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.

Morning cold and cloudy. I felt much better, and therefore went down to the Wharf fishing. My Wife seemed disposed to call it imprudent, but I did not experience any disadvantage from it. My sport for the last hour was very good. Passed an hour in comparing Text.

Afternoon. Reading one of the Causes Celebres of Pitaval. A man writes anonymous satires and lampoons against his friends. Those friends become indignant and trace the authorship nearly to him, for the purpose of avoiding the effect of which, he labours to fix it upon another person. A trial takes place and the evidence shows that four persons had been suborned to testify against him who was not the author by him who was.

I was interrupted in the midst of my meditations by a visit from Mr. Bussy and his grandaughter Miss Davis.1 Nobody in the house but me — My Mother gone to take a ride, my Wife to Hingham with Mr. Beale and his children, my father in the woods, so I saw them. The object was to invite to dine on Monday. Evening quiet at home. Read Dr. Lingard.

Went to town accompanied by my father. His engagements were such as to require his presence in town at 1/2 past 9 o’clock which we just accomplished.1 I went to the House and upon several Commissions. Had visitors to see my father, Mr. Marston, and Mr. Degrand. I wasted my time.

My father engaged me to dine at Mr. J. H. Foster’s. This was somewhat against my will as I was not very fit to grace any other gentleman’s table with my unqualified Diet. But when a man has adopted 385a system, it is not worth while to put it all out for a mere inconvenience. I stuck it out, but it was a very unpleasant affair. Mr. Frothingham was the only invited guest besides ourselves. My father was remarkably animated in conversation so that on the whole we did better.

We started at a little before five o’clock and reached Quincy shortly after Sunset. The night was cold. I read Lingard.