Fine day. I went to town early and was occupied the whole morning in attending to matters of business. It being Quarter day, I was obliged to give the finishing to the old Quarterly Account and to pre-372pare my books for the new one. I then went to draw the Dividend of the Boylston Insurance Co. and was engaged in receiving and paying money the rest of the time. On the whole a pretty busy time.

Returned to Quincy to dinner. Found that the ladies had been also to town, and brought out with them Miss Julia Gorham to pass a few days. In the Afternoon I went down to the Creek to try after some smelts. But the Season is not yet sufficiently advanced. The fish will not bite until the frosts come pretty sharply. My Afternoon however was consumed.

Evening, I walked up to Mrs. T. B. Adams’ to make my usual payments, and to pass an hour. Elizabeth was sick. Returned before nine o’clock. Evening, read a little of Lingard.

I did not go to town today. Morning taken up in writing for my father, correcting old MS and reading Lingard. I find this historian is somewhat influenced by his Catholic partialities. Yet now that the world is free from the dangers of Popish dominion, it may perhaps with truth be asserted, that historians have pushed to an extreme of prejudice their mention of Prelates and of Religion in early time. Dr. Lingard admits the principal charge against them, that of intermeddling constantly in affairs of State. After this it is surely somewhat immaterial whether the men were the vicious beings they are described. I mean immaterial in a historical point of view, because I think as a matter of Justice the mistake if any ought to be corrected.

After dinner, I read several Chapters of Quintus Curtius,1 and passed half an hour in fishing, with better success than yesterday. Quiet evening. Read a part of Dr. Granville to the ladies and finished the Adventurer.

Fine morning. I rode to town feeling slightly unwell, though it did not disturb my comfort in the City. My time was engrossed as usual in a variety of occupations incident to the Accounts of my father and myself. Collected the Dividends due to T. B. Adams and myself upon the various kinds of Bank Stock we possess in small quantities. Arranged the charges on the different Stocks and collected some of the 373Rents due to my Father. Had a conversation with Mr. Peabody upon political affairs, by which I gather that Mr. Wirts prospects here at least are not very bad. The result of the Election remains to be seen. I think the prospect is but a dismal one as yet, although it looks infinitely brighter than it has done.

Returned to Quincy and passed the Afternoon in setting out and clearing out the beds of Downton Strawberries. There are enough to make a pretty ample supply if the vines are good bearers which I somewhat doubt.

Evening at home until eight o’clock when I walked up to Mr. T. Greenleaf’s whither my Wife and Miss Gorham had gone before me. Nobody there but Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Greenleaf, and the members of the family. Returned and read the Idler.