Fine day. My time was consumed in reading German, until my Mother was ready to go to Boston where I accompanied her, in the Carriage. I had not much leisure from the necessity of attending to her, but had enough to accomplish two or three small objects for which I most particularly came in. Office and Accounts. Returned home early.

Afternoon, finished the assortment of the Letters remaining of my father, but I have not succeeded in laying my hands upon them all. Read a little German and my usual portion of Ovid. Mr. Webster, with Messrs. Mangum, Tyler, and Ewing being the Senate’s Committee of Finance came out this afternoon but I did not go down to see them. Read Ovid as usual and came across two or three of his beautiful passages which interspersed with his tediousness relieves it materially.

Evening a family tea party. Mrs. Angier and Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Adams 374with her two sons Thomas and John, and Miss Harrod. Cards which have become a great subject of amusement to my Wife and the family.

Having agreed to go with Walter to Commencement today we arose and started betimes. I thought he would like to see a little of the Country so I took him round through Roxbury and Brookline until I missed my way and struck Newton and Watertown instead of going through Brighton. However we reached Cambridge at eleven and heard quite enough of the performance.

The day passed off far better than had been anticipated. The refractory students divided, one portion returning to their duty the rest being punished by the Government. Thirty nine out of fifty eight took degrees. The performances were very mediocre both in composition and delivery. The Master’s Latin Oration was far the best in both respects which I heard. The House was thin. I dined in the Hall with Richardson but the dinner was dull. After we rose it was announced to us that there was a Meeting of Alumni to take into consideration the state of the College. Judge Story made a Speech in support of a plan to raise $100,000 to assist in paying the expenses of young men. Mr. J. T. Austin opposed it with his usual tartness. In the course of his speech he touched at two or three of the places where the real canker of the University lies but the places are so sore, and they were so roughly handled that it produced nothing but furious irritation. The debate was carried on by Mr. Saltonstall, Mr. J. C. Park and others until it became late and I left.

After a short visit at Mr. Quincy’s to deliver him a letter from my father and making a bow to the ladies we left Cambridge and got home to Quincy before nine o’clock. Mr. Quincy and his family appeared in a state of considerable elation and on the whole I did not wonder although perhaps I may differ in my opinion of the degree in which it was justified.

I remained at home all day—My father going to Cambridge to the exercises of the ΦBK. My day was not very usefully spent. Arranged and put away the Manuscripts as far as I had gone with them, then read German, the Story of the Halden Family becomes so interesting that I pursue it whenever I take it up. La Fontaine’s style is now easy 375but I cannot read any body else’s. This is a difficulty greater in German than in any other language apparently. I pursued my usual study of Ovid. This is my beggarly account of my summer exploits. I do nothing but luxuriate in the indulgence of reading. Evening, Cards. Interrupted by a visit from Mr. and Miss Beale, Mr. and Mrs. Emmons.