Morning cloudy with a few drops of rain. My father returned to Quincy after breakfast, Kirk having come in a Gig to take him out. I attended divine service at the Meeting house in Chauncy place all day. Heard Dr. Gray of Roxbury preach in the morning upon the proper use of time as a preparation for death, in the afternoon upon the pure in heart, Matthew 5. 8. I am no great admirer of the personal character of the preacher, so that in the pulpit I have no faith in the persuasion of his lips.1 I hope this is not uncharitable.

At Meeting I saw Sidney and P. C. Brooks Jr. who came in to see my Wife. Miss Julia Gorham dined with us. After service in the Afternoon, I accompanied Sidney to Charlestown for the purpose of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Everett. We found the latter at home, and he came in before we returned. I took the opportunity to consult him as to his intention to be a candidate for the Antimasonic nomination of Governor next week. He declines, as I think, wisely.

We took tea and returned. I found Miss Julia and her brother Gardner sitting with my Wife. The child seems a little unwell. One anxiety follows hard upon another. I am fixed in Boston to relieve myself from one and this gives me another. My trust is always in a much higher source.

Read a Funeral Oration of Massillon’s upon the Dauphin, son of Louis 14th. A disease of some kind in one year swept through the family of this King and left him in his old age desolate. How different from his outset in life. One of the Greek sages pronounced the truth that no man could be reckoned happy until after he had ceased to live. Time has added or taken away nothing from it’s simple warning. The text was from the Wisdom of Solomon. 9. 12 “So shall my works be acceptable, and I be worthy to sit in my father’s seat.” He is a negative character in history, though he shines in panegyric.

Morning damp and cool. I went to the Office as usual and passed the greater part of my time in accounts. Several persons came in—Mr. French upon the subject of the Boylston Market, but he turned to Antimasonry.

I took the opportunity to ask several questions as to the proposed convention, for the purpose of assuring myself of the intentions of 166the party previously to my committing myself. This is a subject upon which I have endeavored to reflect and have also consulted with my father. I do not feel any great desire to go forward and make myself conspicuous in this business, because it would at once deprive me of the quiet which I have and do enjoy. Yet there are public duties which every citizen should perform whenever the crisis is such as he deems to call for his exertion. I certainly consider this question a deeply important one to the welfare of the Community, and if I can probe my heart to the bottom, I find nothing in it upon this occasion but a wish merely to do my duty. I am sensible that the first charge which persons so disposed will make against me, will be an ambitious desire to advance myself. The real truth is that if I had such a desire, my own judgment would lead me to court another party far more powerful in this place and disavow all connection with the Antimasonic. I believe myself to be for the present destroying all my views of political advancement by taking any such course as I propose to take. My purpose is not to enter into these matters at all any farther than is absolutely necessary for me and yet acquit myself of the duty which I think is incumbent upon every citizen. My conclusion from the whole is this, that I will attend the Convention, perform my duty, but do nothing more. I am not called upon to go out of my track as a private citizen.

In the afternoon I resumed my reading of Hutchinson and went into collateral researches in Minot, the Massachusetts State papers, Bernard’s Letters and Novanglus. Evening quiet. Edward Brooks came in and passed an hour pleasantly.