A pleasant cool day. I went to the Office as usual. Mr. Davis came in and shortly after Mr. Adan, the Judges of the Bowdoin Prize dissertation and after a short conference we agreed upon awarding one prize, to the writer upon the effect of the Christian religion in raising the character of man. I myself inclined to award only a second prize but as the other gentlemen seemed disposed to do more, I gave in.

Accounts and Diary which I hardly manage to keep within bounds. I had agreed to go to Quincy, with my Wife this morning and was therefore obliged to go up to my house at an early hour.

Mr. Webster’s Speech at the Odeon is in the morning’s papers. It is not characterized by much strength. On the subject of the Executive Patronage bill it is very modest, hardly attempting any thing beyond a plea for holding his own opinions.1 Shall I pursue him or let him alone? I am now in doubt. The rest of my Appeal was in the Globe of this mail.

Rode to Quincy. Found the family as usual. Miss Dewint there, Elizabeth C. Adams also. My father seemed dull, probably affected by the Vermont Resolutions which he has received.2 I think Slade has acted hastily and from temper. We returned home shortly after dinner bringing with us my little girl Louisa who did not appear con-253tented in staying there although the benefit to her health is certainly manifest. Quiet evening at home. I copied Jefferson’s opinion for my father.

The lovely weather continues and as it seems to me grows finer and finer every day. I went to the Office and passed my time in writing and Accounts. The Newspapers take no notice of my sixth number of the Massachusetts Voter although it is about as severe a castigation as any party ever received. There is something truly curious in the manner in which they treat me. Silence which betokens fear, and a crawling under the lash as if by getting closer they could avoid its blows.

I rode to Quincy, and my Wife went to Medford. My father and mother only at home. Mary at Mrs. Adams’ passing the day. Conversation with my father. Dr. Waterhouse has written him a letter in which peeps out the manner my “Appeal” is treated in State Street. They say it is from my pen but my father’s brain. He then calls my papers of the Massachusetts Voter too laconic to be explicable. He cannot understand them.1 Poor soul, he is almost past the age of comprehension and writes long foolish epistles for the sake of catching replies which my father is hardly sensible of the effect of. I cautioned him today.

About sunset I started to return calling at Mrs. Adams’ for Miss DeWint who wished me to take her in to be ready to start tomorrow morning. Quiet evening at home. Resumed the papers of the Massachusetts Voter.

A beautiful morning. I went to the Office and occupied myself as usual in writing and Accounts. Went to the Athenaeum for the purpose of picking up some items of political information to make use of in my future numbers.

I wait the issue of this election with great anxiety. I want to see how far my efforts have succeeded in producing any effect at all upon 254the public mind. If they altogether fail, why I think I may as well stop in my career. If on the other hand they succeed, we shall then do better. I shall fix a base in Massachusetts to resist the confounded machinations of Mr. Webster’s jealousy.

Dropped in to see some pictures which are now exhibiting, copies of Old Masters, and remained until dinner time. Found Mrs. John Adams at the house who has come in to spend a few days. Afternoon I spent in writing out another paper of the Massachusetts Voter. This work is becoming laborious to me and unprofitable. I passed the evening with the ladies. Elizabeth C. Adams came in to stay the night. I wrote and read a little of Smith’s History of Astronomy.