Mild, winter day. I went to the Office. Engaged in writing and had a visit from Mr. Walsh, who conversed as usual upon the troubles of the money department which seem to be growing greater instead of 254less. Took a walk. Nothing else of material consequence. Walk. Afternoon, Bacon History of Winds, Adam Smith and Terence.

My time slips away so very quietly now that I hardly perceive its passage. Its uniform course leaves little to remember and therefore little to record. Evening. J. W. Gorham came in and spent an hour. He is studying medicine here but does not seem to have much foundation. Patronage and a few pages of Adam Smith.

Pleasant winter weather. The children appear now to be pretty well and my heart is easy. I went to the Office and occupied myself in arrears. Mr. Conant, the Farmer from Weston came in, and he talks more than enough. His present subject, the Lease and some requests. Mr. Kauffer, a Tenant applied for delay. The pressure pervades all classes.

I dined by invitation with W. E. Payne—The same club, H. G. Chapman, J. Chapman, E. and S. P. Blake, H. B. Rogers and myself, C. C. Tucker. I talked more than I ought and not so prudently as I ought. I am sensible that in this circle, I am liable to be misunderstood and yet know not how to avoid it. We left at seven, and I returned home to pass the evening. But did nothing. Must I return these civilities.

Mild, agreeable weather. I received a short Note from my brother at Washington, though without any thing material in it.1 My day was wasted in dancing attendance at an Auction where after all I bought nothing. Perhaps there is no greater waste of time than this. Mr. Alfred Welles an importing Jeweller was selling part of his Stock, and although the cry is so loud of hard times, I should hardly imagine it had much foundation if I was to judge from the sales here. Not that there was no sacrifice, but it was not greater than usually happens. At the Office only for a short time. Nothing else material. Afternoon quietly at home. Lord Bacon and Terence. Evening, Adam Smith and Patronage aloud. Nothing particular.

A delightfully mild day. I went to the Office and from thence to a Meeting of the Directors of the Middlesex Canal. The purpose was to 255declare a Dividend which was done. The gross receipts were over $56,000—A sum which enabled us to give thirty dollars a share. This is a blessed thing for my fathers affairs1 and will probably enable me to redeem another portion of debt due in May to Isaac Hull Adams, he being then of age. And if this should be done, the funds here will in the course of one year have been released from an annual tax2 to the amount of $500, nearly a sixth part of the usual receipts.

Walk and home. Afternoon. Finished the last volume of the works of Lord Bacon in the edition which I have, and went on with the Andrian, the text of which is easier than I had expected.

I was grieved to hear of the illness of little Edward Everett whose case was to night very critical. We went to P. C. Brooks, but the supper party of the family was damped by the intelligence from this child. Returned at ten.