It rained when I arose and there was a rainbow in the West which Sailors generally would consider a forerunner of bad weather. The day was nevertheless clear and mild as if it was September. I went to the Office. My whole time again taken up in Accounts and paying bills. Mr. Curtis called and I delivered to him the leases. It is not a little remarkable that when I bring down a valuable book here to read, my time appears immediately to be so taken up that there is not an instant to attend to any thing of the sort. However as the Quarter time 189passes, my leisure will increase, and I am quite determined I will not waste so much of it as I have been in the habit of doing.

Called upon Mr. Hallet to disclose my father’s plan to him, but he was not at home. Took a walk. My mother and Elizabeth C. Adams came in, the latter to see me but I had given up all idea of seeing them so that I was out of the way.

Afternoon engaged in copying a long Letter to Mr. G. A. Otis from my father. I also finished the volume of Letters, which my Grandfather did not complete. By trying to get in too much he failed in getting enough. The State Papers he inserted would have been preserved in other shapes. The remarks in self defence which he would have made are now lost. So it is with fate. Read the remainder of Brittanicus together with La Harpe’s Commentary upon it.1 Lounger as usual.

Much of my morning time was taken up in delays at my house and afterwards in Accounts. At the Office I pretty nearly closed up the business of the beginning of the quarter. Then called upon my friend Thomas Davis and had a pleasant conversation with him. He is the only young man I know who has any character in a degree similar to my own. I do not know whether he will meet with much success in the world, but he deserves it.

On my return to my Office, found Mr. Conant from Weston. He came to talk about the Weston farm, his lease of which expires next spring. It seems he and his brother agree well enough, but the wives do not agree so well—A common case. They propose to separate and he wishes to know the terms upon which he may have the farm again. I told him I had never thought about it at all but would reflect and let him know as soon as possible.

Deprived of my walk, but I made it up in the Afternoon. Read Bacon’s fragment upon the colors of good and evil. A wonderfully clear mind he possessed. His smallest rag has as much substance in it as the whole suit of many others.1 Evening, final draught of my new Article. Lounger.

CFA’s reading in the Works of Francis Bacon which he was to pursue until the end of January was clearly in the 12-vol., London, 1807, edition now in MQA. For other editions at MQA of some or all of Bacon’s writings, see vol. 1:23; 3:201.