Morning exceedingly warm. I rode to town without being at all aware of the severe nature of the heat, or it is more than probable that I should have remained at home. At the Office occupied as usual, but as I felt extremely indisposed to make exertion I took the day very quietly to read Hutchinson in which I made considerable and good progress. The History interests me more and more, and satisfies me that my impressions formerly taken are correct. It is strange how the impressions concerning it are perverted.

Little or nothing took place of any consequence and owing to the 285warmth of the weather I was not much disposed to remain very long in town. Returned slowly. The heat was greater today than it has yet been. The Afternoon passed as usual, my father quite unable to do any thing, and I pursuing the arrangement of my Catalogue as rapidly as possible. But this is not very much when one melts visibly. The evening with the family. On the whole, pretty idle.

Another excessively hot day, so much so that I felt unable to advise my Wife to keep her engagement to go to Medford. The Sun seemed to strike a concentrated heat as I stood a little while in the Garden so that I recommended an entire absence of both of us from Boston. But Mr. Beale and Mr. Miller had invited the family to go to Squantum today with an abundance of ladies and gentlemen who were going from Quincy. I felt as if I ought to go or submit to be called fastidious in a great degree, so that after abundance of doubt, I decided in favour of going. My father, brother, John and I went in the Carriage. The ride was pleasant, having the air. We reached there to find a large collection of persons too numerous to name particularly. After a bath with the gentlemen and a sail with the ladies, we trifled away the rest of the time to a fish dinner. This was good though not the best. The afternoon went while I was watching the bowling alley. On the whole, as I was cool and did not feel very much ennuyé, my visit this day to Squantum turned out an agreeable disappointment. We reached home at six to warm weather again. But although the night was a dead calm, I did not suffer at all, on the contrary my evening was cool, and night’s sleep sound.

The weather changed during the night and this morning we found it quite cool with an Easterly Wind. This put us in mind of fulfilling our engagement. So that after breakfast Abby started with me to go to town. I drove to P. C. Brooks Jr. where she got out, and then went myself to the Office. Stopped to see Mr. Stephen Brown and inquire if he had any Atlas Insurance Stock for sale.1 He thought he had ten shares but the man concluded to keep them, and I was disappointed of the Investment I had hoped to make for my father.

My time was much cut up. I was in State Street for some time and there met Mr. J. H. Foster who asked me to go and see the Shark caught lately, who was supposed to have destroyed the man from 286Lynn.2 Rather a terrific animal as I should think to meet single handed. His teeth are arranged with a singular economy, for prey. The inner row lie flat in the mouth unless when necessary for use, when they strike as firmly as the external row, and both are sharp as the teeth of a saw.

I read a little of Horace Walpole today also. It then became time for me to start for Medford, so that calling for Abby at Miss Julia Gorham’s, I rode with her out of town. We found Mrs. Frothingham as usual, with Miss Phillips one of the large number from Andover. An innumerable quantity the count of whom it is difficult to keep.3 I did little or nothing after dinner though I attempted to read the first part of Le Batteux, Principes de la Construction Oratoire.4 Edward B. Hall, and afterwards Mr. Stetson called and passed the larger part of the Evening here in conversation, so that I had only a very short period of time to apply to Winthrop whom I have resumed.