Morning cold with occasional showers through the day. I went to town for the purpose of voting, and attending the regular Meeting of the Directors of Boylston Market. The first was soon done and the 104other being for the Afternoon, I am afraid I must stand responsible for a very considerable waste of time.

Passed a little while at the Athenaeum and also at the Gallery. How much better I could have done in the little study I have made for myself at Quincy, to which I am becoming somewhat attached. I was caught at dinner time at the Gallery in a shower of rain and I found Mrs. Dexter and Mrs. Barrell in a similar predicament. Having been offered an umbrella, I persuaded them to take it and was barely in time for dinner at Mr. Frothingham’s.

Attended at Boylston Market but found no Quorum and therefore no meeting. Took the time to make up the records of the Association. I then called at the houses of two or three Tenants in the Neighborhood and then returned home. I had an hour of work after I got back. Evening, finished my volume of the German Prince, the second volume of Madame de Sevigné and the Observer. The Child seemed decidedly better today for which I am duly thankful.

Our Season is very extraordinary—High winds and cold with an unusually small proportion of rain. Altogether quite comfortless. I remained at home to improve my time. Read over some of Horace—One of the Satires and one of the Odes. His Poetry is certainly splendid. His imagery is powerful, but his was not the spirit of an ancient Roman. I read also a Chapter of Neale which goes very far to confirm me in the opinions formerly entertained by me. A little also of Hutchinson, in which I go on slowly from my desire to compare all the Papers of the day. This mode of reading has already cleared my mind prodigiously of the mists which surrounded it. I now have a definite conception of the immediate origin of our Revolution. But after all, it is manifest that the question was one of natural boundary between two energetic Nations. Let our’s only remain a Nation and it is invincible.

Afternoon, Read Henderson’s book upon Wines. How many new subjects there are for the human mind. The growth and produce of the vine connects itself with the whole history and Geography of the world. It gives new ideas upon many collateral questions. And so it is with almost every thing in existence. And yet men die for want of occupation, or what is worse they sink into vices of the most degrading character. Evening, Madame de Sevigné and the Observer. The child was better today.