Morning at the Office without being able to do much before going there. Our family is so much disorganized at present as to make it difficult to study at all. It began to rain soon, and continued doing so all day. I wrote a little and read a little but on the whole did not do much. My father came in to accomplish a little of his final business. Nothing particular was necessary to be done excepting to supply himself with Cash and to get his Chronometer which had been broken. 165He went about however and amused himself as usual until nearly two o’clock when he left town and I bid him Good bye. I could not help feeling dull at the departure, but went immediately to try and get over it at Mr. Frothingham’s where Abby and I dined.

After dinner I returned home and began Cicero’s letters to his brother Quintus, the first of which seems to me one of the most admirable of his works. Evening at home passed quietly. Read a Chapter or two of the History of George 4th. which was interesting, and some of Practical Education. After which began the seventh Volume of the Spectator.

Morning cloudy but it did not rain. I was busy in Commissions during the larger portion of the morning. So that at the Office I had only time to read a mere trifle of the Debates in the New York Convention. Mr. Hamilton seems to have sustained the whole weight of the Constitution and in doing so he certainly deserves great praise. This Constitution, it is now the work of many to destroy, though as yet, it has brought us nothing but good. Went to the Athenaeum where I took up Mackintosh’s History of England,1 and carried it home to read.

Afternoon, read the letters to Quintus 2 and 3 in the first book. I find little to except and a great deal to admire in these. Cicero in the tone of his morality was unquestionably far beyond the age he lived in. And in his recommendations to his brother he excels his usual style.

My wife was still in trouble about her household which does not get settled. I read part of Mackintosh’s History in the Evening and part of Miss Edgeworth on Education. The first I found dry. The second entertaining and instructive as usual. Spectator as usual.

Morning fine. This being the day of departure for my father and his family,1 it is rather an agreeable circumstance that it should be fair. After reading a part of the first Philippic of Demosthenes, I went to the Office and spent my time in reading the New York Debates. Received a Note from my Father which gave me two or three Commissions to perform.2 Mr. Peabody asked me also to accompany him to a sale of Dutch Flower roots, which I did and purchased several 166according to my Mother’s request for her. They went pretty dear. My time was thus all consumed and partly in matters which really did not pay their way.

Returning home I passed my Afternoon in reading the Letters to Quintus, most of which are excellent. He moans too much about his exile however. Continued Mackintosh’s History of England which seems to me to be bald, Cicero’s Attic Style with a vengeance. The driest of dry things. Finished Practical Education, parts of which I propose to myself to read over for deeper reflection. The subject has been often written upon, and like that of Government has been in the hands of Theorists, most frequently. It appears to me that this book comes nearer the true principle by which to reach what we want, than any. It collects examples of the operation of things upon Children. In this science as in others induction will be used to advantage. And yet how little has been done in this way. Finished the Evening with the Spectator.