Morning at the Office, still cold, Easterly winds. My time taken up with Mr. Spear, who came in from Quincy and made a settlement of his affairs for the year. The accounts from that town are highly favorable to my father’s property there. A degree of enterprise is manifesting itself and supported by Capital which is flowing in from many quarters bids fair to do much for the whole Community. My morning passed away in talking with him and in the subsequent attention to my Accounts so that I had not time even for my Diary.

Home, Livy for a short time, but out to dine at Mr. Brooks’. A small company—Mr. J. Tilden, Mr. R. D. Tucker, F. J. Oliver, Mr. Frothingham, Edward Brooks and myself. Nothing of any consequence—Conversation without much interest. These gentlemen are all very respectable but they are not very interesting.

Home at six, found at the house, Miss H. Miller and E. C. Adams who spent the evening. I thus lounged it away with them and did nothing. Read Swift’s Examiner after they went—But I have not profited as much as I ought from this reading.

Cold and clear. I read Swift previous to attending divine service. Heard Mr. Frothingham preach from Acts 26. 27. “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.” Upon the principles of belief with an examination of three classes of men, who do not know what they believe, who think they know and do not, and who think they do not, and still do. Afternoon, Isaiah 21. 11. 12. “He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night. The Watchman said the morning cometh and also the night.” A very good discourse parts of which sounded familiarly to me. I took a long walk today but alone as Mr. Walsh was not out.

Read a Sermon of Barrow. Romans 2. 11. “For there is no respect of persons with God.” A difficult subject to explain and one upon which the author sheds no light. I am not one of those who repine at my fate, on the contrary my fear is that I am by no means deserving of so much as has been given me. I cannot understand my own merits and should regard it as somewhat presumptuous to claim for them so great a recompence. The sum total of the matter is that we should trust in God and that I do without seeking to examine what I cannot and ought not to understand. Evening went to Mrs. Edward Brooks’— 372Mrs. Boott there. Mr. Brooks went with us—A pleasant evening, then home.