I went to the Office, cold continuing as usual. Occupied in Accounts and Diary. Mr. J. H. Winkley called upon me to make settlement on 341their last year’s lease at the Quarry in Quincy. They have had a very unfavorable time, and have lost a good deal. But they propose to make one more trial. Mr. Walsh came in. Conversation. I then went out to take a walk but did not get very far. My system of exercise has wholly failed this year.

We are waiting for accounts of the result of the Vermont Convention. The Atlas has a letter showing that the Whig forces preponderate. I think this likely. Slade has acquired a good deal of power there. His Pamphlet is a singular production and shows strikingly the character of his mind. I hardly know how best to answer his flighty style of reasoning.

Home, Livy, then to dinner at Mr. Brooks’. Mr. Frothingham and P. R. Dalton. Dinner tolerably pleasant, then home. Evening, reading very peaceably to my Wife from Madame Junots satirical description of Portugal. After which, arranging my ideas upon Mr. Slade’s notable work. My labour is to methodize.

Fine morning but no relaxation of winter. I amused myself all the morning with Mr. Slade. Then to meeting where I heard a very good discourse from Mr. Frothingham upon the pertinent Text Titus 2. 15. “Let no man despise thee.” This gentleman discriminates with exceeding justness. He drew a sketch of the jealous and vindictive spirit and contrasted him with the true adherent to the spirit of the text.

Afternoon 1. Maccabees 12. 9. “Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things for that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us.” A very excellent historical discourse upon the value of the Apocryphal books. Mr. Frothingham, contrary to the practice of the protestant Clergy generally, reads and preaches from those books. He now explained why he did so from a review of the controversy respecting these books and from a fair and unprejudiced estimate of them.

I also read a discourse of Dr. Barrow being the last of the series upon self conceit, and from the text already quoted in former Sundays. He briefly touched upon arrogance, talking much of one’s self, vain gloriousness and finally closed with a few remedial rules. These discourses are all valuable and have been as I hope very sufficiently considered by me. At least my desire is to do well in the premises which I know are particularly dangerous to me.

Evening reading to my Wife from Madame Junot. Edward Blake 342came in for half an hour. He goes to Washington next week on Wednesday. Continued writing.