Morning quite fine. Read some of Madame de Stael’s fine theory of perfectability not a particle of which do I believe in. Attended divine service and heard Mr. Sargent preach all day. Psalms 126. 5 “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” Philippians 4. 5. “Let your moderation be known unto all men.” The latter Sermon of these two was very clear in its simple way, but Mr. Sargent will not be likely to astound the world.

Read a discourse of Atterbury being No. 2 on the subject touched upon last Sunday, and following up the concluding point of that discourse, or in other words justifying the obscurity in the hard passages of the Testaments. This is a valuable subject and I think he treats it clearly.

Dr. Swan and Mr. Jonathan Brooks two Medford gentlemen took tea and passed the evening.1 A sharp thunder storm towards midnight. I could not help moralizing a little when I was in the Meeting house today for it is some time since I was there and things look changed.

Cold, gusty day. I went to town and passed an hour there in business. Received a letter from T. B. Adams inclosing a bill in payment of his Note to me.1 This required attention which I accordingly paid.

At ten, I started for Quincy in consequence of my being so much disappointed by the rain of Saturday. I might have saved myself my trouble on both days as the principal object I had in going was frustrated. I nevertheless saw Mr. W. Spear and transacted business with him. The remainder of the day until my time of starting to return was taken up in examining the garden and reading in the Library.

At three after dinner I set out to return to Medford which I did through the Country. I passed through Dorchester, Roxbury, Brookline, Cambridge and West Cambridge embracing the prettiest portion of the vicinity of the City. I was much struck with the great change and improvement in the appearance of things in these towns since the time when I was at Cambridge and frequented them more. The tide of wealth is certainly flowing into this quarter of the world. But in all the modern buildings I think I perceive a tendency to make things too small, which gives a contracted look to places. The Cottage form seems 311to be nicely calculated as our houses are to the smallest possible quantity of room.

Evening at home. I read aloud to Mr. Brooks, the speech of Mr. Clay in answer to the President’s protest.2