Beautiful weather. My Wife was tolerably today. My Mother not quite so well, but both on the whole still comfortable. It was the day of general muster, and the noise of guns was somewhat trying, especially in the Afternoon, but they got over it pretty comfortably.

I went to the Office and was engaged there some time in Accounts and the &c. of business. Mr. Knowles called upon me at last to let me know that the Carriage was to be in today. It is a little more than four months since he engaged to make it, which is double the period contracted by him to deliver it in. He has been to Washington and has had a fever.

I went to see a collection of Pictures for sale,1 and took a long walk. 178Exercise is a thing I find absolutely necessary since my removal to town. The ride has a beneficial effect upon my health which I should hardly be able to realize if I did not find the contrast directly. But my regular quantum of exercise restores things.

Afternoon reading, but lazily. I finished in the course of the evening, my Article, and upon reading it over am less satisfied than ever. The positions are loosely stated and the argument disjointed. There is besides a superfluity of words. I must go over it with the file. Virgil and the Mirror.

Very fine weather. My wife was tolerably and my Mother somewhat better. The Carriage came in from Quincy, bringing with it my father. He looks quite unwell and appears to want interest in political affairs excepting always Antimasonry. I was busy some-time with Mr. Knowles and the Coach. A change was effected, I paid him the balance and so the whole matter was settled. At the same time, I must confess that I wasted a good deal of my time this morning—Owing to my having finished my old labour and not at present possessing a definite occupation to succeed it.

Walk as usual. My father and little Louisa dined with us and returned to Quincy shortly afterward. I read a little of the Correspondence of Voltaire with d’Alembert—A little vanity and the spirit of proselytism—Resistance against authority without steadiness to settle the force of the blows. Poor France felt deeply the consequences. I read also, a part of a publication of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, the habits of birds—Some curious information in it.

Fine day. My Wife seems to be slowly but gradually improving. My Mother on the other hand does not recover decisively. She thought change of air might do her good, so she concluded to go to Quincy today accompanied by my child Louisa and her Nurse. She is somewhat unwell from the process of teething. This did not however take place until afternoon.

I went to the Office. A short visit from Mr. A. H. Everett. He talks politics, is in a difficult situation and can foresee nothing. The Masonic 179Interest is unexpectedly predominant in the elections to the Worcester Convention. By unexpectedly I mean more than was expected, for that it would be very strong nobody with common sense could doubt. The consequence is in all probability a distracted election. This is not a ground of dissatisfaction to my father.

I went to the Athenaeum and accidentally took up a book called a Sunday in London.1 The picture is not a pleasing one and might be used to advantage in considering the virtuous horrors of Mrs. Trollope or the civil sneers of Hamilton.2 Walk as usual. Afternoon, Voltaire and d’Alembert—A very bad spirit in these letters. Yet there is sprightliness. Domestic Habits of birds.

My wife seemed better after she had been relieved from the anxiety about my mother’s condition. Quiet evening. Call from Mr. C. C. Woodward a polite beggar. I would have assisted him if I had not lately seen in the Newspapers something which earns for him the addition of swindler. Finished the last numbers of the Mirror.