Morning pleasant. Arose and after a conversation of a singular kind with Abby, rode into town. Morning at the Office reading Kent. I felt so much disposed to accept the invitation to Medford for tomorrow that after an arrangement with George for a supply of clothes, I decided upon going. Took a pleasant bath and wrote Executive Record until six o’clock. I feel yet in a state of disarrangement and am rather apprehensive that this will be the general consequence of my present arrangement. We shall see. Took tea at Medford and passed the evening in conversation with Abby.

Morning cold but pleasant. Passed the morning in conversation with Abby and reading the last number of the North American Review. The pleasure of quiet like this on such a day is extremely great to me who hate fuss. It is a good general principle to keep up this anniversary but to me as an individual the day brings no privileges and is consequently of little extraordinary value. Edward Brooks called at Medford in the morning with his children. I rode with Abby there in the afternoon. Found Mrs. Boott and a large part of her family there which induced us to shorten our visit and return. Quiet evening at home. Mr. Brooks went to Andover and brought down a cousin of Abby’s on a visit.

Rode into Boston. Went to the Office and found a letter for me from my Mother in very good spirits. Her reason for not writing was the heat of the weather. Read a little of Kent and wrote an answer to her as usual on this day.1 Afternoon, Executive Record and a little of Cicero before returning to Medford. Found Abby in a little ill humour but it did not last.

This day was passed very quietly indeed. I have been obliged to wear thin shoes and silk stockings ever since Thursday as my boots had given way. This made my going to Meeting a disagreeable business, so I declined going. I read a large part of Hutchinson’s third volume of the History of Massachusetts. I think there is much reason on his 254side. A stroll in the afternoon about the grounds in a fit of musing such as often occurs to me but now with more pleasure and less alloy than is usual. I believe myself on the whole in better condition at this time than I have been for years. Genl. Wadsworth of Geneseo and Son1 called. In the evening with Abby. A poor man in the employ of Mr. Brooks was discovered this evening in the Mystic river just below the bridge. Some were with him but he lost his life because they had not courage nor presence of mind.