Day cloudy and moderate. I went to the Office as usual. My time taken up in writing my Journal and a variety of incidental occupations. Called at Mr. H. W. Kinsman’s to ask him about the service of a Writ in Norfolk County. Having made my Writ, I went to the Athenaeum and obtained from there the Volume of land laws in order to criticize Mr. McLane a little upon that subject. I confess I was surprised to find 206the extent of my own ground when I came to examine this book—Which by the way is an exceedingly useful compilation.

Returned home and passed the Afternoon in reading Cicero de Officiis—Perhaps the very best of all his philosophical works. I have read it before, I well recollect when. It was when I came to Boston under a new impulse of existence,1 and sat down doggedly to study as the purpose of my life, instead of dissipation and folly. I was now therefore not so much interested in it.

Evening, continued reading the Canterbury Tales which are very certainly well told. After which, Mr. Brooks spent an hour conversing with us. I then studied the subject of the Land laws and finished with my usual numbers of the Spectator.

Morning at the Office as usual. The day mild and very thick with haze. I was occupied the larger part of my time in writing my third Article upon the Treasury Report upon so much of it as relates to the Public lands. I found it so easy that I made but one draught of the first half leaving the conclusion only not done. I had some trifling interruptions but on the whole worked well. Took a walk though hardly such a one as I was bound to take.

In the Afternoon I read the rest of the first and a part of the second book of Cicero de Officiis. His translator Guthrie writes with the most singular mixture of praise and prejudice that I have seen.1 Yet the latter very far outweighs the former in his Judgments. He makes me as much in favour of Cicero by his harshness, as my father generally makes me against him by his partiality.

Evening with my Wife. I read part of the Canterbury Tales, a most interesting story. Afterwards, reviewed the 14 book of the Iliad. Read Gibbon and the Spectator.

We had a fall of snow during the night and it was dark and cloudy today. Went to the Office, finished my third Number upon the public lands with which I was well pleased and sent it.1 The Vanity of an Author is perhaps the most deceptive thing in the world. I write and write. Nothing of mine has ever yet been at all taking, and yet I flatter myself along, that what has not yet been, may nevertheless be. 207So is it with the young. My next task is fully equal to all the ability I can muster. Went to the Athenaeum and tried to look up the subject.

Afternoon, continued and finished the second book de Officiis. But instead of going on with the Treatise I began to reflect upon Mr. McLane’s discussion of the Tariff.

Evening, after reading to my Wife, part of the Canterbury Tales, I sat down to commit my ideas to Writing, but I found infinite difficulty in giving clearness to them. The subject of Political Economy is even now a most puzzling subject to the most thorough student of it, because its laws are not yet fully understood. To me who see but as through a glass darkly, though I know Mr. McLane’s error I can not quite describe it. My attempts did not please me at all. I left off late to read the Spectator.