Morning clear and pleasant weather. After an hour devoted to Aeschines, I went to the Office. My quiet pursuits interrupted somewhat this morning by business, for Mr. Conant, the Tenant of the Weston Farm came in and proceeded to settlement for the Wood sold last November as also for the Rent of said Farm for the past Year. This was very far from unwelcome as I had paid out so much for my father as not to leave sufficient to pay me my regular compensation, 31due the first of the Month. The counting, assorting, changing, and depositing the Money, with the Receipts and charges took up so much time that I had no opportunity to resume my reading. Walked to the Athenaeum and obtained a book. I find this place more attractive and my Office less so every day. But I must not neglect what I receive a consideration for.

Afternoon finished the Oration pro domo sua. Cicero thought this one of his best. It certainly has great power but it does not please me so much as many others. I like the earlier Orations best. There is not so much egotism which will be disgusting let apologists say what they may. The invective is powerful however, and Clodius if he had any feeling must have quivered under it.

Evening, began Dr. Walsh’s Journey from Constantinople1 aloud to my Wife. After which Mackenzie’s Journey to the Pacific, and the Spectator.

The morning was foggy with occasional rain but the weather cleared away in the course of the day. After reading Aeschines I went to the Office and was busy there with my Accounts after which I began reading an Analysis of a Work called La Politique naturelle1 which seemed to contain much that was good. I could not give it my undivided attention from the nature of my morning work and interruptions which have the effect of preventing any continued action of the mind upon one subject. I lose though not without perpetual regret much of my most valuable time.

Afternoon. I completed a large part of the Oration de Haruspicum Responsis. It seems to have been a burst of Anger against Clodius in the usual manner of this Orator, attacking him at all points. As specimens of Invective these are wonderful but it is to be doubted whether on the whole this species of Oratory helps a man. It was the source of most of Cicero’s sufferings and it will always make abundance of enemies so watchful that your fortune must be surprising to escape their shafts at every point. I think this remark applicable to my father who has drawn much of his manner from these sources.

Evening, we continued Dr. Walsh but Edmund Quincy came and spent two hours. After which I continued Mackenzie and read the Spectator. My Wife received a letter from my Mother,2 containing nothing new.