Morning fine, with the ground covered with a brilliant white frost, which in it’s appearance resembled snow. At the Office, Mr. Orcutt called to ask me about the applications for his house and to remonstrate against the admission of a certain Mrs. Wells one of the applicants.1 I cut him short being obliged to go according to appointment to see Mrs. Lewis. She commenced as all Tenants do by abusing the House and finished by requiring repairs and a diminution of rent. The lease of this House by Dr. Lewis expires on the 13th of December, and the rent has hitherto been punctually and fully paid. Rents have fallen and I think it myself very doubtful whether this House could 54longer be let at it’s present rate.2 I promised however to refer the matter to my father. On returning to my Office, I found two applicants for the Tenement, both anxious to take it, and having heard a very good character of Mrs. Wells from Dr. Lewis who offered to be bound for her rent, I thought this better evidence than Orcutt’s and so admitted her, so that this Tenement has not been a moment on my hands. Should I make arrangements with Mrs. Lewis, the House and Store in Court Street will be the only things left 3 of my anticipated trouble. I had time also to read a portion of Marshall, but not with steady or fixed attention. Afternoon at home, reading La Harpe on the Writings of Demosthenes and Cicero, subject of eloquence. I attempted a commencement of my project but was dissatisfied with the result. Continued my Catalogue. Miss Julia Gorham took tea here after which I read the account of the Cat tribe in the Library of Entertaining Knowledge.

Morning at the Office as usual. Occupied myself in reading Marshall as much as I could, but owing to frequent interruptions was impeded somewhat in my progress as well as understanding of it. My father came in to talk of a variety of things and to ask me to go to Quincy with him which was arranged. I then seized the opportunity to consult him about his property here and the disposition of it and he gave me Carte blanche with it as he always does with his Agents. No wonder that they have cheated him. But as it is my intention to do by him as faithfully as I should were the case my own, I feel rather heavily the weight of the responsibility. Mr. Orcutt again called to intimate to me that I had admitted a bad tenant and to tell me he had not yet succeeded in raising any Money, a much more important and less agreeable piece of information. I told him to make another effort and if that did not succeed I would then myself take the Mortgage he offered as his Security. This with the payment of one or two small demands against my Father which were presented and one Post Office Account rather larger than I could quite comprehend, passed the morning.

My father dined with me as did John Gorham, brother of Miss 55Julia.1 Dinner much as usual excepting that I thought Abby made a little too much display, for the occasion and for my economical feelings. The weather was mild so that we rode to Quincy with my father after sunset without being uncomfortable, and that too by the way of Milton as we did before when I confess I suffered a little. We reached my father’s to take tea, found Miss Smith as usual, and Mr. William Greenleaf who is now occupied as secretary to my father, in copying the papers which Thomas left.2 He is not uninteresting. We snatched a moment to look at my father’s library which is gradually developing itself.3