Morning pleasant although uncommonly cool still. I went to town accompanied by Frank Frothingham who returns home from his vacation. Mr. Brooks intending to dine abroad went in his own conveyance. Morning taken for the most part at a wine sale which I at-328tended for the purpose of procuring some for Mr. Brooks. There was a great deal of various sorts sold at reasonable prices. I bought White Hermitage and Rudesheimer. The rest of the day was spent at the Office quietly writing. Returned to Medford to dinner. In the afternoon, read part of Cowper’s Correspondence as published after his death, Mr. Jay’s book and Ovid. Nothing material. Evening quiet. Cowper.

Morning clear but cool. I read German, finishing the extracts from Goethe in the reader and several of Hume’s Dialogues upon Natural Religion. There is a sort of playing with truth in his writings which is not a little provoking. He seems to consider every thing as a fair subject for the reasoning powers and rather takes delight in throwing dust than clearing it away.

Attended divine service all day and heard Mr. Stetson in the morning from Romans 2. 4. “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” A sermon upon the necessity of repentance and amendment without which the goodness of God would not suffice to lead to immortal happiness. He seemed incidentally to express an opinion which was pretty decisive against the universalist doctrine. Afternoon 2. Timothy 1. 10. “But it is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” Mr. Stetson’s Sermons are very good.

Read a short one of Atterbury. Philippians 6.1 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The fear of God a proper motive to holiness. Addressed to people who think too ill of themselves and depreciate this as their motive, when on the contrary they should regard it as a firm support and introduction to a higher feeling of love. Mr. Franklin Story, F. Gray and Mr. L. Angier were here in the course of the evening.

Heavy rain this morning so that I made up my mind very quietly to remaining at home. Read German, Muller, History of the Appenzel War which is interesting. But I find my progress exceedingly slow. The great difficulty in German is from the great number of compound 329words which are not to be found in Dictionaries and yet which represent shades of ideas different from any simple words. Read Hume, Dialogues upon Natural Religion. Tried to begin an Essay upon the character and influence of Mr. Jefferson but only succeeded in laying out what might be considered as the rough ground. Read some of Mr. Jay’s book.

Afternoon Cowper’s Correspondence. This opens to me a new view of character. It seems his morbid sensitiveness took the direction of religion. He believed himself everlastingly damned. The Deity appeared to him only as an avenger. At times this state of mind merged into insanity but it rarely rose into a better condition. Shocking enough—Yet with all this his letters and Poems show a sort of humour which betokens a mind at peace with itself and others. Flowers covering a precipice.