I went to town this morning for the purpose of attending to my household which yesterday’s accident had disarranged. At the house I found Mrs. Field, and not very long afterwards I procured a man so that this thing was off my mind. My time until one o’clock passed I scarcely know how.

I then went to see Edward Brooks for further news from New York. He handed me a letter from Sidney decisive enough in its character and advised me to remain in town until the afternoon Mail so that I might prevent my Wife from feeling any farther suspense. He asked me to dine which I did, he and his Wife being quiet and alone. She looks to me pretty much as she used to, before she was sick, although she still remains in a very feeble condition. After dinner we went down to his Office and found there a Letter giving the final intelligence. Poor fellow, he was just about my age and as amiable, good-hearted a man as I ever knew. I have seen but little of him owing to his various and continual absences, but I know none of my brothers in law for whom I have felt greater regard. But such is the destiny of man. What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue. 162He had every thing to live for, but God in his infinite wisdom pronounced his decree, and the reasoning of mortals upon it is made foolishness.

It remained to me to disclose the fact to my Wife, for which I started directly on my return. But I did not effect it entirely. She received such intelligence however as to make his recovery hopeless to her, and I reserved the last until the morning. She was much affected, but bore it as well as I could expect. Quiet evening alone with her.

I this morning made the final disclosure to my Wife and although much affected, she bore it on the whole remarkably well. Went to town and had my time engrossed as usual by the cares of my house. I progressed very much this day and looked more as if I was in a state of preparation for our move. Nothing of particular consequence took place.

On my return to my Office yesterday from receiving the news of poor Henry Brooks’ death, I found on the table a notice of my election as a delegate from Boston to the Anti Masonic Convention which meets here next week for the purpose of nominating a Governor and Lieut. Governor. The contrast between the two subjects which thus presented themselves in connection in my mind was painful. There is nothing additional to be said after the touching words of Burke upon a like occasion at the hustings of Bristol,1 but if there is a moment when the bustling nothingness of our political electioneering comes most strikingly across the mind, it is when our ideas are drawn to the solemn appeal of a voyager to a silent world. This subject as well as the incident that gave rise to it must be reserved for more serious consideration.

I was engaged some time in Accounts and returned to Quincy only after an hour or more passed in wandering about to procure my winter’s supply of fuel. Prices are somewhat reduced which is a great comfort. My afternoon was taken up in preparing the remainder of the Volumes of the Correspondence, for which purpose I neglected every thing else. The family went down to Mrs. Quincy’s to a party given in commemoration of the Anniversary of the arrival of their family to this Country two hundred years ago. My Wife and I remained quietly at home.2