Morning cold. At the Office as usual, and engaged in doing my work upon the usual affairs, but on this day I was exceedingly hurried. Rufus Davis again came to me, and again I went with him to the Pension Office where I saw all the steps necessary to procure for the man his new Pension, and I went through them all and forwarded to Mr. Eaton secretary of War, the Papers. This took much time. I then went into Court and heard Judge Putnam deliver his Opinion in the case of the Warren Bridge.1 The Court delivered their various Judgments seriatim, no two being agreed altogether, but on the essential point being equally divided. I could not wait to hear Judge Parker. Returned to the Office, and continued doing what I could but that was little. Josiah Quincy came in and sat a little while, then Mr. Curtis came on business, and he detained me until dinner time so that the whole morning went and I returned home. I forgot to state that I had received a Letter from Mr. Barry this morning quite respectful2

The day was cold, but as it was the time fixed for the Meeting of the Canal Company at Quincy, I started at half past three. My ride was a cold and very disagreeable one but I reached my friend Mr. Beale’s before five. With him I had a little conversation, but finding that I should not be able to see my Uncle’s family after the Meeting I decided to go before, so I went up and found only the Girls as the remainder of the family had gone to Exeter to place their son John at school. Whether this is done by them or by my Father, I do not know.3 I sat with them a little while talking pleasantly enough, until it became time to go to the regular Meeting. I found the Members of the Company present.4 They elected their Officers and among others I was chosen a Director which I accepted and hope soon to know a little more about the affairs of the Company. Little else was done, the great point of paying the Interest on the Notes was not settled, and I returned to town feeling that here was another source of disappointment to me in the expectation of Funds. So that now I am compelled to abandon my cherished idea of investment. My ride was not quite so bad as I had expected. It was lighter, and I arrived in town before ten. Abby had been attending the usual Meeting at Chardon’s.

The Weather was cold and the sky cloudy this morning when I went to the Office. It began to snow but it did not moderate sufficiently to allow of the fall of any quantity. I was engaged in the supervision of the repairs necessary for the House in the rear of my Office. It gives me much trouble, as I find myself standing in danger of being taken in constantly by workmen or others who think me young and easy to be imposed upon. One man cautions me, and another man cautions me until I feel as if I had rather more to do than I was able. But this is my first trial on this Agency. So long as Houses are occupied, it is an easy business, but when empty, and they need considerable repair, the trial begins.

I called in a few moments to see Mr. Brooks, and wrote a part of a letter to my Father on business, from which I desisted to see Mr. Curtis who came in to talk over the unfortunate affair of Mr. Vaughan. My father wrote me a letter upon the subject,1 but we decided upon nothing. He advises Mr. Curtis to go to England in person, but he seems rather doubtful upon it. Returned home. After dinner read the remarks by various Authors upon the Oedipus of Sophocles, La Harpe and Brumoy, who agree in their praises. It is a good tragedy but not so much to my taste as the wilder ones of Aeschylus. I also finished my Dissertation which upon reading over I did not admire. It did not appear to me as well as I expected. Evening at home reading Clarissa, until Mr. William Brooks came in who sat with us for a very considerable time.2 He is a cousin of Abby’s, and was tolerably agreeable.