Yesterday closed another Year since the day of my Marriage. And I have the pleasure of looking back upon it with unmingled satisfaction. 128I have never had occasion to regret the occasion of which it was the Anniversary, though not a few had doubts about my judgment in precipitating it.1 My affairs so far turn out as favourably as I could expect, and I have during the last revolution been blessed with a Child to make my happiness complete. May my humility keep up with the degree of my prosperity, and may I never be led to forget, that all things that I enjoy are the gifts of a beneficent Deity.

My day was a quiet and a pleasant one today. I attended Divine Service all day. Heard Mr. Frothingham in the Morning from Ezekiel 37. 3. “And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? and I answered, O, Lord God, thou knowest.” But what the purpose or what the connection of the discourse with the Text I must candidly confess I do not know. I heard an Allusion to the present Polish struggle and to Lord Byron’s effort for the Greeks but nothing farther. Mr. Palfrey of Washington2 preached in the Afternoon from 1 Corinthians 15. 53. “And this mortal must put on immortality.” Of course the discourse was upon the immortality of the Soul, with the usual arguments upon it. The Chapter from which it is taken is a very remarkable one being a reason throughout for well doing on account of the promised future life.

Returned home and read Massillon’s Sermon upon worldly glory. Text from John 8. 54. “If I honour myself, my honour is nothing.” In my humble opinion the best of all I have read. The position assumed is that no glory is true unless combined with the fear of God. The division of worldly glory is into three points—the first, Worldly honour, which he asserted had no foundation to rest upon in matters pertaining to our present condition, whether wealth, rank or the rest of the factitious advantages, the second, brilliant talents which are often but a false light to their possessor, the third, distinguished successes, the offspring of fortune and without security. All this will never support a man. It is the fear of God which will carry him through the trials of life with confidence and with honour. The close is brilliant.

Evening. Tired of writing. Can do nothing with my review and begin to give up. The Spectator as usual.

Morning clear and extremely pleasant. My Wife having been strong enough to dine downstairs yesterday, this morning took a short ride 129with me, so that it was late before I reached the Office. My time was taken up pretty much in the usual way. Writing, reading a little of Boileau, Accounts and talking with Mr. Peabody. Made a purchase or two for the House, and called at Mr. Brooks room. He surprised us agreeably today, by making us a present of six Shares of the Cocheco Manufacturing Stock with a kind Note expressing his pleasure in adding to our revenue.1 The thing was done with great delicacy and goodness, and I felt as if my blessings overpowered me. Mr. Brooks is generous with Judgment. And the consequence is that though this in fact increases the benefit, it takes away from the appearance and the credit he deserves. It will probably make a material difference in my Income and relieve me from the Apprehension I have been under respecting my Father’s Affairs. Should the worst come to the worst, I can now reasonably hope to be no great charge to him. Until then however it is but fair that I should derive a little benefit to my children from my father’s property and not let it all sink in the gulf which he and John are forming for it.

Returned home and in the afternoon, read and translated Demosthenes on the Crown. How much I try and how little I do. My attempt looked mean. Forgot in doing it, that this was the regular day for a Directors Meeting of the Boylston Market. A bad omission.

Evening, reading Fenelon’s Dialogues on Eloquence which has many sensible things, Bacon’s Essay on Superstition, and the Spectator. Bacon prefers Atheism to Superstition. Quaere de hoc.