Morning cool. Arose quite early and started immediately after breakfast for Weston according to an engagement made yesterday. The weather was cool and I enjoyed my ride far more than I did on a similar occasion last year. Called at his house for my friend Richardson and found much pleasure from his Company. We reached Weston before ten and proceeded to look at the Farm which does not amount to much, and after meeting with Col. Jones the Auctioneer, we went into the Woods and looked at the tract we propose to part with. When 335I once get into this, I know very little where I am, so that I am compelled to trust very much to the representations of the Tenants on the place and Jones himself. Picked up a large quantity of White Oak Acorns for my Father, they are fresh and to all appearance of very good quality. We finished soon and I was enabled to start so as to be able to reach home by my regular dinner time. Afternoon passed in my usual avocations, Cicero, the first book, de Inventione, I finished, and began again. One examination of a book in a foreign language answers very little purpose. Evening at home. French as usual. Mason and Horn Tooke.

Morning clear but rather cooler than it had been and so much so that I felt very much the want of a Fire. Having made up my Mind about the course proper to be taken with the Editor of the North American Review I wrote him a Note requesting the return of my Manuscript to which he replied by sending it to me with a Note stating that he should like to see me to give me some hints before revising it.1 I felt exceedingly dispirited by this result of my labours. To have been kept in suspense so long, to have had the matter of it praised among connections with whom it is my ambition to stand well and then to be discouraged from pursuing the path I saw clear before me, were all a little severe upon me.

My time was very much taken up in attending to people of different sorts on various errands—Some in settlement of their demands, others upon other subjects. Not a moment was left for myself. According to agreement, we dined at P. Chardon Brooks’. I saw his Wife who is laid up for a considerable period with an accident by which her knee was affected. After dinner, returned home and pursued my review of Cicero’s first Book which this time seems easy, but I follow it only by snatches, and the impression it makes wears out of my memory. Evening Corinne, a little of the Poet Gray and a visit from Edmund Quincy. But my spirits have not been so low since I was married.

Morning cloudy and it soon after began to rain, which lasted through the day. At the Office after a walk to the south end of the town to collect the Dividends due upon the personal property there and to look at the three Tenements which are now all empty. Found 336them in better condition than I anticipated, but felt a little anxiety about them, as they ought not to stand empty. Returned and was busy with various persons calling until my father came in, for whom I immediately went out on business.

Returning, found at my Office, Mr. Alex. H. Everett and his brother in law Mr. Peabody.1 They called to examine the office opposite to me which he has been fiddling about so long. The real secret however, I suspect to be that he wanted to see about the effect produced upon me by that affair of my Article. He alluded to it, and I was very frank with him. After transacting business, my father returned with me to my House, where I found my Mother tolerably well and come in to dine and spend the Night.

The President and I dined with Mr. Everett at Charlestown. Company consisted of Genl. Van Rensselaer, Judge Johnson, Mr. Schroeder of Baltimore, Commodore Morris, Mr. Hale, Mr. Alex. H. Everett, Palfrey, Peabody, Batchelder and Son, and a Son of Mr. Johnson at Cambridge.2 The dinner was a little dull. The persons in the Company being ill assorted. I sat between Peabody and Batchelder Jr. and extracted from the former more than I expected. I forgot to mention Mr. B. Gorham, the pleasantest of all. Returned in the rain and passed the Evening in conversation.