Morning cloudy but the weather gradually improved to a bright beautiful day. I read a part of Buffon’s Natural History before going 10out. At the Office as usual. Called to obtain the Report of the Commissioners upon R. New’s Estate, and found to my surprise that the larger claims against the Estate had not been brought in. Occupied in looking into a Law question upon that matter. Mr. Peabody called and sat an hour or two. Conversation upon various subjects, quite agreeably. I had not much spare time but as much as there was, I devoted to a review of the Abstract of Aristotle, which contains many good thoughts. Took a walk and returned home.

After dinner, I finished the Oration for Cluentius and made a deliberate and thorough Review of the Oration for the Manilian Law. It is certainly a beautiful Specimen in its way. A brilliant Panegyric, and it may have been deserved, though that is doubtful. The tone adopted by the Orator is that of independence and the concluding declaration is a noble one. If he was wrong, it was a defect of Judgment, not of principle.

Evening reading Captn. Parry’s Journal which continued to be very interesting. It is described with great simplicity and apparent truth. Read a little of Buffon and the Spectator, retired early.

Morning cloudy, with a mild south Wind so as not to be unpleasant. I went to the Office as usual and after the regular duties, finished the reading of Aristotles Politics analyzed. A work which contains many good single ideas but which shows no practical system, nor any clear notions of the end of human existence, at least as we understand it now. The tendency to theory is also strongly visible. I began the Republic of Jean Bodin abridged.1 I know little at present either of the name or the Author, and did not make any very great progress today. Deacon Spear called about the Houses at Quincy, with a request that I would write to Washington for instructions for him, which I accordingly did.2

Took my usual walk which was pleasant enough today, and after dinner continued the Oration for Cluentius, half of which I accomplished in review. It appears more striking on this perusal. And from the Author’s account of himself in one of his rhetorical Works, it seems pretty clear, that he thought it one of his best. Evening a Letter from my Mother.3 Captain Parry and his excursion over Melville Island. Still very interesting. After this I read Buffon and the Spectator. Two good Numbers.