Morning fine at last, though uncommonly cool for the season. After an hour’s progress in Aeschines, I went to the Office and having no particular occupation to distract me, I did pretty well in my study of Montesquieu. I find many more questionable propositions than I thought. But the fund of actual thought contained in this Author is prodigious. He is one of the few writers who does understand the relative value of thoughts and words, therefore he uses none of the latter which do not correspond to something he has of the former.

I went home early today as this was an opportunity, the first good one I have had for some time, of going to Quincy. After an early dinner, I started with my Man, Benjamin, and we were very busy all day in working upon different parts of the Garden. I first cleared away the rose bushes in front of the House and then commenced the very necessary work of transplanting some of the English Oaks and the Elms which had been suffered to grow in the Nursery ever since I set them there. My only difficulty was to find place to put them, our limits being rather scanty. I again tried the drying ground being the third effort. We accomplished a good deal though not all I wished. We were busy until dark, when I got in my Gig and drove to the Judge’s to accomplish my business there. Sorry to find Miss Abby quite ill and discouraged. But I could not stay to console her, so drove home to Boston, which I barely reached by nine o’clock. Fatigued, so that I 28accomplished little in Ross, and began the second Volume of the Spectator.

The morning was fine and the air mild, so that we seemed about to be paid for the tempestuous weather of the preceding week. I pursued Aeschines as usual and then went to the Office where I was busy in reading Montesquieu Analysed. My attention was however not so fixed as I wished. This Author requires constant reflection. I resumed my Elements of Knowledge also.1 Went to the Athenaeum and from thence to Mr. Frothingham’s where I dined in company with Mr. Baury, a Clergyman of Mr. F’s acquaintance in Europe,2 where they were together.

Returned home and though feeling drowsy and stupid from the influence of the Spring, I accomplished some sections. Evening, began reading Parry’s Attempt to reach the North Pole, being the last of the series.3 It was a singular idea and deserved by its boldness to be successful. Finished Captain Ross’s Voyage, the results of which were unimportant and the authority has been destroyed. Spectator as usual.

Morning cloudy with light rain, but it afterwards cleared away and became sultry. After an hour at home I went to the Office where I was busy as usual. Some time taken up in superintending some little repairs wanted to the different rooms in this building. This Property has been suffered to depreciate constantly while the rage for making handsome Offices has counteracted the necessity which could only keep them in demand. I am doing perhaps too much, though I am not sensible of being very extravagant. Little attentions given in time will do more and be less expensive in the end, besides giving an air of neatness which makes the place attractive. I feel as if I wish I had not nothing1 to do with this business however for it involves a responsibility I do not at all admire.

Read and finished the Analysis of Montesquieu, and also the Laws of Plato.2 This is a more sensible work than the Republic, although it still betrays the visionary and the Poet, rather than the practical clear minded Philosopher. After calling at the Athenaeum, I went home. 29Read some sections of the Oration pro domo sua, and was very much provoked at my laziness in not going faster. John Gorham took tea here.

Attended in the evening, a Meeting of the Republican Institution. Of this I am not a Member, but was invited to attend as representing my brother’s Estate which owns one Share.3 The question was upon a return of the Money. This was settled in the affirmative and a Collation for the Members provided to finish the Evening. I remained for a short time. The People were all unknown to me and I had a stupid time. Returned home and read a Review of Ross’s Voyage in an old Quarterly4 after which the Spectator.