I have not escaped a violent cold which has troubled me yesterday and today. The Snow had been falling all night and was so deep on the ground, besides the increase momentarily going on, that I thought it advisable not to attend Church today. I remained quietly installed in my Chair and instead read a Sermon of Isaac Barrow’s and one of Massillon’s. The first was from the well known text “And her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths of peace.” Upon the pleasantness of Religion. A sound though not to me a remarkable Sermon. That of Massillon was from Matthew 12. 45. “And the last state of that man is worse than the first.” Upon the dangers of relapse. He considered first its enormity, then its danger. The leading idea was the loss of that freshness of soul which is never to be recovered, that first spring of piety which once defiled can never regain its purity. On the whole a very good Sermon. Read an Essay or two of old Montagne who has had great reputation for thought.1 I want to find it. My time was not all used to the best advantage.

Evening. Read to my Wife a portion of the Bible especially the beautiful Chapter in Corinthians upon Charity. Also a part of Byron’s Deformed Transformed.2 Afterwards, Pope and the Spectator.

The Storm continued with wind very high all the morning, so that instead of going out, I sat down in my Study quietly and continued reading Cicero de Natura Deorum in which I made considerable progress. I find my faculties are much more quick in the morning which makes me feel what a pity it is that they are so much thrown away always. Yet if I was to alter my way of life, however much I might improve by it, my reputation for business would not, so that I must even submit to the present arrangement.

I went to the Office at one o’clock, for a minute, but returned immediately. Found the walking better than I expected, so I went down after dinner to the Boylston Market to attend the Meeting of the Directors. Found only Messrs. French and Child. We soon accomplished our business and I drew up the record for the last and this Meeting thus getting a matter off my hands which has troubled me. Returned at sunset and read a little more of Cicero.

Evening, read to my Wife the rest of the Deformed Transformed and Heaven and Earth. After which Pope’s Homer and the Spectator.

Morning clear, but this snow storm has brought the Winter upon us a Month before its time. I found it cold going to the Office and when there did not accomplish any more than common. Made up my Accounts, received a Quarter’s rent from a man about whom I had doubts and deposited on my own account. This done, took a walk. Returned home and felt unusually well with an appetite to correspond. How it is that I have suffered so much of late I cannot tell but for two or three days I have been as I was a year ago.

Afternoon, engaged in reading Cicero de Natura Deorum which contains the strangest Medley of most ridiculous notions entertained by the old Philosophers. It seems to have been made a Sport of the intellect to see how many ridiculous fancies could be started upon the subject of all the most serious. Cicero certainly shines among them very much. Most from comparison. My fire troubled me.

Evening quiet at home. My Wife was quite sick with a cold. Read to her a part of Byron’s Island, which for him is poor though it has 193good strong verses. Afterwards, read Pope’s Iliad and finished the seventh volume of the Spectator.