The morning was cloudy and threatened snow, but it finally cleared away and became very fine, as if it seemed difficult to break up the continued series of fine weather which we have enjoyed. I was at the Office all the morning engaged in my usual duties and in reading Williston. I made a call and sat with Mr. Davis for a few minutes. Mr. Cruft also came and informed me of a Fire which had occurred during the Night in the House owned by my Father and occupied by Mrs. Oliver.1 This is not agreeable News for it is probably too small to be covered by my Father’s Insurance. I deferred going to see it however until I should be sent for. After dinner I went to see the spot where the Fire took. The Kitchen came very near being destroyed. It was luckily saved from the violence of the Enginemen, so that the Expense of repair will probably be trifling. From thence I went down to meet Chapman and Pickering upon a Committee upon the affairs of the Debating Society which kept us an hour.2 We looked over their Affairs and made out a case, not of the most flattering kind. I left them to go to the Office and meet Mr. Hollis my father’s Carpenter, and direct him to estimate the amount of damage done so as to ascertain if the Insurance Office will pay it. Thence home where I read only a little of Sophocles before Tea. The evening was passed in reading Clarissa Harlowe. We progressed beyond the catastrophe and I was exceedingly affected by it. Seldom have I read a book which excited my sympathies more. After Abby retired, I read some articles in the North American Review but went myself to bed early.

Morning fine. I went to the Office as usual but was so much interrupted that I could do little of my reading. The first visit that was paid me was by Rufus Davis the revolutionary veteran whose business had been entrusted to me by my father. He is an odd looking character and full of the wildness peculiar to the poorest of that Class. I cannot say that I admired my Client but as I was obliged to pay him some attention on my father’s Account I thought I would do it out of Charity. I carried him to the Pension Office but Mr. Lilly, the person who had seen me and directed me how to act, was absent and nothing could be done so that poor Davis must go to the trouble of coming again and I must also again be bored.

A man came to apply for my father’s House in the rear of Court Street and in consequence I was obliged to go and look over it with him and look at it’s very miserable condition. I engaged to repair if he would take it, and he agreed to let it go till tomorrow before giving an answer. I was obliged to send for the workmen in order to go and see how soon it might be put in order for occupation. My talking with them consumed much time, and Mr. Jones coming in from Weston kept me afterwards for a considerable time after my regular season for dinner. I settled with him. Mr. Curtis called to give me a Deed to make out for the Boylston Estate. Thus was I full of occupation.

The afternoon was passed in reading Aeschines and after my usual portion of this, the Oedipus of Sophocles in the translations of Potter and Francklin. The time in this manner went rapidly until evening when I went down to hear the Lecture of Mr. A. H. Everett before the Society of Useful Knowledge. It was a historical view of the State of Society in the World, in which he examined the different doctrines of perfectibility, improvement, the reverse, and a stationary condition. His manner is tolerably good, but not equal to his brother’s. I was on the whole tolerably well satisfied. On my return I tried to read Clarissa but was prevented by Mr. Degrand, and Nathl. Hall who paid short visits here, the latter to take leave,1 so that we read but little of Clarissa.