Cold. When I went to the Office this morning I found the workmen all there making changes which have heretofore been contemplated. The stairs having been removed render it impossible for me to get into my rooms, so that I went down to the Insurance Co. and from thence to the Athenaeum, in which manner I passed my time quite as pleasantly as if I had been at the Office. Read part of the story of Japhet in the Metropolitan and one or two interesting articles in the Edinburgh Review. Then I took a walk after which home to read Livy. This is 335after all one of my most agreeable occupations. There is none of the bustle and stir of the world with it’s anxieties and it’s disappointments. And yet there are pictures of life brought before one with the vividness of scenic representation.

After dinner I read a part of the time, and another part I devoted to the papers of my Grandfather. Went over those of Sam. Adams but missed one very important one which I presume my father has put away too carefully. Several papers are in this predicament. The collection of Sam. Adams is small but valuable. That of Jas. Lovell is large but partakes of the valueless character of his mind. In such a position as he was this is a tenfold pity.1 Finished the first volume of Cooks Life of Lord Bolingbroke, very interesting.

Evening at home reading to my Wife from Slidell’s American in England. This was the evening of the meeting at Faneuil Hall, which I decided not to attend. Afterwards, the Zauberring.

Office building still in such a state that I could not remain in it. I see enough of the change however to be convinced that it adds very much to the value of the building. Called at the Mutual Office to notify them of the change and also made proposals for the Insurance of my house in Acorn Street.

Athenaeum where I read some interesting articles in the Edinburgh Review, then according to appointment to a glass and China Shop where my Wife was to be, to purchase some things. This done, walk and home to read Livy. Afternoon, Niebuhr, and papers.

In the evening, my Wife’s family met here. Mr. Brooks, P.C. Jr. and his Wife, Edward, Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham and their eldest son, and Mr. Ignatius Sargent and wife. We had a small Supper and every thing went off very pleasantly. Things cleared at ten and upstairs, reading.

Morning milder betokening a change in the weather. The cold has been on the whole as persevering as I ever in my experience knew it to be. I woke up in the morning unwell from an imprudence in taking two glasses of sweet Frontignan last night, and as usual paid the 336penalty with a sick head ach for the whole day. This disabled me from much exertion.

I succeeded however in getting into my Office and there had one or two persons to see me. Mr. Willard from the Stone quarries in Quincy with a paper of plans respecting a road, across from one side to the other instead of the crooked and circuitous one now adopted. I thought his idea good and promised my cooperation. He speaks very sanguinely of the value of all our Quarries up there. I hope they will turn out according to his expectation, for they would in that case alone constitute for us an immense property. But why do I desire to be richer? In this Country, wealth is daily marking a man more and more for proscription. Mr. Beale came also with a view to make some inquiry about a parsonage house for Mr. Lunt, at Quincy. He seems to have an idea that my father can do almost every thing, and in this case appears to expect he will build this house. I left him to undeceive himself which he did at his leisure. He made no definite proposal.

Called to see Mr. Hallett who gave me a pretty distinct account of the series of embarrassments presented on all sides by the meeting at Faneuil Hall. It has effected nothing in the way of conciliation and appears to me to be jeopardizing every thing in the State. He showed me what the policy of the Post party had been and how the Loco focos had seized upon the whole thing with a view to turn it to their own advantage. He laid open the variety of manoeuvres by which he had been surrounded and seemed anxious to know what was to be done under them. The Morning post had an illnatured paragraph which he was tempted to answer, and that and the Reformer both had altered the record of the meeting. He read a proposed reply to be published on Monday. I dissuaded him from it, being satisfied that the most certain way to disappoint them would be to avoid a breach. Mr. H. then read a letter from Mr. Everett which contained nothing important. He has been dining about among politicians but has as yet got no intimations of their course. I am almost entirely disgusted.

Home. The remainder of the day is a record only of almost vacancy under the infliction of a head ach.