Morning delightful—The air being soft as Midsummer. After reading an hour in Kotzebue and finishing the Voyage which ended in nothing, compared to the preparation that had been made for it, I went to the Office and found there a letter from my Father covering the Certificates of the Mass. Fire and Marine Ins. Shares. I therefore went directly and obtained the repayment of one fourth part of the Capital upon my Fathers and T. B. Adams Jrs. Shares which I deposited. This business being over I went back to my Office and sat down to answer my Father’s letter which did not appear to me to be exactly the thing I wanted. He never should have meddled with that Mill. I am afraid before he has done with it, the thing will ruin him.1 In this manner I was so much occupied that I was unable to do any thing else.

Returned home, and after dinner, Started for Quincy, with my Man Benjamin. Found the House in great disorder, as they were painting it, and in setting the new Posts they had unfixed every thing about the Fence very much. I went to find Mr. Veazie and talked with him in regard to the Work to be done.2 It seems Mr. Beale has been very labouriously expressing his Opinion about these matters. I think the interference of Neighbours very gratuitous. Went up to see the 17Judge and his lady and took Tea with them. After which I returned home. The former was sick.

Stopped at Mrs. Frothingham’s where my Wife and Miss Julia Gorham were spending the Evening. After sitting a little while, returned home. Read the Spectator and retired early.

Morning cold, with an Easterly Wind and Rain. I attended divine Service all day and heard Mr. Frothingham in the Morning and Mr. Emerson in the afternoon. The latter delivered rather a remarkable Sermon about the spirit and its nature. It seemed to me from what I heard that he had not very permanently fixed what his idea was of the thing and therefore he talked about what he did not himself perfectly comprehend.

I looked through the life of Josiah Quincy Junr. by his Son,1 in the course of the day. And in the Evening after reading Captain Parry to my Wife, I amused myself with Boswell’s Tour to the Hebrides,2 which was a kind of feeler put out previous to publishing the Life. After this, read the Spectator as usual.

Morning cloudy, with a drizzly rain from the Eastward. After reading Boswell’s Tour to the Hebrides for an hour, I went to the 18Office and was very busy first in my regular duties, next in writing a short letter to Mr. Stetson upon the following subject. Not knowing when I was married, that it was the custom for the Husband to make compensation to the Clergyman, I did not do it until accidentally some two months after my Wedding, my Wife asked me about it. Immediately upon being informed of it, I sat down and wrote to Mr. Stetson, and inclosed a sum of Money. This letter was sent by Mr. Stone, at that time Tenant of Mr. Brooks, and I thought the whole matter settled. Lately however, the Report has got about that I never paid my Minister for marrying me, and it then occurred to me, that Mr. Stone had turned out good for nothing, and might have retained the letter. I therefore sat down and made the inquiry of Mr. Stetson today.1

Busy afterwards in drawing up my third Account of the Estate of Robert New, and presented it at the Probate Office. This and my accounts at the close of the Quarter took up the rest of the morning. Took a long walk with Edmd. Quincy.

Afternoon, a Meeting of the Directors of the Boylston Market. Decided upon the Dividend, and performed the usual business which kept us until nearly six. Returned home quite fatigued. Read Boswell. Evening, Parry to my Wife. Boswell and the Spectator.