Another very warm morning with a similar termination in a thunder shower. I passed my leisure time in reading over a part of Mr. Gerry’s correspondence among the MS of J. Adams. I believe I now have too many irons in the fire.

Attended divine service all day and heard Mr. Frothingham. Acts 2. 7.8. “Behold, are not all those which speak, Galileans? And how hear 172we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born?” The idea presented in the Sermon was a general one—Christianity the Mother tongue of the earth, and it was treated ingeniously and beautifully. Afternoon Proverbs 26. 4.5. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit.” The thunder and lightning drowned the preacher’s voice and distracted the auditor’s attention but I thought the Sermon as far as I heard distinguished very acutely the consistency and unity of these verses. I was however anxious to escape the rain which I did barely.

Read the first half of an immensely long Sermon of Dr. Barrow upon bounty to the poor. Psalms 112. 9. “He hath dispersed; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.” His division as usual follows the natural course of the words, he speaks first of the act, and then of its reward. This discourse must however have been only partially delivered, for it’s delivery would have taken half a day. Afternoon and evening at home. Tried to write but without success.

Another warm day with another thunder shower and very heavy rain. I went to the Office, after examining a considerable number of the coins given me by my father. There I was engaged in writing Diary and Accounts. Called to see Mr. Hallett but he is out as usual. Found nobody. This process of printing is mighty slow. And if I do not hurry it will never stop. Called to see Mr. Brooks for a few minutes, and then home. Read a little of the second satire of Juvenal over.

The afternoon was passed much in my usual manner. I read a little of Mons. Thier’s Account of the Revolution and sat down to continue my Papers but the fifth number gives me far more trouble than all the rest put together. I worked to put it into shape both afternoon and evening but without satisfying myself. I went out in the evening by way of a little agreeable variety and took a short walk round the Common full of people.

Warm morning but the air was brisk enough to make it pleasant. My No. 3 came out today in one paper only. It was sadly disfigured in printing and on the whole disappointed me, but I went down to see 173Mr. Hallett and give him some books. Found him for a wonder and had some little conversation respecting the present condition of things. He encourages me. It seems that at Worcester yesterday A. H. Everett was upon attempting to speak at the dinner given to the proprietors of the Railroad put down in a very insulting manner to him. The cause supposed to be the suspicion of him as the Author of my Articles. This is Worcester spite.1 I will go on and enlarge my operations. I will not be discouraged. Mr. Webster shall feel the stripes in every manner I can make him, and learn wisdom in future.

I went to Quincy taking my little Louisa with me. We got there at noon and I spent much time in talking with my father. The family appeared quite well. Nothing very material. Returned home by sunset.

Evening I went upon the Common to see the Fire works which on Account of the rain had been twice postponed. The night was beautiful. Two bands were stationed at different spots and the dense crowd of quiet faces now looking up at the display and now regarding each other as they walked slowly about was quite interesting. The fireworks themselves were exceedingly beautiful. I have never seen any thing equal to them. The magnificence of the colours and the beauty of the forms gave an appearance of jewelry on a gigantic scale. The idea of combining colour with the brilliancy of fire is among the most ingenious of all man’s originating. On the whole I think this a far more rational and agreeable amusement than the plan of stuffing and guzzling which has heretofore distinguished us. To be sure our climate is, as this very case shows, excessively uncertain, but we must enjoy what we have and let the rest pass.