The morning was cloudy and very cold. I have not experienced a day yet which felt so cheerless and wintry. We returned to town suffering very considerably from the cold. After warming my body which had become thoroughly chilled, I went to the office. My time was so much taken up with other occupations as to render me unable to continue my translation. Having seen by the Newspaper that the Gold Hunter, a vessel was arrived from Cronstadt, I was obliged to issue a Writ immediately to take one of the Men who was on board in satisfaction of a debt which I have had in my hands to collect for a very considerable time.1 Mr. Titcomb called to see me to talk a little for he never seems ready to pay. Mr. Curtis came to show me the Deed Mr. C. P. Curtis had made in place of my own. It varies only by abridging my own. He gives an opinion accompanying it which I do not agree with—And against which I am disposed to write an opinion. My deed is perhaps too good for the purchaser but not on that account the less acceptable to me who am anxious to give that which I think will bind. Mr. C. also left with me Papers to make an assignment of all the Property belonging to Mr. Boylston in Maine. I had not time to do it today and to tell the truth scarcely felt in the mood.

I returned home and read in the Afternoon a page of Aeschines, translating as much. This business progresses slowly and consumes much time but I flatter myself it is done thoroughly and will show me tolerably well the spirit of the Ancient Orators so that comparing it with Cicero and with our Modern eloquence we may form some accurate idea of their relative merit compared to each other. Evening passed in reading to Abby in Clarissa Harlowe which drags its slow length along. After which a little of the Life of Admiral Blake.2 But from some reason or other I was not satisfied with the day’s work.

Morning cloudy, which afterwards changed and became a warm and heavy rain throughout the day and evening. I went to the Office and was very busily engaged in making an assignment according to Mr. Curtis’ paper and request to me. I was so doubtful as to the form that I went to consult with Mr. Kinsman and after some conversation I made out An Indenture of two parts assigning to General Salem Towne all the Interest which the Executors had to certain Notes and Papers relating to a particular Estate at Mount Desart in the State of Maine. The finishing the thing occupied me very nearly the whole morning as I had also to draw up a kind of quitclaim in case any land remained unsold. Mr. Curtis called to see me for a moment but he had changed his mind about the Papers and so left them again with me. I was glad of this as I shall still have an opportunity of Drawing up an explanation of my own deed as differing from that of Mr. Curtis, the lawyer consulted by him.

I returned home and in the afternoon read my usual quantity of Aeschines which was easy and rather interesting. I comprehend this Oration infinitely more fully than I had expected. Perhaps had I continued Greek I should now have been perfectly master of the Language and just at the Age to begin to relish it. As it is I have hardly the time to pursue it. But I find the difficulty of not having a Greek and English Dictionary which must facilitate the study considerably. Having become a Member of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge I was desirous to hear the Introductory Lecture for the Winter course this evening,1 but it stormed so hard and my wife seemed so lonely I decided upon remaining at home and finishing the second Volume of Clarissa Harlowe in reading aloud to her. I also concluded the life of Admiral Blake, which is not much.

Morning cloudy but as mild as Summer. I went to the Office and was occupied much of the morning in giving an opinion upon the 79Deed of Mr. Curtis as opposed to my Deed, in drawing a Quitclaim Deed which I could approve of, and in making a process of Foreign Attachment in Henderson’s case. All which I did and moreover translated a portion of Pufendorf as usual but not quite so much to my satisfaction. I was not this morning quite so much in the spirit of it. Called to see Mr. Kinsman and Mr. Davis.1 Conversation with them upon various subjects, particularly with one upon the Note of the City Guards, with the other upon the news of the engagement to be married between Mr. Webster and Miss Le Roy of New York. He has been so long talked about that it is desirable to have some end put to it.2 Mr. Curtis called for a few moments and took all the papers which had been left with me. I was thus quite glad to have had an opportunity to have given an opinion in defence of my own deed, and devolving the responsibility of it upon another. I am satisfied as I get my perquisites also.

Returned home and after dinner, read as usual my portion of Aeschines besides bottling a very considerable portion of Whiskey, a duty I am obliged to attend to now that I have a House of my own and things to keep, though not over agreeable. In the evening I continued reading to my Wife a portion of Clarissa Harlowe, commencing the letters of Lovelace, which are amusing enough though rather broad. Being desirous of becoming acquainted with the Older Authors rapidly, I began late this evening Potter’s Translation of the Tragedies of Aeschylus, with his Preface.3 My only complaint is that I cannot find time enough for all my avocations.