Morning fine. Went to the Office expecting to have considerable time to read Marshall, but as it turned out entirely interrupted. My first visitors were not unwelcome, being my two Mr. Conants from Weston, with a part of the money due upon the Notes for the sale of Wood upon the property there. This was not quite expected so soon, but it does not come out of season, and certainly not inopportunely. I then went to the Miss Haskins and received the amount of their debt in settlement, which finishes another of the small things in my way. Thence home, where I had Mr. Ayer to consult me upon a point of Law of some interest to him—My only Client for a considerable portion of time. He does not incline to Law, and so he left me hesitating, which as I know commonly amounts to nothing. Deacon Spear came in to ask if any thing was to be done upon the Quincy Property and to ask about repairs, to which I made a very negative reply. In this manner however, I found that the whole of my morning was gone and I could not even find a moment to open Marshall. Then came my time for depositing by which I was a good deal puzzled, for much of the money given to me was in a currency not received at the Bank.1 This is always annoying me—An inconvenience sufficient to balance almost the advantage of exchange, with Washington. As it was I was obliged to carry home a balance.

In the afternoon, commenced Graham’s History of the United States—a chapter or two well read, which I had read before was all I accomplished, but it was done tolerably well. The evening, as the Debating Society has ceased to hold its sessions, was spent at home reading the closing part of Clarissa Harlowe, one of the last letters is good as a recommendation of what a young lady should be, and as conveying very good moral instruction, but as part of the Novel, it is not a little dull. Closed the Evening with reading Campbell, which this evening, I finished.

The morning was cool but clear. After some deliberation, we decided upon going to Medford, and as usual went in Mr. P. C. Brooks’ gig which we borrowed. Having arrived there, we went to Meeting with Mr. Brooks all day, and heard Mr. Parkman of Boston preach two Sermons. One upon the dangers of adversity, and another which though I liked parts of it, is entirely out of my recollection. Mr. Park-205man has certainly improved very much within a few years. He has parted considerably with an ugly whine he used to have, which made a sensible thing appear in his mouth silly. I am inclined to believe that this gentleman by reason of some eccentricities of appearance and manner has been very considerably underrated. After all, sterling merit lies in the mind and heart.

The remainder of the day was passed much as usual. I was occupied in reading several articles in the American Quarterly, Mr. Walsh’s production,1 which in this last Number has considerable talent, and smartness, though I cannot say that I admire much the sentiment in one or two instances. The Evening was passed in conversation with Mr. Brooks who was very pleasant. His kindness of manner produces an effect to bind me here to attend him at least once a week, when much happens in regard to Charlotte which I would much prefer to have had omitted.