Morning cloudy, but mild. Went to the Office as usual, and passed my time in writing my Journal. Mr. Hurlbert is a man who was burnt 184out of his premises last Fall and now applies for this Store beneath. After a little conversation and some provisions on both sides, I let him have the Store and two rooms overhead for the sum of three hundred dollars, an arrangement which suits me very well, for the rooms above I cannot let for any other purpose, and now are better disposed of than lying waste.1 I immediately went to give directions to Hollis and the others for the purpose of beginning. This relieves my mind a little. If I could now only get rid of the other two houses. This arrangement compelled me to be very active and brisk in trying to get rid of the dust and rubbish which has accumulated in the garret above. I have been anxious ever since I was in the Agency to do it. I read consequently but very little of Mr. Williston.

Returning home, I found Miss Elizabeth Phillips passing the day with Abby. I forgot to mention the fact of the decease of Winthrop Gray this morning. He has lived a worthless life and leaves little regret behind him. The great misfortune of his life was the possessing too much property too early.2 I passed the afternoon in reading Demosthenes quietly and pleasantly at my Study. The progress I am now making is considerable. My spirits were a little improved today though still not excessively bright. I passed the remainder of the evening in finishing for my Wife the School for Scandal. The latter scenes of the Play delighted me as much as ever. The brilliant wit of them is astonishing. But after all there is more point than nature, though nature not exaggerated would probably on a representation prove very flat. After Abby retired, I sat up and read further Walker’s Rhetorical Grammar though I found nothing in it extremely remarkable.

Morning bright though rather cool. I went to the Office as usual and was as usual very much disturbed in the disposal of my time, and interrupted more than usual. My first was an application for the refusal of the House in Tremont Street, No. 2, which I accordingly 185gave until tomorrow. The Store being let and this House, I shall feel less the weight of the remainder, but it is too much to have the whole property upon my hands at once. Since my coming into the Agency I have changed every Tenant but three and the Offices. And very necessary it was, for the old ones had become very poor and very irregular. I hope now that things will go on better. I have still however much to do, and many places to let. May luck befriend me.

Mr. Eddy called to notify me of a Meeting of the Directors of the Middlesex Canal, this afternoon, and I had some conversation with him. I think under his direction for a few years more things will be apt to improve, provided we may ward off the rail road. He has much more energy and capacity than have ever before been displayed upon this Canal. Mr. Welsh offered me an administratorship upon an Estate in town, the only objection to which was in the bonds. I felt doubtful about it and took time to consider. This was nearly all I did. I saw Mr. Brooks for an instant and then read over for study Washington’s Farewell Address several times.1 In the afternoon, I bottled a considerable portion of my Sherry which should have been done long ago, and attended the Meeting of Directors of the Canal. The business was quickly done. I spent part of the time in looking over the records of the Corporation, and could not help smiling at the account of it’s early proceedings. How changed we are as a people. Returned home, and in the evening read to my Wife Beppo and Parisina by Lord Byron, beautiful poems.2 After which finished Walker’s Grammar.