Morning cool but fine. I went to town and was as usual engaged in a great variety of duties upon my getting there. I went to the House from which I despatched a Note to Miss Julia Gorham who is about to be married,1 with a present. She expects almost too much happiness to be likely to have her wishes realized. Office where I found Mr. Isaac P. Davis and made the arrangements necessary previous to starting on Monday morning next. Mr. Brooks has also agreed to make one of the party.

I called down to see Mr. Hallett and according to my promise to my father I laid before him the precise state of the case. He was far more tractable than upon a preceding occasion. He said that he had been willing to consider it a dead question that he held opinions of rather a radical sort respecting banks and was opposed to the National Bank but knowing that my father was of a different opinion as well as many members of the party it was his design to avoid all notice of it. The pieces which had been put in during his absence had gone in without his knowledge and he should not have consented to them. The understanding between us therefore is that hereafter no attacks upon the Bank are to go into the paper. We talked about some other points in connection with the state of the party which are of difficult decision. But there is nothing else of difference at present between us. This experience will however warn me not to go in deep water. The ocean of politics may do very well for my father and grandfather but I cannot reconcile myself to it’s billows or it’s bitterness.

This Journey will take me out of the Atmosphere for a few days and 214probably change the current of my thoughts. The time flew so that I heard the bell ring at Mr. Halletts Office. And as I had got no proof today, it rendered my going to town again tomorrow quite necessary. The remainder of the day was passed in attempting to do something more with the MS papers but I made slight progress in comparison with what was left. Quiet at home in the evening.

Morning cloudy with the wind cold from the Eastward. My father went into town with me. I found myself as usual in a whirl of occupation without the ability to accomplish half what I meditated.

My Diary has got into arrear in so alarming a manner that if I add to it this absence I shall probably make a break. No great loss perhaps for a Diary has already formed it’s purpose with me of facility of style, but still a matter of regret for a Diary like mine has got to be a sort of safe old friend to whom I confide many things safer than any living one would prove. Accounts too which require a perpetual care to untangle it’s threads.

Called and on a second attempt procured a proof, but it does not quite cover the whole of the essay so that I shall have to leave about two pages of the close to other hands. This is provoking but cannot be helped. The pamphlet will come out during my absence. Its successful sale in the present state of the public mind is not to be hoped for. I have done a vain thing with my eyes open. But there is good even in all evil. I shall not be led to more costly and hazardous fancies. Publishing schemes which a popular writer occasionally drives to his own injury.

Returned to dinner. The Afternoon mainly taken up in bringing up the Arrears of my Diary which must be done before tomorrow night. My last number on the State of the Nation came out today.

Morning, northeasterly rain but it cleared away afterwards with a continuance of the same wind. I wrote Diary all day and attended divine service. Mr. Hall of Dorchester preached, my Wife’s relation. Luke 17. 17–18. “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger.” The history of these lepers illustrates the principle of gratitude, which though it should be constant to God is apt to be forgotten by man on account of the impalpa-215bility of it’s nature. Such was the substance of the discourse which was in most respects drawn up neatly enough. Some touches of eloquence.

I asked him to dine with us which he did, and we got through well enough. Attended service again in the afternoon when I heard another discourse from Luke 2. 49. “Wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business.” As usual when I get no nap I was very drowsy this afternoon and able to hear but little of the discourse. What I did hear appeared to me not so good as that in the morning.

After service, I read a sermon of Dr. Barrow, upon the same subject which has been carried on for several weeks. “Contentment.” It was a continuation of the reasons given in the last why the misfortunes of the world should not have affected any Christian, and opens many views which are excellent and which I have occasionally myself glanced at. Of all things the most important is content. The poor man has his compensations. His is a life of hopes while the portion of the rich is fears. Which is the most fortunate situation.1

In the evening, Conversation. My father again related the anecdote of my Grandfather which I have been anxious to catch. It was about a Speech of his at a Boston Town meeting prior to the Revolution when Mr. Boylston had been making an unpopular Speech, and the people hissed, he rebuked them by a quotation from one of Milton’s Sonnets to which I must look.2 I made up today the rest of my Diary.