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.

Morning at the Office as usual. My wife was not well and confined to her room. Mr. Grosvenor the purchaser of New’s Estate in Cambridge Street called to say that he found the Title defective and accordingly I examined it and agreed with him. This resulted in a most troublesome and unexpected manner—For I must either get a release from the heirs or sell it over again for whatever it will bring. And this last measure will produce nothing but loss. On the whole I think it is a matter of regret that I assumed this trust, for it will pay me little or nothing in comparison with the trouble attending it. I also read Mr. Quincy’s Address on the occasion of the Centennial Affair, and was quite pleased with it. The spirit of it is vastly different from that of almost every thing of the kind I have seen. It has more of the serious manliness of purpose becoming an Orator upon such an Occasion than the miserable seeking after effect commonly prompted by the personal interests of the Speaker.1

Upon returning home I found my Mother there who had come from Quincy to spend a few days, during Abby’s indisposition. In the afternoon I read Cicero and passed an hour longer of the evening, in reading the Life of Milton. After which, two papers of the Tatler.

Morning cloudy with occasional rain. The weather altogether being more like May than October. Went to the Office where I had much 340conversation with Mr. T. Welsh about this business of New’s, and concluded that our best course would be to look up the heirs and see if they would do any thing to release us from our dilemma. I then had a good deal of Conversation with him about political affairs, in which we concluded that the nomination of Mr. Appleton was a tolerably poor concern, and not likely to go down among the Citizens.1 I have half a mind to try my pen against it, and went so far as to draw up an Article for the purpose.

Returned home. Found there Miss Abby Adams and after dinner Horatio Brooks arrived from Gibraltar by the way of New York.2 I read Cicero, finishing the first book de Inventione and beginning the second, the first passages of it are very pretty, and much more easy than the preceding book. Since we have returned from the Country, I have had more Company at my House than during all last Winter, and seem to promise to continue. However I like to have my Mother who keeps Abby company. Mr. Quincy came in and spent an hour of the evening, he was very pleasant. I sat up until quite late drawing up a little sketch of my proposed Article. Read my Numbers of the Tatler.