Morning at the Office. The weather was hazy and became warm in the course of the day. I passed the time in reading the Newspapers, and in the many kinds of interruptions to which I have for a few days past been subjected. An applicant came for the House No. 2 and requested the refusal of it, which I gave. Deacon Spear came in from Quincy and showed me a letter from my father giving directions about the Farms there.1 In this letter he seems to express it as doubtful whether he shall be here before the month of May. This rather surprises me but I presume it to be owing to my Mother, whose health will not permit her to come on sooner. I talked with the Deacon about affairs in Quincy, and drew from him facts respecting the Farms 186which I was to set down to write to my Father immediately. As soon as he went, I sat down to do so and wrote him very particularly the condition of the property.2 How far I had gone, and proposed to go. The weight upon my mind is very great. Returned home.

In the afternoon, I went to the performance of the last Office to the body of poor Winthrop Gray, not from any feeling for him, but from respect to his Mother who is a very estimable woman. Returned I was then engaged in copying the letter and thought I would take the broken remnant of the afternoon for the purpose of writing a letter long due to my Mother. It was principally upon the subject of the death of Mrs. Brooks, giving some particulars respecting it. It did not perfectly satisfy me in the writing as things rarely do, but in such cases I do not stop to correct.3 I barely finished it in time for tea and my usual visit in the evening to the Private Debating Society where the former question was again debated, and finally settled. The argument of Mr. A. W. Fuller settled it the contrary way to what I had formerly thought my vote would be. I detest opinionated self conceited men stiff in their prejudices. Did not get home until late.