Morning fine. Rode to town as usual. In reading the Newspaper I was very much struck with an Article in favour of the City’s assuming the expense of Railroads.1 Feeling myself as in some manner directly interested in this question, I felt very much disposed to answer it and accordingly began an Article for the purpose, but was obliged to leave it to go about Commissions for my Mother. These took me much time and were badly executed too. Mr. Merrill2 called to pay me the sum due from J. T. Winthrop, to my brother George’s Estate, which I had very little expectation of getting.3 So far so good, but my Tenant Spear does not pay me. I had desired to finish my Article this morning but could not succeed. To Quincy to dinner. Afternoon employed in the Catalogue with my father in which we made no great progress, as it took much time to arrange the books. I had a little conversation with my father and mother upon the affairs of his property, and with the latter about the former. His condition worries me considerably, and I tried to induce my Mother to excite his almost blunted purpose, of writing upon my Grandfather. Louisa C. Smith and Abby S. Adams dined and spent the day here. My mother was unwell.