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.

Morning cloudy with a cold wind and altogether uncomfortable. I read Boswell as usual and went to the Office where my time was taken up in my regular duties of drawing up Accounts and writing my Diary. As this is nearly the close of the Quarter, it made me a little more busy than usual. I therefore accomplished the work of du Haillan but rather superficially.

Went to the Boylston Market and drew up the Record of the Director’s Meeting of yesterday. Then a short walk and I stopped in to see the furniture of Wm. H. Eliot’s House which is about to be sold.1 It is very genteel, and just what I should have thought expedient for a gentleman of fortune. His moving from it a little surprises me. Probably he was governed by circumstances different from his immediate wishes.

Afternoon, copied my last Letter to my Father and that to Mr. Stetson and read the second Oration against Catiline which did not appear to me particularly remarkable. Evening, Parry, Boswell and the Spectator.