Morning mild and pleasant. I went to Boston and was much occupied in various ways—Going to my house, thence to Mrs. Frothingham’s and afterwards to execute a variety of Commissions for my Wife. Returned to the Office, I had two or three visits. One from Mr. Geitner, my German friend who at last consents to take the House.1 Thus I hope I am released from this trouble of letting houses for a considerable period. And now there is not an inch of my father’s Property in Boston unoccupied—A thing that has not happened before for a long time. And I hope that I shall begin to reap the Fruit of my new system of management, which hitherto has been sadly out of pocket. Another visit was from Mr. Hobby, a man upon an affair of my father’s, and a complete bore.2 I had no leisure for reading and soon returned to Quincy.

Afternoon, took a long walk to Mt. Wollaston with my father, to see the Orchard and look after his Plantations. We were all the Afternoon upon it. I came back fatigued, spent the Evening with the family, and read the Spectator.

Morning clear and pleasant. I went to Meeting all day and heard Mr. Whitney preach a Sermon or two, upon the employment of the powers of man &ca. He is the most placidly insignificant character I know. Perhaps such men are the happiest. He at least has all the appearance of being self satisfied to a high degree.

T. B. Adams Jr. came down to dine with us. Nothing material took place. I occupied my leisure moments in my present steady employment, the methodical arrangement of the papers relating to my Grandfather, which I already see is an immense work. My father has the most unaccountable indifference on this subject that I ever knew him to have; he moves neither hand nor foot in an undertaking which might be a very honourable one. I think a great deal more to the purpose than participating in an excitement like this of Masonry.1 But that is only my opinion.

In the evening, the Judge, my Uncle came down and paid us a visit. He seemed in pretty bad humour at first, but afterwards improved very much and we had quite an amusing discussion of the merits of the Masonic Question. Upon which, it is clear, my Father and I disagree.2 After he went away, I as usual, read my Numbers of the Spectator.

I thought that as no especial business called me to town this morning, I would not go, and employ the time instead in the work I have 54undertaken, to methodize the Papers of my Grandfather. This is a prodigious work, it is one that I foresee must be performed by me, or it will never be done. There is so much that is useless and cumbersome mixed among many very valuable historical materials, that my Father shrinks at the task of assorting. I looked over a vast multitude of Papers relating to the affairs of the Revolution. Also some of the correspondence relating to the Army of 1799. An eventful period in the life of my Grandfather.1 I made some progress though not a great deal.

Afternoon, occupied in reading Cicero, but I find that out of my own house and comfortable accommodations it is not quite so easy to make progress. I was obliged to review what I had already done of the Oration for Balbus. T. B. Adams Jr. spent the day here. Evening, quietly at home with the family, reading to them a part of Moore’s Life of Byron. After it, the Spectator.