Morning very bright and clear, but somewhat colder than it has been. I went to the Office as usual and passed my time reading and 397occupied with my affairs which plague me not a little. I have left myself with rather too small a balance to do any thing, and I believe on the whole this shall be the last time I ever make such difficult experiments. If I did not feel every day the necessity of so extending my means as to meet the prospect of increased expenses, I should not expose myself to such straits, but I will not ask my father for any thing more, and I feel too much pride to think of being any farther assisted by my Wife’s. It is true my progress must be slow, but if I see the means of helping myself I feel as if I ought to use them reasonably. I have inquired of my Father whether he would invest his money which he has declined doing so that it lies in my hands together with New’s, without any call or use. Now I invest it to secure a Dividend in April and if by that time I cannot pay for the Stock out of my Income, to sell some other stock which may be likely to be less profitable.

I read a good deal of Enfield and reviewed the whole doctrine of Plato, which I am glad to know a little better. At one I returned home, as we were invited to go to Medford, and started with Mrs. Frothingham, my Wife and Chardon Brooks in the Carriage. Our ride was pleasant and we found there Mr. Gorham Brooks and his Wife with Mrs. Everett and Miss Phillips. The dinner was as usual, and we returned home after which I read Evelina to Abby, continued my Catalogue and read two numbers of the Tatler.

Morning bright and clear. Mr. Ayer brought me this morning his Account which was not a little startling as it amounted to nearly double of my estimate.1 I was a little shocked at this excess as by some strange chance the thing has happened in almost every other bill as well as this. At the Office where I was busy in reading and accounts as usual. I have been on the whole more troubled about Accounts this year than I ever was before. I accomplished however some portion of Enfield’s History of the School of Aristotle.

Returned home and spent the remainder of the day in reading the Orator. Miss Julia Gorham dined here. The difficulty of the Orator is hardly paid by it’s value for the whole doctrine of number is to us of little consequence. I finished it superficially and began a review.

Evening, about to read Evelina but was soon interrupted by Edmund Quincy who spent the Evening. After which I accomplished a little of my Catalogue and read the Tatler.