My father went this day to Cambridge to attend the exercises of the ΦBK Society. I rode to town and passed my morning in attending to matters of business. Called at the Athenaeum and spent half an hour looking over the Newspapers, then saw Mr. Degrand. My time in this manner was pretty entirely consumed so that I did nothing in reading 355excepting to look over one or two old papers of Mr. Southey lately reprinted in form by him as if they were worth preserving from oblivion — A conclusion I have not been able to reach.1

Afternoon passed in assorting my Grandfather’s Papers. One old trunk is left which contains great numbers. I worked hard upon them and made a material diminution in the amount. With the exception of Seneca for half an hour, I did little or nothing else. Evening, Captain Basil Hall’s sketches to the Ladies.2

I did not go to town today. My father did, to dine with Mr. Coolidge.1 I went on working upon the Papers of my Grandfather until I could say that so far as I knew how, all the letters were filed and assorted of which I had any knowledge. This is not however the worst part of the work. There is a re-examination of the whole which I cannot do, that will cost much trouble.

Afternoon accomplished something in Seneca nearly finishing the fourth book upon the question whether benefits should be conferred upon improper subjects or such about whom there is doubt. He comes across and modifies the Stoic doctrine as he proceeds. Worked for an hour in the garden by way of exercise clearing and pruning. Quiet evening. Continued Captain Hall.