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.

Fine morning. I remained at home, and after spending an hour at the Wharf in a vain attempt to catch some Fish, I returned and spent the rest of my morning in reading Lingard and working hard in the Garden. This is about the proper time to make the arrangements necessary for the future. I transplanted all that were necessary of the Downton Strawberry which now make a pretty large bed. Next year will settle the question whether they are worth cultivating. I made considerable progress in the History and am on the whole pretty well pleased. He does not appear to me to do more than show a favourable side, without twisting documents unfairly as Hume does. My father being engaged at the usual time of dinner — It was put off so that the day was very unequally divided.

I passed the Afternoon in paying visits to the Tenants at Penn’s hill and collecting their rents in which I was very successful. Mr. Degrand was here on my return. In the evening, the ladies and my father and I went to Mr. Daniel Greenleaf’s, where we passed a good deal of time without being very dull. Home early.

The morning thick and hazy. I went to town accompanied by my father. Of course got in somewhat later than usual. Time taken up in Accounts and collecting Money. This is now nearly accomplished. The first few days of a Quarter must always be devoted to Collections, and I congratulate myself somewhat that I have now got things in such a train that the money comes in with considerable punctuality. 374At half past twelve o’clock, my father was very punctual, and we proceeded according to arrangement to Medford.

We reached Mr. Brooks’ where we were to dine in time to go down and give my father the opportunity of taking possession of the farm under the Mortgage of Judge Adams to him. It is about a mile on the line of the Canal.1 This done we returned and found as a Company, Mr. J. Parker, Jo. Tilden;2 E. Everett, Gorham Brooks and his Wife, Mr. Shepherd, two Miss Phillips’ and Mr. Brooks’ family with our own. The dinner was not at all amusing to me, first, from my having a seat of the least interesting, second, from the tenor of the conversation which was all upon money. Mr. Parker is very wealthy, and cannot avoid discussing the only subject which engrosses his mind. I am not one of the men who consider riches in the character of a Philosopher, but I do not set them in quite so exalted a situation in life as to make them the subject of perpetual conversation.

My father returned with me and we reached Quincy early in the evening. The Ladies arrived soon after and we all retired early.