Pleasant day. I read more of Schiller which was interesting and gave me some encouragement for my German. This with a walk in the garden with the children took up my time.

Attended divine service. Heard Mr. Stetson preach all day. 1. Peter 3.8. “Be courteous.” The necessity of mild and pleasing manners to Christians not as a motive to selfish success so much as to keep up the respect of the Christian character. Very good. Psalms. 77. 6. “I 332call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search.” The morning Sermon being upon courtesy to others, the afternoon’s was upon self reflection, private thought to mould the heart and purify the affections. This was also very good.

Sermon by Atterbury—Matthew 14. 1, 2, 3, tool long but relating to Herod’s emotion at hearing of Jesus, from his impression it was the return of John. Subject. Conscience, its terrors, why not sometimes effective and a short admonition to his hearers. A very slight discourse. Such a one as would do injury to the reputation of many of our Clergy. Evening, a stroll along the bank of the Canal with my Wife and her father.

Warm morning. Instead of going to town, I decided upon going to Quincy. I rode round the Country through Cambridge and Brooklyne and felt the fatigue more than usual. I have nothing very especial to do when I go, but Kirk and his wife expect me out and I feel as if they may occasionally require my presence. Arrived at noon and as it was too warm to pay the visits intended I sat in my father’s Library looking over his German authors and walked about the Garden. Dined and soon after started on my return to Medford through Boston. I was nearly six hours on the road this day and very much fatigued. The ride is too long for pleasure.

Abby received another letter from my Mother announcing a change of arrangement and that my brother and his Wife were not to come on this year at all.1 This throws ever thing up into the air again. It is a very singular feature of our family proceedings that we never know what is what.

Mr. Brooks and Abby went out in the evening but I staid at home. Mr. J. Angier and Price Greenleaf of Quincy called and I accompanied them round the garden.

Morning warm but misty after which it cleared away. I went into town with Mr. Brooks. Time at the Office where I wrote my arrears of Journal which are constantly accumulating and then to the Athenaeum to get Books. I looked into the English Newspapers which are quite 333full of notices of our affairs. They do not at all understand the action of our Government. But our troubles may have a good effect in checking the licentious tendencies in Great Britain. what is the world coming to.

In the mean time poor General La Fayette is dead.1 His life has been a stormy one, but his character is highly honorable to him. There is no sort of guilt affixed to his public career, although he has lived in times of carnage and desolation. If he has not possessed the vigor which might have put him upon a level with Caesar and Cromwell and Bonaparte, he has at least avoided the disgrace of their crimes. Our Country was very certainly indebted to him largely, but for its credit it may be said that it was not insensible to it. Never did man have a more splendid triumph than his tour in 1825.

Home. Afternoon, Mrs. Inchbald. Company, but I did not see them.