Fine morning. I read in continuation part of Juvenal’s seventh Satire and was much pleased with it. There is in it none of the coarseness which I have found in most of those hitherto. Amused myself writing another number of my papers in which I was very happy in being able to fix some quotations. I do not think there are many in the Community 209who are able to produce things equal and yet they do not receive one smile from friend or one frown from an enemy. They are pearls before swine most certainly. Assorted some papers too. Thus passed the morning.

Afternoon, continued reading Theodor. Auguste Lafontaine writes home-stories as well as any body I know. He paints the lights and shadows of life with truth and yet mingles with them brilliancy enough not to affect the mind as some of the English Stories of the same kind.

On yesterday was the anniversary of my wedding day. I have been married six years of great general happiness as well as worldly prosperity. It was not noticed at home and forgotten in my record which is bad enough. In the evening my Wife and Mary went up to Mrs. Adams’ to take tea and my father and I walked up afterwards. There were several there as is almost invariably the case. Mr. Beale and his daughter, Price Greenleaf, and afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their daughter. Conversation quite dull about factories and stock and profits. What else can you talk about in such society? Home early.

My intention was originally not to have remained at Quincy beyond the close of this last month, but my parents appear to take so much pleasure in our stay and the children appear to enjoy the air so much that I delay.

I went into town today. My time much taken up in correcting proof, going down to the Athenaeum and home in Accounts. My father also gave me a commission to perform for him in the purchase of some shares in the Atlas Insurance Co. I have rarely known a day pass faster. Another number of my pieces appeared this morning in the Advocate and I carried to the Office a fourth, for next week. I had not half transacted my business when it became necessary to return to Quincy.

After dinner finished the story of Theodor, which has not only amused me but kept up my acquaintance with the language. I do not wish to give up my literary tastes in the pursuit of my political amusement. Politics are well as a condiment but they are too spicy for food. Evening quietly at home.

Fine day and warm. I passed the morning rather idly, assorting papers, but attended divine service and heard George Whitney preach 210from Job. 7. 16. “I would not live alway.” And from Mark 14. 8. “She did what she could.” The first discourse upon death, the second upon perfection of character. Of all the young men I know go into the pulpit, not one does so with such a quantity of pretension as this. He appears to have no doubt of his powers or of his eloquence and therefore inspires his hearers with something closely allied to disgust. I could not listen to his florid nonsense with any patience.

Afternoon, read a discourse of Dr. Barrow making the third of the course upon the subject of contentment from the same text, and directed to the consideration of the condition of the various people in this world as affected by circumstances to prevent contentment. Poverty, disgrace, loss of friends &ca. with the modes by which the mind should alleviate the pressure of these evils. Barrow is always sensible if he is not often great.

In the evening my father, my Wife and I went down to pay a visit to Col. and Mrs. J. Quincy. Mr. Price Greenleaf was also there. The night was very beautiful and we sat for some time in the Moonlight. Conversation principally upon Education of which Mrs. Quincy makes a hobby. She takes up warmly the spiritual culture of Mr. Alcott, one of the newfangled theories of the day to make spirits out of boys.1 Mrs. S. R. Miller and Miss Sophia Quincy were there. Home early.