The weather this morning was clear and cold and we enjoyed our ride to town notwithstanding my own peculiar inconvenience from the violent cold which I had contracted. My father came in with us, to finish the papers respecting Mr. Boylston. After an hour at home and seeing Mr. Frothingham, who was from Medford, I went to the Office and read a little of Marshall but was much interrupted by the arrival and departure of different individuals between my room and the Probate Office–Mr. Curtis and my father and several others. They found a difficulty about bonds and as I believe did not settle it after all. So that my father left town having accomplished little or nothing. Mr. Champney is one of my father’s Tenants and called to pay some arrears which were due on his tenements.1 He is in appearance a very clever young man and though in arrear, it seems to have been only for the reason that he was allowed to go behind.

Returned home to dinner and passed the afternoon in my study, writing and arranging my Accounts. My cold has had a very unfavourable effect upon my spirits and temper—and Abby and I had a conversation at dinner which gave me regret. For I perceive, so very 30strongly the seeds of difference between herself and a member of our family now absent but who may still hereafter be thrown into some intimacy with us, that I fear the result will scarcely be agreeable, and endeavour earnestly to correct it.2 Evening with Abby at home, but not pleasant as I suffered much and she was a little out of sorts. This evening R. Sturgis was married again to Miss Hubbard and we had a portion of the Serenade.3 It was flat and poor.

Morning rainy and unpleasant. I arose suffering very heavily from my cold. I do not know how or when I could have contracted it but it seems as severe as any I have had. At the Office engaged in reading Marshall, and in making out the accounts of my father’s Agency for the quarter. Mr. Child sent me a letter requesting the use of my late brother’s Uniform. I told him in reply, first in a letter and then verbally when he called to see me that I did not feel at liberty to let him have it in that manner,1 that I wished to part with it but felt it impossible to allow the value of it to be diminished constantly by these occasional uses. He allowed the reasoning and seemed puzzled to know what to do and so left me. Mr. Curtis called and left a letter from my father in which he complains of not hearing from his man to put up a fire place for him.2 This compelled me to go and find him after dinner which was not at all agreeable as I felt much more in a humour for remaining at home. My comfort was entirely destroyed during the day and evening although I felt all the luxury of a comfortable home. Mr. Child made me go to the Office at seven o’clock in order to come to a decisive arrangement about the Uniform. He concluded to take it and give me the appraised price which I thought very low. He paid me only a small part in hand and promised the remainder in ten days. I know what his promises are but I was foolish enough to give them up and do much more than was altogether suitable to my conscience.3