Fine morning. I went to town having made an engagement with Mrs. Proctor to be ready to receive her rent.1 This business completed, there was nothing else done. I sat at the Office some time and from thence attended a Meeting of Proprietors of the Fire and Marine Insurance Company. It was the Annual election of Officers and I thought I would take the opportunity to look a little into the state of the Stock. My examination was a very satisfactory one to myself. It proved to me pretty conclusively that the Company would do well to wind up inasmuch as it would probably pay back more than the par value of the Shares besides certain old claims that would perhaps turn out for something. But as a working establishment it is not likely to produce much for the future. Yet I see little prospect of it’s being wound up. Most of the principal Stockholders have borrowed money upon their shares, which they would be obliged to repay, and the hardship of depriving the President, who is popular,2 of his place deters others from attempting such a thing. I would advise selling, but nobody will buy.

Nothing particular happened and I returned to Quincy to dine. Afternoon, read some of Seneca. Quiet evening at home. Copied a long letter of my father’s.3