Morning clear and cold. Went to the Office as usual. Occupied in my usual avocations though my time as usual seemed to slip away much faster than I could clearly account for. I had leisure to finish Mr. Bayard’s speech upon the Embargo and in that manner to finish this volume of Williston. Received a letter from my Father upon business affairs though of no great consequence. It merely recommended to me certain occupations in business affairs which I am willing to adopt.1

Went to Blake’s room where I found the Committee and we sat as usual discussing things in general without arriving at any definite conclusion. I was called away to attend to Mr. Tenny who had got his security to offer which I accepted and I drew up the Lease according to the last agreement, and we agreed to sign and seal on this afternoon at four o’clock. Accordingly after dinner I was obliged to return to the Office and meet him, when we in effect finished the job, and I am glad to be able to say that this House is actually out of my hands. Now there still remains the other one.

The afternoon was in a degree wasted. I sat with Mr. Welsh, discussing affairs in general with him until it became quite late. He is a singular man, but on the whole much more tolerable than one might be apt to suspect. From his Office, I went to the Athenaeum where I passed half an hour in looking over the Edinburgh Review, an Article on Education probably written by Mr. Brougham.2 I then found it was time to go to the Meeting of the Debating Society. The Weather was severely cold, but the Meeting was large and the discussion upon the subject of Medical Dissection was continued, so that we were saved the exposition of Militia affairs. We have gone on increasing gradually in our Members until we have become quite respectable. Returned home calling for Abby and Miss Phillips at Mrs. Frothingham’s in a bitter cold night.

Arose this morning to find the weather changed to intense cold. Every thing even in the parlour was frozen. The change was as sudden 149as it was disagreeable. I had no glass properly exposed to ascertain the degree but mine even in its sheltered situation sunk as low as eight, sixteen degrees lower than at any preceding time.

After breakfast, we went to Meeting and heard a certain Mr. Sewall preach, Mr. Frothingham having gone to Washington.1 My feet were so cold during the service that I could not feel comfortable and the preacher was not over lively. We returned home, our two ladies quite regretting they had come out at all. As my father was strong in his recommendation of going to Church in his yesterday’s letter, I thought I would go again when I found that the weather had moderated. Mr. Ripley preached.2 I know this young man from reputation at College. He has not kept up to it, and this afternoon he was quite long and tedious. Attendance at Church is no doubt a good practice, but to hear much of what is said in the Pulpit is a little fatiguing. Some things we think we can say better. Others we would not say at all. This may be vanity and self exaltation but we still can hardly avoid the reflections when we come to know what constitute the body of our Preachers.

Returned home to look over some more letters of my Grandfather copied by Mr. Sparks. One only I withdrew. The rest were admitted without objection. But I do not precisely know how far Mr. Sparks ought in justice to carry his selections. In the parlor 3 as my study was so cold, I sat with the ladies and read to them a part of Sir Charles Grandison, an amusing book, for it’s peculiarities though not for it’s merits.4 We were stopped by the entrance of Mr. Edmund Quincy, who passed the rest of the evening with us.