Morning clear but cold with a blustering wind which reminded us strongly of the approach of Winter. I copied a letter for my father,1 and held some subsequent conversation with him upon the project of electing him to Congress. He does not disappoint me as I wish he had done. His is not the highest kind of greatness. And much as he may try to conceal his feeling under the cloak of patriotic inclination; My eye is a little too deep to be blinded by the outside. I regret the decision on his account. I regret it upon my own. To neither of us can it prove beneficial to be always struggling before the public without rest or intermission.

Went to Meeting and heard Mr. Whitney preach a couple of Sermons during the day which were dry and dull as usual. He is a per-332severing speaker of nothings. After service in the Afternoon, my father and I went to ride in the gig, round to the Mount Wollaston Estate. He went out in search of Acorns, and left me shivering in the Gig. I felt less partiality for the place this time. It is cold and bleak, and what are my ideas but vanity and vexation of spirit. I have no motive to hope for perpetuating the property.

Felt glad to return home, and after tea walked to the Judge’s, my Uncle’s. Saw him and the young ladies, but Mrs. Adams had gone to Haverhill. Passed an hour in conversation, and then did my regular Quarterly business, after which I returned to read two Articles in the Quarterly Review before retiring.

The morning fine and clear again. After breakfast we made ready to return to Boston. My father did not seem in very good humour, probably from the course which I felt it my duty to take about the election. This matter is not an agreeable one to him nor is it so to me, but I feel as if he ought not to take any course without having the whole ground laid out before him. The precedent is important to the whole nation.1

Returned to town, and from thence directly to the Office. After arranging and looking over my papers here, I went down to the Meeting of the Stockholders of the State Bank, for the annual election of Directors. The excitement was very considerable as there was a design to overturn the President. Mr. Degrand figured away upon that occasion a little too much for the success of his cause. Our people are never over fond of foreigners and the moneyed men are wary of Brokers. The mass of the property of the Bank went in favour of the old system, while the young men and small Proprietors advocated a change; among the latter I may be classed. The excitement was notwithstanding very considerable.

I returned to the Office and passed the rest of the morning in reading, writing and Accounts. Mr. Frothingham dined with us. And I read Cicero afterwards, although I cannot make much of the Books de Inventione. They are a mere skeleton of a very intricate and subdivided system. Evening, Corinne, Mason’s Life of Gray, and the Diversions of Purley.