Morning cold and cloudy. I went to town although feeling quite unwell. I have of late years enjoyed my health so well that any thing like sickness is tedious to me. No office boy and disappointed in getting one. I therefore had to do most of my Commissions myself. Several persons called to settle bills and arrange matters agreeably to my orders. I concluded to go and see Dr. Stevenson and request him to mend my condition at once. He puts me upon a diet, with gentle medicine. Remained in town, but as he restricted me so much I thought it useless to dine any where.

Read the Pamphlet on the Poor Laws of England, published by the Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge,1 and spent an hour at the Athenaeum reading the various Newspapers. Thence to the Boylston Market to meet the Directors of the association. The business was to provide ways and means for the payment of the balance due on Account of repairs. Voted to borrow not exceeding three thousand dollars of the Washington Bank. It will about consume another Dividend. I started a little before sunset, but before I reached Quincy, the Storm was pretty high from the North East. I felt very sick from a head ach and general discomfort, and retired to bed early. Omitted the Idler.

I felt much better this morning. My purpose is now to adhere strictly to the Diet prescribed for me. Remained in Quincy all day. Morning occupied in reading and examining Mr. Stone’s book upon Masonry. The more I study the details of this affair, the more I am astonished at the daring and the deliberation with which it was conducted. Stone makes but a poor business of his defence of Governor Clinton. He exculpated him from all participation in the thing, but he cannot clear him from indifference in prosecuting the actors. He might have known the agency which Masonry had in the proceeding, but he did not care to inquire, and shielded his duty under a blind confidence in the general goodness of the Institution. Compared Text with my father.

Afternoon, amused myself with miscellaneous reading. Began an account of the teachers of Rhetoric by a certain Monsieur Gibert in a French Work called Jugemens des Savans. The work is by Baillet, 384but this is by way of Appendix.1 It is so long however that I shall not be able to read it, nor should I, in all human probability, if I was. Quiet evening at home. Read Granville, and afterwards Lingard, besides making up the deficient numbers of the Idler.