Another very delightful day. I made good progress in Demosthenes, and then went to the Office. My occupations were somewhat interrupted by the applicant for the Tenement in Tremont Street who promises to be somewhat of a bore. Having also engaged with Mr. Peabody to go and see the Marine Railway at the North end of the 47Town, we started at eleven for the purpose. A vessel was upon it, being coppered. The machinery appears simple, being a groove, upon which is drawn a Frame to support the Ship. This frame is drawn by means of Machinery worked by a single horse turning as in a Mill. I should think it a very useful thing and likely to prevent a great deal of strain to the ships in the common mode of repairing their bottoms.1 The weather was warm so that we had a pretty fatiguing walk and I did not finish Cimon though I worked at it.

Afternoon, the Oration for Caelius after finishing that against Vatinius. But study becomes now a little fatiguing. Read a Scene or two of Voltaire’s Orphelin de la Chine.2 Evening, Boswell to my Wife after which finished the Ars Poetica, reviewed. A most admirable little Poem. Two Spectators.

The day tolerably pleasant, though the Wind began to show symptoms of change. I this morning made a finish of the Oration in defence of Ctesiphon. This review has not been without its utility. It has shown me more strongly the power of the Orator, and has developed beauties of thought which before escaped me. The defence is in itself peculiar in its generality. He declines embarrassing himself with the technical details of the accusation of Aeschines, and yet impresses you with the idea of its weakness much more fully than if he did so. I think this is the principal alteration I trace in my mind upon this review. The charges of Aeschines seem to have less weight in them, they do not bear examination. It is a very unanswerable position assumed by Demosthenes. “You knew of all you now charge me with, many years ago. You have suffered these laws to be violated time after time without remonstrance, (which you now affect to consider so binding). Why did not you speak before? Moreover why did not you accuse me at once, instead of transferring your attack to another? Or why have you not attacked others for doing the same things heretofore, which you now bring against Ctesiphon?” Inasmuch as Aeschines depends in that part of his Attack upon the justice of his position, and goes into a panegyric upon law, this exposition of his motives in this instance seems to undo all the foundation of his best arguments. And on this account it is, I think that the defence must be taken to be 48complete, though the late critics in England incline to the other side. It is plain Aeschines himself does not rely upon his two first points as he passes over them soon, and urges more strongly the last which engrosses much the larger share of the Oration. Yet the critics think it is only on the former that he makes out his case. Taking into consideration the result, it seems on the whole probable that at Athens the matter was very well understood, and that the first portion of the Speech must be considered rather specious than actually strong. But stop.

Office all the morning, finishing Cimon with much joy, for I had become tired of a thing that paid me nothing.1 It is not my destiny to make my fortune by writing for Newspapers. So that the more time I spend in doing it, the more I must charge as uselessly employed. Went to vote,2 paid Miss Adams a visit, and passed her Settlements, then went down and scolded the Tenant.

Afternoon passed in reading over the Oration for Caelius after finishing it first. I do not like such abuse. It is too bad even for a dog. Evening, Boswell, after which Boileau’s Art poetique3—and Two Spectators.