My days now pass in so regular a routine, that I feel as if it was hardly necessary in my Journal to do more than repeat. I went to the 80Office as usual and translated and read a portion of Pufendorf as usual. I then read over what I had done and was satisfied with it. On the whole it appears to me clearer than the original from which I took it. This is not saying a great deal however in this particular instance. I paid my father’s Tax and service for this year and settled with Mr. Clapp, the Mason who has done my Father’s Kitchen at Quincy. This leaves me exceeding little of his Funds in my hands and a good many debts to pay. I wish his Tenants were better pay, and gave me less trouble. Mr. C. P. Curtis called upon me to inform me that Captn. Rogers whom I had sued on Henderson’s Account had accepted a Draught for one hundred dollars from Henderson and was therefore desirous of being discharged.1 I was very sorry for this as I had fully expected to obtain this Money. But in this present case the costs will be considerable and probably the satisfaction nothing. I returned home a little dull about it.

Afternoon occupied in reading and translating as usual in Aeschines and found myself at the close of the dry Argument upon the time when and place where a Crown should have been conferred in Athens, which constitute the two first points of the Oration. The remainder being more to the Character of Demosthenes and History of Greece will be more amusing, though I confess I think already he has made a good attorney’s case. As Abby was gone out to drink Tea, I took the time to read Potter’s Translation of The Prometheus Chained of Aeschylus. It appears literal and correct, and gives me a better idea of the piece than I could get from the original. I read La Harpe’s Opinion and that of Cumberland in the Observer. The former considers it as an Epic fragment rather than a Play, to which he says it has no pretensions, the latter admires it’s wildness and striking imagery. Such may be considered the distinct tastes of the two Nations which these Individuals represent, and a good comment may thus be afforded upon the Standard of Taste. I think myself the middle the best ground. The play is essentially poetical and not dramatic, but not more so than most of the ancient plays which have no possibility of assimilating themselves to our present notions of the drama. I called at Mrs. Dexter’s for Abby where we sat for a little while.2 It was rather dull and I was glad to get home.

Morning at the Office. Weather changed again and become cold. I found the glass in my room about 42. degrees of Fahrenheit. I have not as yet succeeded in placing it out. I continued my method of translating. This Preface seems to me on nearer inspection not so satisfactory as it did at first.1 There is much irrelevant and much illdigested matter, but the substance differently arranged would comprehend all that we wish to have upon the limits of the Sciences of Natural and Civil Law. I have obtained clear ideas of them by reading it, which I cannot say I had before. Called to see Mr. Tarbell and talked with him upon this business of Henderson’s which by it’s ill success disgusts me. He said he would obtain instructions. Wrote a short letter to my Father in answer to his of the other evening which I put into the Post Office on my return home.2 Authorized Degrand to purchase two shares of the Atlas Insurance Company if he could get them for ninety eight. I do not expect to get them.

After dinner I read my usual portion of Aeschines and began his review of the Life of Demosthenes. This constitutes the essential of the Oration. I read also Potter’s Translation of the Supplicants of Aeschylus which I do not admire so much. The only remarkable thing in it being the principles of public liberty which were then held as exhibited in the mouth of the King of the Greeks. Nothing new has been discovered since. I then went down to hear Dr. Walter Channing deliver a Lecture upon the Education of the Ancients, before the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.3 It was pretty but not well adapted, and it was not long. From thence, to the house of Edward Brooks, to the regular weekly meeting of the family, where we had a tolerably pleasant hour and returned home before the Clock had struck ten.