The morning presented the appearance of the depth of winter. The Snow was falling heavily and the sky was dark. I arose and went to the Office. My morning was much taken up, very much in affairs con-150nected with my father’s Agency. As my former tenant, Whitney was still very dilatory in his payment I wrote him a Note on Saturday designed to be final.1 I went down in the mean time to see Mr. Tarbell about some little Commissions of mine, and to the meeting of the Stockholders of the American Bank. There were so few and my interest was so small, I was ashamed to appear so I returned, and went to the meeting of the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal.2 The Exposé was not a very favourable one in my mind. The receipts exhibited a great falling off from last year and the expenses as usual have been very heavy. There was much reasoning attempted to prove that the Stock was not in a low condition but I did not feel convinced by it. The projected railroad has hurt it much and the expenses which are so heavily laid on will injure it more. The Dividend is eight dollars upon the Share—Worse than either of the years preceding. I was chosen a Director at the Meeting for the next year and I hope to be able to become master of the subject in time.3 But I confess my idea is that the property is bad enough.

Returning to my Office I found a Note from Mr. Whitney4 of such a character that I thought it advisable to act at once, so I left the Account to be prosecuted by Mr. Kinsman. This will produce a crisis though I am now much afraid I shall lose the Money. This business of collecting rents is a wretched affair. I have not now a single Tenant who pleases me. But it is advisable to take a short course with such Men and see what the end of it will be.

Returned home to dine and in the afternoon began the Oration of Demosthenes for the Crown, in which I proceeded a little way well. This will be no mean labour. But I now was called to attend the Meeting of Proprietors of Boylston Market which I went to accordingly. The faces were all new and strange to me excepting Mr. Foster’s and Mr. Knapp’s. Yet as soon as I was known Mr. J. D. Williams5 treated me with so much attention as to make me feel very much ashamed. He is one of our rich men yet exceedingly illiterate at first sight, and as I suppose somewhat sensible of the superiority of some who have greater advantages of Education. He accordingly singled me the best educated man in the room out in a very disagreeable manner. The question was upon the purchase of a certain property adjoining, and having given my father’s assent to that arrangement I thought it was sufficient.6 But I had some duty to do. Mr. Greene and I were tellers to pronounce who were elected as Directors, which we did in announcing the old set, and after deciding that the sale of the new shares should happen on Saturday next we adjourned. This time is too early for me or my Father, but 151as Whitney may disappoint me I could not in any event use the chance of investing for him.7

The morning was cloudy and cold though not to be compared with what has preceded. I went to the Office and employed myself as usual. I have directed Whitney to be sued, but am fearful the project was not a wise one. We must wait and see. I occupied myself in drawing up a Letter upon business to my Father in which I stated to him very exactly the condition of the Property, to relieve myself from much of the weight which I feel hangs upon me.1 This now hangs considerably upon my spirits. I called to see Mr. Brooks about the News from Medford which was good, and to see Josiah Quincy about the Note of my Father but could not see him. Thus as usual vanished my morning without my being able fully to account for it. And thus it is always, and thus I am afraid it ever will be in future, but we must have Courage, and go on with the task assigned us.

After dinner I read a portion of my Demosthenes as usual and gained time enough after it to draw off a copy of my first Number of Essays upon Oratory. I am now resolved upon offering it, and on the 152whole am tolerably well satisfied with the neatness of the style. It is a good study to me and whatever may be it’s failure to attract attention, I shall feel a little more confidence in my own powers for appearing before the public. I design offering this to the Editor of the Massachusetts Journal,2 if he accepts it, Well, if not, try again. That is my father’s motto, and I will follow it.

I left off to go to Mrs. Frothingham’s to the weekly Meeting which had been omitted last week on account of the sickness of Mrs. Brooks. The number commonly present was increased by the addition of Miss Parks, Miss Phillips and Miss Wells, a niece of Mrs. Edward Brooks.3 The Meeting professed to be lively but was not a whit more agreeable to me than they usually are. After my return, I sat up some time to read a part of Lord Kaimes.