Morning quite cool with an Easterly Wind. After examining Mitford and several other books for the purpose of writing an article on the subject of Demosthenes, I went to the Office. After sitting there and accomplishing my Diary and several other duties, I thought it a favourable day to go and look at the Athenaeum Gallery as well as to see the London Papers. I was pleased in looking at the Pictures, but more particularly with four pieces of Vernet, and one by Cole. They are in their respective styles extremely beautiful.1 But I did not like Allston’s style so well.2

Returned home after dining at the Tremont House. Read and finished the letters of Cicero ad Diversos. On the whole I have not often read a more interesting collection. I propose now to give up my regular studies for the purpose of finishing this undertaking of mine.

My Wife and Child both doing well. I sat with her until eight when I went upstairs and read Mitford and the Edinburgh Review, which has some Masterly Articles upon the subject.3 Read an Essay of Bacon on Parents and Children and the Spectator as usual.

Morning cloudy with an Easterly Wind, which terminated in very heavy rain in the Afternoon and Evening. After reading over part of Aeschines I went to the Office and was first taken up by a visitor. Dr. A. Phelps is the chief of the Antimasonic Party in this State. He came to shew me a Letter and to request to know when he could see my Father. His purpose was to know whether my Father would be a Candidate for the Presidency on the Antimasonic ground.1 He shewed me a letter from Pittsburg urging the nomination of him at Baltimore very much. On this subject I told him that I could say nothing. Whatever he might reply, would of course be to me very right. But that his family felt and I felt as if it was hard that the last days of his Life should be molested by attacks more bitter even than any he had yet experienced. That this would be a war of great violence and it’s result would undoubtedly be defeat. I therefore dissuaded him from making a nomination. He took the opportunity to indoctrinate me on Antimasonic subjects which I bore with great good-nature. My father came in presently and sat an hour.

Returned home early in order to dine and get the family ready to move off. This was the afternoon for the Eulogy upon James Monroe and it rained heavily. After some waiting I got my Father and Mother off in a Carriage, and we reached the Church in safety. The Crowd was great. The Eulogy was successful but not so much so as the Oration. The matter was harder to manage.2 It was late before we reached home. But my Father and Mother decided upon returning to Quincy. She was really quite sick. My head ached badly and I was glad to go to bed after a fatiguing day. Read the Spectator and Bacon’s Essay on Marriage and Single Life.

Some hint of the reception of the speech may be had from the Boston Daily Advertiser’s comment, “[T]he Orator has formed a much higher estimate of Mr. Monroe’s talents and services, than, we believe, will meet the sanction of most men, who have been acquainted with his public life, and has consequently celebrated them in terms of eulogy which appear a little extravagent” (26 Aug., p. 2, col. 2). For CFA’s opinion, see entry of 10 Sept., below.