Morning clear with a high wind form the North West. I went to town accompanying Mr. Brooks. Time wasted, excepting a little in business.

Mr. Brooks has made his children another present—Dividing among 401them the amount which his son Henry had remaining of his property at his death. This comes to my Wife and myself in the shape of three shares in the Lawrence Manufacturing Co. and is another evidence of the beneficence of my father in law,1 as well as of the goodness of the Deity. My means are now more than sufficient for my living and mere property can add little more to my happiness. It must be my endeavor that it shall not take off from it by giving me a spirit of uneasy restlessness or vague ambition. I am blessed as much as man ever is in this sublunary state. May God be merciful to me and keep me humble and sensible of the extent of his goodness.

Athenaeum. John Quincy made me a visit. He is not to sail for some days. Home to Medford. Afternoon German and in the evening read Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Also Mrs. Austin’s Characteristics of Goethe.

A cold clear morning. I took a shower bath but it is so cold that I believe after this I shall give it up. With but one intermission since I have begun in June last, I have when at Medford constantly taken it and I think my health has been very much aided by it. Mr. Brooks being about to be absent from home all day, I went into town accompanied by my Wife who wished to see and to consult her sister. Time at the Office. My father came in on some commissions of his. Nothing new.

Called for my Wife and returned to Medford to dinner. Afternoon quiet. Read the second volume of Quinctius Heymerau von Flaming and was amused by it although I do not think it equal to the first. Evening Mrs. Gray and Miss Henrietta called. I managed notwithstanding to read a good deal of the second book of the Metamorphoses.

Mild autumn day. I passed my morning reading German. Attended divine service and heard Mr. Stetson preach. Genesis 18. 26. “And the Lord said, if I find in Sodom fifty righteous men within the City then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Matthew 22. 37 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” I am ashamed to say that I could not fix my attention 402sufficiently upon these Sermons to be able to give any definite account of them. My mind would wander into those rambling paths of thought in which I felt myself running on a string of words in a supposable case. It is of no use.

Read in the afternoon and evening the remainder of Warburton’s Sermon commenced last Sunday. He considers the mission of the Holy Ghost in the Saviour here as a comforter, and also the point of the duration of the gifts of grace. I did not admire this portion of the discourse. Read another short Sermon upon the character of the Apostles as Messengers of the truth. Matthew 10. 16 “Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Evening Mr. Chardon Hall came in and spent considerable time.