not be ashamed of. Now if I can fill up the rest of the outline, I can enjoy a respect and consideration in society to be excelled by few individuals in the Country. I can support the the name at least respectably among us.

But I was obliged to think of going to Medford and so at eleven, I 117started and going through Milk row and Cambridge arrived just before dinner. Found the family as usual, excepting that Mrs. Brooks appeared to me suffering, though with a better appetite than she has had. We dined, and went in the afternoon to hear Mr. Stetson who preached a tolerably sensible Sermon upon the close of the year; This gentleman has some power, but his great corpulency is a drawback. We returned and spent the evening at home quietly. I had little or nothing to do, so occupied myself in looking over the Pages of the New Almanac gotten up under literary patronage. But, I should have preferred to have been at home pursuing a more useful purpose.