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.

Mild morning, but it clouded up to rain in the latter part of the day. I went into Boston with Mr. Brooks. Morning passed rather indolently. I was obliged to go and make several commissions which led me down to the Athenaeum. There I was fascinated with another number of Jacob Faithful and remained some time.

Then back to the Office where Thomas B. Adams called to see me. His Mother accompanies him to stop at Mr. DeWint’s at Fishkill for a short time.1 Thus that family is at last utterly scattered. The vicissitudes of this world are wonderful. My Grandfather who collected around him in 1817 as many descendants as fall to the lot of most persons, is gone and this winter the scene of his residence will probably not be marked by the tread of a single one of them.

Home to Medford. Afternoon German, but interrupted by the visit of Mr. Henderson Inches, his two sisters2 and daughter. These are pleasant people who have seen something of the world and accommodated themselves to it easily. Perhaps above the common average of women and apparently inclined to remain single from a fancy for independence. A rare thing in this Country. Evening alone at home. Read Ovid but with less pleasure than usual. I did not feel quite well today.