Morning at the Office after paying my usual due to the Oration on the Crown. I admire that of Demosthenes more on reading it over 41while the other lost a little of its relish. Perhaps this is as good a test of value as any. My time was very much taken up by a great variety of little occupations being out upon Commissions for the good people at Quincy. I was at my Office engaged in writing my Journal and then went down and received at last the payment on the Shares of the Republican Institution. I went to see Mr. Bowditch as to the investment of Abby Adams’ money but did not succeed. Returned and was busy until dinner.

In the afternoon, Attended a Meeting of the Directors of the Middlesex Canal for the purpose of considering the expediency of selling the Maine lands. After considerable discussion, it was decided to sell them to the persons making their offer. This and other business took up the whole afternoon, so that I returned home and spent my time in reading the Preface to Voltaire’s Catiline,1 where he gives a character of Cicero, and the Discourse upon style by Buffon, both of these having been suggested by Grimm’s Correspondence.

Evening, according to invitation, Abby and I went to Mrs. Cruft’s. A party to the young lady selected by Mr. T. Smith her brother.2 It was small and consisted of the old Set.3 I talked with Mr. Tarbell. Returned home at ten. Read a little of Grimm and the Spectator.