The day was very beautiful being clear and warm. I was occupied in making the final arrangements for leaving the City on our short summer residence in the Country. At the Office where I read over the Paper on the influence of Montesquieu. It seemed to me not to destroy one of the positions attacked, for in not a single instance did it meet them fairly. The attempt to destroy the Aristocracy of France, of which this was a part, succeeded, but it brought no such advantages with it as were anticipated.

At one o’clock I started with a horse and gig to Quincy leaving my Wife to go in the Carriage. Reached there some time before her, and found the family much as usual. My Mother seemed to be in very good health and spirits, but my Father from some reason or other seems dull.1 I am a little apprehensive about him. Quiet is not his 51sphere. And when a legitimate scene of action does not present itself, it is much to be feared that he will embrace an illegitimate one.

My time was not occupied very usefully. Mr. and Mrs. Cruft and Mr. F. C. Gray called in the afternoon.2 I read two or three Sections only of Cicero, and felt on the whole dissatisfied and unsettled. Took a walk in the Garden which looks very well. Evening, Conversation with my Father about the Judge’s Affairs. The Spectator as usual.

A very heavy fog was hanging over us when I arose this morning but as I fancied it would not remain at all, I went to Boston notwithstanding. The rain followed it however upon my arrival and poured heavily all the time I remained. I sat in my Office, transacted a little business and read a part of another Analysis in the French work. Condorcet was one of the movers of the Revolution, and suffered for his abandonment of practical views to theoretical perfection. His labours are not without value for they have much that was useful amidst much that is extravagant. Our age has derived little or nothing from his, for the principles then opened are now established.

Returned to Quincy in the Afternoon, and read the balance of the Oration de Provinciis Consularibus. This discloses one of the most questionable portions of Cicero’s policy. He continued to Caesar the power that eventually became great enough to overturn the republic. If by a bold and decisive stroke it could have by any possibility been broken, he was wrong, but if it had already become too strong for the Senate, he has some justification. The rain continued. Evening quiet at home. Conversation and two Spectators.

The morning opened with a heavy thunder shower which prevented my being able to go to town immediately, but at ten o’clock it seemed to hold up and my father being desirous to go, I decided upon starting. The intermediate time I employed in beginning the operation of assorting the Papers of my Grandfather for which purpose I came out more especially to Quincy.1

Arrived in town we were here for so short a time that I was unable to do any thing very particular. Mr. Hayford called upon me to be paid for his work as a Mason on my Father’s Estate.2 He satisfies me better than any of my Men. His work is good and his prices are reasonable.

After waiting some time I at last found my Father and we proceeded together home. The weather cleared and it became a very fine afternoon. I read a part of the Oration for Balbus which is not so interesting, the point turning upon the construction of law. There is a high encomium upon Pompey in it, which I think he did not deserve.

This business of my grandfather’s papers I foresee will prove a laborious business and I do not wonder that my father has avoided it. Evening T. B. Adams Jr. down here and spent the Evening. Afterwards, I read two Spectators.