My time now begins to be more at my disposal, and I enter again very quietly upon my ancient occupations. This produces a monotony in my Diary which is after all a sign of tolerable content.

At the Office I read Bradford’s History, examined accounts and finished Dumont’s Recollections of Mirabeau. I have read this work in the translation which is evidently great injustice to it. The egotism of an old Frenchman (for although Genevese, he appears to have much of the French manner) is not unpleasant in his own language, but when you show it off in another it is intolerable. A greater defect is it’s shallowness, for he had great opportunities and little has come of it. The illustrations of Mirabeau’s character are meagre but yet the most valuable portion of the book.

I went to the Athenaeum to investigate one or two historical points, without success. Afternoon, Hutchinson and the Massachusetts State Papers. Quiet evening. Sidney Brooks spent it with us.

As my Wife expected some of the family from Quincy, I took the trouble to go down to Market. She was disappointed after all, my father and brother’s wife being ill and unable to come.

At ten o’clock I went up to the Representatives Chamber in the State house to attend the Antimasonic Convention which met there. A very considerable number of persons from various parts of the State attended, and they appeared to me to be generally of the respectable but middling class of the Community. Mr. Bailey was made President,1 with four Vice Presidents and three Secretaries. The morning was consumed in the various modes of organizing the portions of the body into managing Committees, reading Reports &c. A vote was passed referring the nomination of Candidates to 4 o’clock in the Afternoon. Shortly after one I returned home and attended again at 3. The canvassing then began. And it was soon found that the time before the election would be far too short to allow of a full consideration of the matter. It was postponed until ten o’clock in the morning. The remainder of the time was taken up in reading a report upon the influence of Masonry upon the districting the State. It is in many respects a curious developement.

I did not attend the adjourned meeting at Faneuil Hall in the evening. Thus I have embarked in the ship of the party, and this day have acted exactly according to my plan. My name has not been concerned in any forward participation in the movements, while I leave no shadow of doubt upon my opinions. Evening quietly at home.

Fine clear morning. I went to the Caucus which was called to consult upon a candidate for Governor, immediately after breakfast. It sat from eight o’clock until one and was at times agitated pretty violently. The parties appeared to me about equally divided between Mr. Lathrop and Mr. Shaw, of Lanesboro—The former being the 168favourite of the old school, the latter sustained by the young men, more particularly those from the interior Counties. I thought I saw plainly a great jealousy of the State Committee which is located in Boston and which has for the most part dictated to the Country party. Things were fast tending to a division when a private current was set in motion in favour of the nomination of my father which very soon took the place of every other sentiment, and I left the Hall to start for Quincy and announce to him the state of the case previous to the arrival of the Committee who were to announce it.

I arrived just at dinner time. Found him looking extremely unwell and recovering from a very severe attack. I stated the matter to him and after consideration he seemed disposed to adhere to his resolution to decline. The Committee consisting of Col. Pliny Merrick, of Worcester, Mr. H. Gassett of Boston and Mr. Whitmarsh from Bristol County came out and brought such resolutions as put a new face upon the matter. He seemed much agitated but deferred giving any positive opinion until ten o’clock tomorrow morning. They accordingly withdrew. He did not however remain long in suspense. The appeal was so direct to him as an individual and to the principles which he has been always supporting, that he could not withstand it. He wrote a brief answer which I brought with me.1

It rained lightly much of the afternoon. I got home soon after six and spent a perfectly quiet evening.