Morning clear and very warm. I rode to town with the other Horse in my Gig who has been sick. He is a very fine horse and brought me into the City in amazing little while. At the Office. Owing to my absence from the City for two days I had a good deal of Journal to make up, and with my interruptions, allowed me little time for reading. Mr. Champney came in to present his Account in set off of Rent. 276I balanced it and he promised to pay me directly. Mr. Gay gave me his money. Champney asked me also to make a Writ for him against him. It is now so long since I have made one that I felt as if it was quite a new business. I then went to the House for Abby S. Adams’ receipt to make to her my regular payment. Found my man Benjamin Salter inclined to go away and he accordingly gave me notice that he should quit me upon my return.1 Mr. Curtis called to ask me to draw a Deed, another little business Job. R. G. Wait, an appraiser of New’s Estate came with a schedule of his desperate debts. He told me they intended making a return next week. Mr. Spear called to pay the balance of his Rent. Expressed himself well satisfied with the House. I called upon Stone and received the amount from the sale of G.W.A’s Uniform and afterwards my own Dividend at the Atlas Office, which investment has so far turned out very well.

All this left me no more time, and I went out of town in a Shower, to meet the Directors of the Neponset Bridge Corporation at their Annual dinner at Squantum. They invite a number and make quite a party. The situation is very pleasant, though a great way to go round to reach it.2 Mr. Joseph Head and his two sons Joseph and George, Mr. Miller, T. Greenleaf, Beale, J. Quincy Jr., Gourgas, J. H. Foster and his son Wm. E., Mr. T. B. Wales, my father, Uncle and myself constituted the party. We dined upon Fish and had on the whole a tolerably pleasant time. Returned and passed the Evening quietly. Edmund Quincy called with a young man from Halifax, by name of Sewall.3 The ladies were out. I was very tired.

Morning warm. Rode to town as usual. At the Office regulating my Accounts both as Agent and in my private capacity. Wrote my Journal and drew the Deed for Mr. Curtis as requested, though he did not call for it. Drew the Dividend for the Neponset Bridge and received the rent of the House in Hancock Street from Miss Oliver, so that I was enabled to make a very good deposit. But all this and a call upon Mr. Brooks kept me much longer than I had any idea of so that I did not get to Quincy until half past two. Afternoon occupied in the 277Catalogue which progresses gradually. But there is so little energy in the process that I am heartily tired and sick of it.

This day was one of my dispirited, discouraged days. I felt a disgust with the mode of life which I am pursuing, and with the manner in which my fathers family is conducted. The Servants being extravagant and unruly, my father dispirited, my Mother sick, my brother’s Wife querulous, and all on the whole uncomfortable. I did little or nothing. Evening, Supper, and a short Conversation with my father upon Warren Hastings, but without much interest, as I was fatigued.