Morning extremely mild and pleasant. Went to the Office as usual and occupied myself in writing my Journal and arranging my Accounts for my Father. Walked to the South end for the purpose of making the transfer to Thomas B. Adams Jr. of the Shares in the Boylston Market and seven Shares in the Boylston Insurance Company by which Investments two thirds of his property is disposed of.1 Took the opportunity of looking at the Tenements which are all empty and felt as if there was a necessity of taking some immediate and vigorous measures. Collected the balance of my father’s dividends and paid myself the Compensation due to me. Thus went the morning.

Afternoon spent in reading over Cicero’s first book which I found easy and perfectly comprehensible. The advice is excellent. I would that I could keep it in my mind constantly. But I feel discouraged about myself. My efforts result in nothing and my studies are mere vanity. What is the use of labour without profit.

Evening read Corinne and Mason’s Life of Gray, after which I took up the North American Review and read the Article upon the Tariff and Internal Improvement doctrine as at present treated by South Carolina. It is a Masterly Essay, by Edward Everett, and calculated to produce considerable effect. I particularly admired the close of it which is in his happiest manner.2 I have also undertaken to read the British Essay Writers, which I never yet could succeed in doing.3

Morning delicious. I finished this morning the work of making the Catalogue and now it only remains to take it off, in a fair Copy. Went to the office where I found hardly a moment of leisure. My interruptions were so numerous that I could not find time to finish my Journal. Mr. Hurlbert called and we discussed the matter of doing 1 his Store over. I felt frightened about the amount requisite to finish it as I had projected and therefore we agreed to let him make his own improvements upon a Lease of five years from next April.2 Richardson came in and talked over matters a little while. I then went to the South end and gave directions about repairing the Tenements, besides calling to get Thomas Adams’ Certificate of Insurance Stock. Returned to my Office where I finished the Deed of New’s Equity in Lynde Street and gave it to Mr. Minot3 who paid over the sum necessary to settle it, which finishes that part of the business. I had agreed to go to Medford today so that we started as soon as I could get away. Mr. Frothingham and ourselves dined there. Afternoon was passed away by a visit of a Mr. and Mrs. Clapp and the lady’s sister Miss Payne. He is a wreck, a mere living atom, and miserable specimen of decayed existence. They left early and we passed the evening in conversation. N.B. This gentleman died but a few days after this was written.4

Morning cloudy and soon broke into a regular, steady rain. We reached home however in good time and I went to the Office as usual. Occupied all the morning by different persons coming to make application for Houses. Judging from them I should think applications for Dwellings were rising again, and in fact I am informed that real Estate is improving.

Wrote my Journal and found half an hour to go to the Athenaeum to consult the Books there upon some points in which I was doubtful, 339in making up my Catalogue. Returned to my House in a violent rain. Found there Chardon Brooks who dined with us—He being quite solitary at home owing to his Wife’s accident which confines her to her bed. My afternoon was passed in reading Cicero in which I progressed considerably though I find it totally impossible to keep in my mind all the subdivided instructions which are given.

My wife was not over well but she read an hour in Corinne and I continued the sketch of Gray’s character which presents him in a light very different from what I had expected. I afterwards began Symmons’ Life of Milton,1 and continued my undertaking with two papers of the Tatler. There was quite a smart thunder shower this evening.