The day was lovely, full of the softest feeling of Spring. I went to the Office early and passed my morning in making up the accounts falling due at the commencement of the Quarter. I was in some degree of trouble about having funds sufficient to meet the demands accruing today besides what I wanted to invest. Degrand called upon me however quite early and there was no retreating so I drew the Check and the transfer was made at the Atlas office to my name of five Shares putting this business beyond a doubt. I was then busy in financiering until I was relieved by the voluntary settlements of Messrs. Gay and Welsh, by means of which money I was enabled to prepare the necessary payments if required. I then sat down and read the new Number of the North American Review which contains some quite interesting Articles—One by Mr. Sparks upon the Life of Arthur Lee which will give many and among others my father, a pretty exciting sensation.1 I confess I do not altogether admire the tone and style of it. But it seems to be a defence of Franklin by means of attack, which pleases Mr. Sparks much, but which is a fault of his temper. My mind however is so disorganized that it is impossible for me to make much headway in any purely literary subject just at present.

I went out to Quincy in the Afternoon, thinking that I should scarcely soon have an opportunity of a more lovely day. The roads were not over good, and as I thought I should not have any conveniences for my horse, I took my Servant Benjamin with me to take care of him at the Stable. Looked into the House and found every thing much as it was. The rain seemed to have injured it much less than I had anticipated.2 Every thing looked natural and pleasant. From thence I went to Mr. Brighams where I received two years Interest upon the Quincy Canal Notes,3 from thence to find Deacon Spear to discuss the matter but I could see him only a minute. He told me however that the House was let. This proves to me how wary a man should be in his prices and how ready people are to impose upon him.4 Thence to my Uncle’s where I found all the family but Abby who was still in town. I settled with Elizabeth, but as my Uncle was coming into Boston tomorrow postponed the rest until then.5 Returned home to tea and passed the evening reading to my Wife from Clarissa, after which Campbell, a sensible author.

Morning not so pleasant, the wind being easterly. At the Office as usual. Occupied in my Accounts as usual. Received a small portion of rent from my Tenant Hurlbert, and paid the customary due to my Uncle who called for it. I then went down to see Miss Abby Adams and made a settlement with her thus clearing out this business. Returned to the Office and began attempting a careful review of Marshall’s fifth volume.1 I fear much I have lost the power of close application but as now I shall be able to be more released from affairs of business, I am resolved to begin upon a new tack, and try to see whether I cannot profit more by studies which ought to be most important to me, for the mere temporal affairs are after all, a matter of exceeding small consideration. I did however accomplish a considerable portion of Marshall and succeeded in getting the general impression as to the condition of affairs at the commencement of the peace of 1783. Marshall is considered a prejudiced historian of this period, which is probable, but yet he is the only one.

The morning slipped away with great rapidity, and not disagreeably although it must be confessed this affair of Whitney’s hangs upon my mind. After dinner I sat down and wrote a letter to my Father upon the subject of my studies,2 which exhausted the whole morning and finally did not satisfy me at all. But I have no time to write over. It is a difficult thing to write well, at least so exactly as I have a desire to know how. Whether I shall ever succeed in reaching the standard of my wishes, is at any rate doubtful. But practice, they say makes perfect, and there is no want of that. In the evening, I continued Clarissa Harlowe aloud to my Wife and read the Will and subsequent events to her death. They are tame. The action seems to be over, it is a superfluous fifth Act in a play and injures the unity of the Novel. Afterwards, Campbell, on the arrangement of words.