Much of my morning time was taken up in delays at my house and afterwards in Accounts. At the Office I pretty nearly closed up the business of the beginning of the quarter. Then called upon my friend Thomas Davis and had a pleasant conversation with him. He is the only young man I know who has any character in a degree similar to my own. I do not know whether he will meet with much success in the world, but he deserves it.

On my return to my Office, found Mr. Conant from Weston. He came to talk about the Weston farm, his lease of which expires next spring. It seems he and his brother agree well enough, but the wives do not agree so well—A common case. They propose to separate and he wishes to know the terms upon which he may have the farm again. I told him I had never thought about it at all but would reflect and let him know as soon as possible.

Deprived of my walk, but I made it up in the Afternoon. Read Bacon’s fragment upon the colors of good and evil. A wonderfully clear mind he possessed. His smallest rag has as much substance in it as the whole suit of many others.1 Evening, final draught of my new Article. Lounger.

CFA’s reading in the Works of Francis Bacon which he was to pursue until the end of January was clearly in the 12-vol., London, 1807, edition now in MQA. For other editions at MQA of some or all of Bacon’s writings, see vol. 1:23; 3:201.