Morning at the Office after paying my usual due to the Oration on the Crown. I admire that of Demosthenes more on reading it over 41while the other lost a little of its relish. Perhaps this is as good a test of value as any. My time was very much taken up by a great variety of little occupations being out upon Commissions for the good people at Quincy. I was at my Office engaged in writing my Journal and then went down and received at last the payment on the Shares of the Republican Institution. I went to see Mr. Bowditch as to the investment of Abby Adams’ money but did not succeed. Returned and was busy until dinner.

In the afternoon, Attended a Meeting of the Directors of the Middlesex Canal for the purpose of considering the expediency of selling the Maine lands. After considerable discussion, it was decided to sell them to the persons making their offer. This and other business took up the whole afternoon, so that I returned home and spent my time in reading the Preface to Voltaire’s Catiline,1 where he gives a character of Cicero, and the Discourse upon style by Buffon, both of these having been suggested by Grimm’s Correspondence.

Evening, according to invitation, Abby and I went to Mrs. Cruft’s. A party to the young lady selected by Mr. T. Smith her brother.2 It was small and consisted of the old Set.3 I talked with Mr. Tarbell. Returned home at ten. Read a little of Grimm and the Spectator.

Morning clear with a very cold Wind for the Season from the North West. After reading a due portion of Demosthenes, I was busy in performing Commissions for a couple of hours, and thus my time went until I had little left even to begin my next number of Cimon. This was bad as the subject is difficult enough to require all my time. Little material took place and as my Wife had agreed to go to Medford this morning, I took a seat with Mr. Brooks. He talked a good deal about the railroad which is to go through his grounds.1

The table was large, Mr. and Mrs. Everett, Miss Phillips, Horatio, Mrs. Frothingham, Abby and myself. Little or nothing material took place. Mr. Everett, Mr. Brooks and I walked to the track of the Rail Road that is to be as he wished to see its probable course. On our return we found Mrs. Gray and her daughter. I was prodigiously sleepy after my walk and was therefore glad when the time came to return home. We reached Boston in time for Tea, and I read Grimm 42during a part of the Evening though excessively drowsy. Two Numbers of the Spectator.