The weather was still foggy and damp, threatening rain. I therefore thought I would remain at home today instead of tomorrow as I had intended. Engaged in arranging a full file of Mr. Jefferson’s Letters. On the whole, Washington, Jefferson and my Grandfather were the three most remarkable men of our Revolution. And the two latter had more distinguishing peculiarities. Jefferson’s mind was of a very capacious character, his temper philosophical, and his personal feelings kind. But he was ambitious, hypocritical and occasionally ungenerous, besides a narrowness of mind and inveteracy of prejudice peculiar to himself. He was more than a match for my impetuous, irascible but open hearted ancestor. I read the Correspondence between my Grandmother and him and could not help admiring her letters as much the best.1 I did little more than arrange this single file today.

Read more of Emile in the last book upon the passions. Rousseau was a sensualist, a most abandoned sensualist, and every line is tinged with that spirit. One may judge how fit he is to write upon Education. So long as he confined himself to early infancy when nothing could be introduced upon the subject, he mixed more truth than falsehood, but in rising to the age of the Passions he gradually abandons himself to imagination and to his own voluptuous fancies. I doubt if this work ever guided a single man right beyond the first book. Read the third and fourth Antonines raising up Octavius Caesar, as a counterpoise to Antony. They display the Policy but are otherwise of no great interest. Evening, rode with my Mother and Wife, we called at Judge Adams’ and paid a visit. Afterwards, Emile and the Spectator.

The weather was again quite warm and the air though abundant was sultry. I went to town and was busy much of my time in making up the deficiency in my Journal, occasioned by my absence. Then arranging all my Accounts. I called at Meriam and Brigham’s for the purpose of paying for my Wine bought lately,1 and attended a Sale of Stocks without succeeding in a purchase. It went however pretty low. Several at my Office. Mr. Jackson the Painter for his Money which I paid him, and hope this is the last heavy amount for which I shall be called upon, in his line. Mr. J. E. Smith came as representative of a Creditor of New’s Estate,2 and I paid out that portion leaving in my hands a mere trifle. I was delayed in this way for some time, and reached Quincy a little late.

Afternoon, occupied reading Cicero’s fifth Philippic which dissuades the sending a mission to Anthony and recommends the course he thinks suitable. He was right. The Counsels of the Conspirators were feeble, they had imagined nothing beyond the mere death of the Tyrant, expecting that when he was once out of the way, the Republic would come back of itself. But Cicero acted by raising opposing forces, not calculating upon a Union of these against himself. Took a bath with my father and I. Hull. Evening quietly at home. Read more of Emile and the Spectator.