I remained at home all day today with a view of putting an end to the assorting of the papers which since my coming here I had under-229taken. But I did not accomplish as much as I expected. My Grandmother and grandfather had both of them the fancy of keeping papers together which is an unfortunate circumstance in many respects. It retains details of private history which would have been better forgotten, and it relates incidents too trifling for record which consume the time and weary the patience of the examiners. Out of these bushels of chaff the grains of wheat are hard of selection.

I went over today a great deal of melancholy matter. The history of my family is not a pleasant one to remember. It is one of great triumphs in the world but of deep groans within, one of extraordinary brilliancy and deep corroding mortification—The misery of children falling as much below the ordinary standard of human conduct from vicious sensual indulgence as the gratification is worth of others to rise above it.1 I would not have any one of my children particularly distinguished, at the price of such a penalty upon the rest. I would myself much rather remain beyond the sphere in which trial and temptation is so great.

I did little or nothing else during the day. In the evening I tried to put down upon paper what I thought would answer for Resolutions to pass at the approaching Convention, but I did not succeed to my satisfaction. Afterwards, passed a little time in looking for the Comet which I think I found.2 It resembles a bright vapour rather than any thing else. But this Comet is the one which establishes Dr. Halley’s theory, and fixes some curious philosophical predictions.

The weather has been uncommon for the season. No storms, but dry weather for a long time and the wind alternating from east to west with the course of the sun. I devoted some time to papers today, but attended divine service and heard a very admirable sermon from Mr. Lunt. Luke 7. from the 18th verse to the close. The sending of John the Baptist to Jesus and the story of the penitent transgressor bathing the feet of Christ. There were passages of extraordinary beauty in this discourse which prove to me that Mr. Lunt is no ordinary man. But I would not do him the injustice to mangle them by attempting an Analysis.

Mr. Cranch a young man just out from the Divinity school and a son of Judge Cranch preached in the afternoon.1 Text Job. I cannot upon looking recur to the precise verse. The subject, trust in the divinity. He was evidently suffering under great embarrassment and the disadvantage of the contrast with the Sermon of the morning. Perhaps there is no more trying situation than the first attempt at public speaking.

Mr. Degrand came out here to dinner and Elizabeth C. Adams was here also. Nothing new. The former brought out Newspapers in plenty, but nothing at all new in them. The press is groaning daily in this Country under a heavy burden of trifles. Even politics get out little of public principle.

Read a sermon of Dr. Barrow, the last of the series upon contentment. This continues the examination of the nature of the duty and the inducements to it’s performance. There is much good matter in this range of Sermons. I only wish I could keep them in my memory better and use them as materials for reflection. But my mind from deficiency of early training catches with difficulty the train of a serious Essay. It gathers but partially even what strikes it most forcibly. And my feeble attempt in the spring to improve it ended in a very sudden and rather curious manner. My dash into politics spoilt it.