Morning at the Office. Weather quite cold but nevertheless tolerably agreeable. I was engaged much of my morning in settling accounts for my Father and myself. I paid those of Doggett, the Picture Framer and Jackson the Painter.1 So that now there are exceedingly few outstanding debts against him or myself. My time was interrupted so that I had little opportunity to do any thing in the way of reading or arrangement of matter for my Opening on Saturday. Mrs. Boylston, Mr. Curtis and Genl. Towne came to finish executing the Papers relating to Mr. Boylston’s Estate—Which was all done. Mr. Orcutt came to tell me that he could get no Money but we came to no arrangement. I went to see Mr. Brooks to get Mrs. Everett’s Letters, got into a conversation with Edward Brooks and Thos. W. Phillips which took up much time.2 From thence went to see Degrand, authorized him to buy some Fire and Marine Insurance Stock for my Father and to sell the Shares in the State Bank formerly belonging to George. This is an Operation I am going to hazard in order to diminish the amount of Stock which my father will be likely to transport from here to Washington, to experiment upon in the Mill. It will also be likely to turn out better in it’s Dividends than the Bank.

My time passed rapidly, and I found it time to go down to dine according to agreement with Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham. They asked us to dine with them and so I cannot escape. The dinner was pleasant as usual, perhaps a little more so, and after it I went to the Athenaeum and spent the afternoon in reading Hamilton’s report upon a National Bank. It is a good production but not exactly what I expected for it’s application was to Banking in general rather than to the expediency of a Bank for the Nation. This however is fully treated in the paper 108he presented to the President which I read over again. My time passed rapidly. I think this Library will be of immense use to me. As I was to go to a party tonight, I went home to dress and then walked to the place, Mrs. Bradley’s of Pearl Street—A relation of Mr. Frothingham’s, but not in the best Society.3 I found there few people whom I knew, but by stirring among the young men and speaking to all the ladies, I got through one hour which may fairly be reckoned among the wasted. Returned home without Mrs. Everett as she went to Mrs. Frothingham’s.

Morning cloudy with a chill of snow in the Air. I went to the Office and passed my morning quietly though not very busily. Mr. Orcutt came to see me and to talk over matters more, but not to arrive at any distinct settlement of his debt so that I was desirous of getting rid of him. He seems to have no sort of disposition to leave the place without settling with me so that I do not feel anxious about him. It is probable that I shall be obliged to take security so that it matters very little to me when it is done. Mr. Titcomb also came to me being desirous to settle the matter for which he was sued. He brought me a watch as a pledge, but I declined taking it, as such a thing was totally useless to my purpose which is the Collection of Money, for my Employer. The rest of my time was taken up in attempting to digest my plan for my argument tomorrow night. It goes hard.

As Mrs. Everett is in town, the relations seem disposed to entertain her, and make much of her. We consequently dined at Chardon’s today, and had a tolerably pleasant time. Nobody there but Mrs. E. and Abby. After dinner I went to the Athenaeum to look at the Files of the Newspapers containing the Debates in Congress on the Bank, which I did. But I was totally unable to make any thing of an examination of the subject as my time was very limited. I merely ascertained a few facts respecting the decision on the subject, in 1811 and 1816.1 This will aid me a little in the few observations I propose to make tomorrow night. I remained at the Athenaeum reading until late in the Evening when I found it was time to go in and hear Dr. Lieber 109deliver his Lecture upon the State of the Turks. This was rather better than the former one, but still it made me feel angry. The information it contained was not so much as in the preceding Lecture, much being repeated.

I got away at eight o’clock and went to Chardon’s to spend the evening where I found Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Story and Henrietta Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham. I talked a great deal with Mrs. Everett, and took an opportunity gently to intimate that I thought she was not correct in the course she pursued to her husband. I did it very delicately and in such a manner as to prevent her feeling hurt with me, which succeeded. Whatever my opinion of Mr. Everett may be, generally, I think that so far as regards her, his course deserves much consideration. And though she may feel impatient at the progress of circumstances it is not proper for her to check the course of her husband’s career.2 We returned at ten. The snow still holds off.