Having made an engagement with Mr. Bowditch to be at my Office this morning to attend to a transfer of some Stock I went to town, but did not get there until rather late. My time flew away exactly as usual. I went and looked for proof, but found none, then to house to see about some matters relating to arrangements. Then down to my Office where my Accounts took up a great deal of time. My Diary is in this way constantly falling into arrear and by my repeated absence makes the labour of working up doubly hard. I was engaged in various commissions for the family also which take up time imperceptibly. Home to dinner.

Afternoon passed in assorting papers which multiply difficulties as I proceed. Indeed as my stay here draws nearer to a close I feel more the difficulties which attend my prosecuting the subject. Yet who is likely to do it if I do not?

Evening went by invitation with my Wife to Mrs. T. B. Adams—A small party of Quincy people. Mr. Miller his Wife and daughter, Col. Quincy his Wife and sister, Mr. Price Greenleaf and sister, and the family of whom Mrs. Angier forms now a part. The evening was dull and made a little more so by the news just received of the death of Mr. Phineas Foster, a loss to his family and to Mrs. Adams. We returned home early.

The weather is now uncommonly fine although generally betraying the progress of the season. I remained at home and went over a part of Juvenal’s seventh satire with a review of the whole of it. I wrote another paper upon the state of the Nation, but am getting a little tired of the business. The last takes up the recent excitement about Slavery and Abolition, a subject which it might be wiser not to touch.1

I also wrote a letter to Mr. T. B. Johnson at Washington in answer to one received yesterday in which he intimates his intention of employing me to transfer his funds into investments in Boston.2 This is a business I do not at all fancy. But Mr. Johnson has so studiously deprived himself of friends through his life that I am not certain but it will be a kindness in me to undertake to provide for his independence in his old age.

Thus went the time until dinner, after which I took my annual ramble round the shore of Mount Wollaston and speculated and philosophized as I am apt to do upon the occasion without any practical or profitable result. The weather was so cool that the light Jacket I had on was barely sufficient. Returned home quite fatigued. Evening quietly with the family, although I a little waste my time with them in trifling talk.

Morning fine. I went to town. My time very much taken up. First, to the house where I had occasion to go to look after some coins that I miss. Then, to Sharpe’s where I saw my Cabinet of Medals and gave the final directions for the arrangement of the Draws. I think it will equal my expectations.

Then to the Office, correcting some proofs. The piece will prove 212quite as long as the publisher calculated and I have foolishly plunged myself into an expense of vanity, but this most of our expenses are. I know not why I should not go without something to pay for it.

Some few commissions for the family took up so much of the remainder of my time that I could not attend at all to my Diary. Called in at the Advocate Office and left another number upon the state of the Nation. Mr. Hallett has returned and resumes active operations. I had some conversation with him, but was hurried off by the expiration of my hour.

Mr. I. P. Davis called to make a proposition to my father to go to Plymouth and New Bedford which I agreed to be the bearer of. My father seems much inclined to accept the proposition and I think myself of going.1 But this will both delay my return to Boston and put me out in my work upon the papers. Evening at home.