Morning cloudy, but on the whole tolerably warm. I passed my morning in reading Demosthenes in the latter part of the second Olynthiac. It is wonderful how clear his argument always is. He has no dimness in his conceptions. This is the very first requisite of a powerful Orator. He must know his subject so fully as to have not the least hesitation in unfolding it. And then he must take care not to entangle himself with irrelevant matter. I also read some numbers of the Federalist. Half an hour spent in the garden for exercise, in which I set a bed of Strawberries from the Keen’s seedling roots purchased in the Summer. I found the original Plants in pretty poor condition, but there had grown several very healthy ones from the Runners. T. B. Adams Jr. dined with us.

Afternoon the letters to Atticus. But I feel heated after dinner, probably from eating too much, and I am not able to pursue the study so fully as I might. Besides, the want of Notes is a terrible thing. It takes away all the interest of a Book to understand it but partially. I read Bacon’s Essay “Of Riches,” which is very good. A large part of the Evening was passed with my Wife who seemed a good deal discouraged by her little trials. The rest with the Ladies, and reading the Affairs of 1830 as well as the Spectator.

Morning cloudy and dark but it did not rain until night. I went to Boston today. Called at my Office but could not get in. I left my Key at Mr. Elliot’s,1 and he went to Salem where he left his. So that both of us were in fine condition. Had Mr. Peabody come at the same moment his plight would not have been one bit better. It was lucky for me that I had other occupation. My father had requested me to call upon Mr. A. H. Everett and give him the MS about the Federalists.2 After going to my House and making the arrangements which I proposed, I went to his. And though I had intended remaining for fifteen minutes Mr. Buckingham the Editor of the Courier came in, and I immediately retired. Perhaps it might be a curious question to know how this alliance has been forming.3 But I meddle not with such secrets. I then went to see Mrs. Frothingham, then to the Athenaeum, then to see Mr. Brooks, then on various Commissions, then to see Edmund Quincy and so the morning was consumed. I returned to Quincy to dine.

Afternoon, finished the ninth book of the letters to Atticus still de-144scribing his distress, his shame, his fear and his knowledge of the right with his indisposition to pursue it. Bacon’s Essay on Prophecies.

Evening heavy showers. Sat with the Ladies. Music. Afterwards, Affairs of 1830 and the Spectator.