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.

Morning at the Office. The weather was hazy and became warm in the course of the day. I passed the time in reading the Newspapers, and in the many kinds of interruptions to which I have for a few days past been subjected. An applicant came for the House No. 2 and requested the refusal of it, which I gave. Deacon Spear came in from Quincy and showed me a letter from my father giving directions about the Farms there.1 In this letter he seems to express it as doubtful whether he shall be here before the month of May. This rather surprises me but I presume it to be owing to my Mother, whose health will not permit her to come on sooner. I talked with the Deacon about affairs in Quincy, and drew from him facts respecting the Farms 186which I was to set down to write to my Father immediately. As soon as he went, I sat down to do so and wrote him very particularly the condition of the property.2 How far I had gone, and proposed to go. The weight upon my mind is very great. Returned home.

In the afternoon, I went to the performance of the last Office to the body of poor Winthrop Gray, not from any feeling for him, but from respect to his Mother who is a very estimable woman. Returned I was then engaged in copying the letter and thought I would take the broken remnant of the afternoon for the purpose of writing a letter long due to my Mother. It was principally upon the subject of the death of Mrs. Brooks, giving some particulars respecting it. It did not perfectly satisfy me in the writing as things rarely do, but in such cases I do not stop to correct.3 I barely finished it in time for tea and my usual visit in the evening to the Private Debating Society where the former question was again debated, and finally settled. The argument of Mr. A. W. Fuller settled it the contrary way to what I had formerly thought my vote would be. I detest opinionated self conceited men stiff in their prejudices. Did not get home until late.