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.

Morning cloudy but became pleasant. My father and Mother left us this morning after breakfast, and I felt a sensation of loneliness at my home after they had gone which is somewhat new to me, and not very agreeable, neither does it forebode any good. My hopes have been sanguine for a year past, that if my domestic happiness was to be disappointed by the failure of children, I might at least have a substitute in the ardor for literary distinction, but my mind is easily discouraged and my avocations so divide me as to be fast destroying any hope I had to appropriate my time to any useful purpose.

Attended divine Service all day and heard Mr. Frothingham in the morning and Mr. Ripley in the Afternoon. Neither Sermon had any 337interest to me. My Wife remained at home all day excepting when she went to see Mrs. P. C. Brooks. I was occupied upon the Catalogue, which is drawing to a Close.

In the evening, Chardon came in to tell us his brother Gorham’s child was dead.1 Such a thing as this reconciles one to not having any, for I do pity with all my heart the person affected by a sudden blow of desolation. I have no ills in comparison with such as this.