Morning rain so that I omitted my shower bath. Not however without regret as it was sultry. It cleared away so that I went to town. My time for the most part taken up with accounts, and payments.

Had a visit from Mr. New the eldest surviving son of the old barber upon whose Estate I administered.1 He is a Sailor and appears to be a very respectable man. He intimated that he had risen to the command after long service. Yet there seemed something melancholy about him, which I could not get over. My account was briefly given and after sitting idly for half an hour, he left.

To Medford in the rain. Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham dined with us. Pleasant conversation which consumed the afternoon. Evening quietly at home. Looked over King’s survey of Australia.2

Morning cloudy with a little drizzle. I accompanied Mr. Brooks to town and went to the Office where I passed much of my morning. Busy in Accounts although I had no visitor on the account of rent. The pressure for money is said to be considerable at which I wonder, for it seems very certain that no profits are now made upon undertakings.

We got the news today of the adjournment of Congress. A long and an interesting but not a profitable Session to the people. The struggle for victory between power and the people will now commence. But the prospect is very dubious.

Home to dinner. Afternoon reading King’s Australia and the Ghost Seer the extracts of which in Follen’s book I have read twice and mean to send for the book itself. I also read Ovid. Nothing further remarkable.

This being the great Anniversary of the Nation I should have preferred to have remained quietly at Medford, but as Mr. Brooks and my Wife proposed to make a trip to Andover, I thought I would not stay alone and therefore would drive over to Quincy. Passed through town and noticed the diversified gaieties of the town. Came across the Trade’s Union Procession which had a great ship upon rollers. Then a troop of truckmen in white on horseback. Then a boy’s engine company. I got through all these things and finally reached Quincy. Found Kirk gone to town. This was bad but I sat down and read the Ghost Seer all day so that I made it up. Returned home. Quite fatigued. Although a novice in German, I read sixty pages of this book today. 338Others were probably engaged in the noisy festivities of the day. I have no such fancies. Perhaps I am wrong. There may be public spirit in public eating and drinking and walking but I never could understand it.