Morning cloudy but it did not rain. Having finished my Review of the first Philippic I began today for the second time the Oration upon 168the Embassy of Aeschines. This is very long but I hope gradually yet slowly to work it off. At the Office where I have no better account to give of my time than usual. Much of it goes in conversation with Mr. Peabody which I ought to stop. It worries him and does not profit me. Took a short walk and then home.

Afternoon, finished the letters to Quintus, and read the larger part of those to Brutus and from him. In these I think Cicero appears badly by the side of the nobility of soul which prompted his Companion to do right in spite of all consequences. I admire this lofty character. It may not be well suited to success in life, but it is the most splendid eulogy after it.

Read to my Wife in the Evening part of the reign of George 4th. which is a curious mass of political prejudice and disgusting truth. Afterwards, I attended a Party given to the Bride Mrs. Smith by Mrs. S. A. Otis. A large Collection of persons many of fashion and it was altogether fine though I have been so long out of society as to make it flat to me. Returned early. Read a little of Condillac upon point in style, and the Spectator as usual.

Morning cloudy with occasional showers of rain, but the air was quite mild. After reading a little of the Oration on the Embassy, I went to the Office and busied myself today with a little more effect. I finished today the Debates in the New York Convention. They seem at last to have reached a considerable degree of personal bitterness and perhaps lay open the secret of the subsequent hatred of Hamilton entertained in New York as well as in the Union generally. It is the fortune of warm and, I may add, generous minds to make enemies from their superiority, but as an offset to this they have warmer friends than others.

Returned home and in the Afternoon finished the remaining letters of Cicero to Brutus. They confirm me in my previous impressions. I have now concluded two great divisions of Cicero’s Works, the Rhetorical and the Epistolary. The Philosophical portion remains.

Evening at home. Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham and Miss Phillips came up and spent the Evening. And we had a little Supper and on the whole a pleasant time. I read the Spectator.

Arose early as this was the day fixed for the sale of Wood at Auction in Weston and as I have always made a practice to attend it. Im-169mediately after my breakfast was despatched, I started. Called at Richardson’s, and found he had mistaken the day so that I was sorry he had engaged himself but was obliged to proceed without him. Arrived in very good Season and went to the ground.

The Company in the morning was thin but increased at Noon. The first Wood sold went low, and for the sake of the experiment I bought a lot on my own Account to see how the wood would turn out, and judge pretty clearly of the profits of the purchasers in these cases. I had it struck off to me at 6.62 1/2 and after it is measured the price by the Cord will appear. After noon, the prices ranged very high and on the whole the wood may be considered as having sold well. I stopped in time to prevent a glut and after taking tea at the Conants returned home. It was dark and late however before I arrived. This is the third year I have conducted these sales and I hope they have been managed with success to my Employer. Each year, the wood has been said to sell high, but on this, the advanced price in the Market has done much more than usual.1

Short evening as I retired early. Spectator.