Morning fine but it changed soon after to quite cold. I remained very quietly at home. Read the Carmen Seculare which is a beautiful specimen of the Religious Lyric Poetry of the Ancients. Ben Jonson has done something in the way of successful imitation. I also read over the first Satire and the first Ode—In which many of the ideas are similar. My next study was Neale of whom I read about one half the first Chapter in the reign of Elizabeth. I also read some of Hutchinson’s History and was just in a train of interesting research upon the first principles of the division between the parties at the Revolution when the call for dinner intervened. One thing is to be noticed, how much my Grandfather’s statements made at an advanced age are corroborated by Hutchinson’s third volume, printed since but written at the time.

Afternoon, I cannot yet bend my mind to occupation. But I have effected much in thus employing my mornings. My character is now so formed that my happiness depends greatly upon the occupation of my time in a satisfactory manner. Evening quiet at home. Madame de Sevigné and the Observer.

My father accompanied me to town today. I was engaged in running round upon a variety of little Commissions for the greater part of the time, the remainder being taken upon in the never ending business of Accounts. I brought mine up to the present date and settled them to my satisfaction. Went to my House after several things and finally spent an hour at the Gallery.

Dr. Parkman hearing my father was in town came in quest of him to dine at his house and I was of course asked, not being easily left out. Great urgency prevailed and so we went. It was a small family party to a certain Mr. and Mrs. Jackson from Philadelphia, consisting of Judge Thatcher and his Wife, Daniel Parkman and his Wife, and Mrs. Parkman.1 The three ladies Mrs. G. and Daniel Parkman and Mrs. Thatcher are sisters and cousins of Mrs. Jackson. We had a tolerably pleasant time, although I was under the embarrassment of feeling myself a supernumerary all the time. Returned home before Sunset. Dr. Parkman is a very great and very constant admirer of my father and is profuse in his civilities towards him. He is also to all appearance exceedingly disinterested for he asks nothing but his company.

I did little or nothing in the evening, as I felt unusually fatigued. Read my numbers of the Observer—A book I am much pleased with, as both in morality and tone it is far superior to its predecessors the World and Connoisseur.

Morning cloudy but the day was clear with an unpleasant easterly wind at noon. I remained at home all day. Visit from Mr. Harvey Field who came for himself and a Neighbour to settle the rent that was due to my father. Conversation upon the late Representatives Election. He evidently thinks himself perhaps not without Justice the 102cause of my father’s great success. He says the Masons here were his most violent opponents. Yet Masonry has no influence any where.

I was rather delayed about my work, yet succeeded in accomplishing a Satire and an Ode of Horace, the remainder of the Chapter of Neale begun Wednesday and some of Hutchinson. My share in the latter being a little of the smallest.

In the Afternoon, I pursued my work upon Indexing Pamphlets. A large Collection of many good ones and many very flat, stale and unprofitable. Perhaps it is one of the most singular subjects we have to speculate on, the feeling with which one examines the effusions personal, political and miscellaneous of past times. All dead and buried in the tomb of the Capulets. All the evidences of the restlessness of the human mind. Quiet evening at home. I read Madame de Sevigné and the Observer.