Morning delightfully mild and pleasant. I went to the Office as usual and passed my time in writing my Journal and afterwards in reading a little of Enfield. But one or two interruptions. One from Judge Adams who came for the purpose of getting some Money for J. Q. Adams’ Quarterly Allowance due tomorrow. I paid it. Mr. Peabody came in and talked very pleasantly also. I began writing a letter to my Father but could not progress much in it. Went down to the Fire and Marine Office to get Powers of Attorney for the repayment of Capital which is about to take place there. Thence to the Athenaeum for books.

The Judge, my Uncle dined with us and was tolerably pleasant. After dinner I continued Verres and read twenty sections more in the Oration upon provisions. The Account given of the oppression exercised over the good People of Sicily is terrible enough. How thankful should we be who are able to consider what we have our own, without fearing rapine and extortion. But the detail is tedious.

Mr. Angier took tea with us in the Evening and I went to the Debating Society. A small Meeting. Question upon the present excitement in South Carolina.1 Debate short and warm and the subject put over. After we adjourned as the Evening was delightfully mild, I took a long walk with several of the young men. Returned home and read the Tatler.

Morning quite cold. I finished the fourth volume of Drake’s Essays and the literary life of Dr. Johnson before morning Service. I have not derived so much information from this as from the preceding part of the Work. Probably because the character and Works of Dr. J. are more familiar to me. The whole book is written with some affectation which I cannot bear, but otherwise decently enough.

Attended with my Wife and Miss Adams at Mr. Frothingham’s in the morning. In the afternoon quite alone. Mr. Greenwood preached a dry Sermon upon the incomprehensible character of God and Mr. Frothingham an equally dry one upon some other subject. Returned home and was occupied the rest of the day in finishing and copying, to send away, my letter to my Father1 and one to T. B. Adams Jr.2 upon his affairs. This took me into the Evening, after which the Port Royal Greek Grammar3 and the Tatler.

Morning almost as cold as ever. I went to the Office as usual and passed some time in examining the Newspapers which came to me in abundance. One, The Globe, from Washington, for what reason, I can not easily guess, for after looking it all over, I saw nothing excepting 427Mr. Cambreleng’s poor Speech.1 The Intelligencer contained Mr. Calhoun’s Preface which is a singular production.2 I wasted the morning over these Papers and in getting rid of two or three interruptions.

Returned home and after dinner sat down to read the Oration against Verres which I accomplished. It has been rather superficially gone over but I design to review the whole Series after I have finished it. This one upon the grain is rather dry. Purchased a Landscape Annual with the Roman views for my Wife.3 Took a walk.

Evening, I was at home alone with my Wife as Miss Adams went out to pay a visit to some of her friends. I rather wasted the time. Afterwards, I was busy in studying, the Port Royal Greek Grammar, and in continuing my regular reading of the Tatler.