A fine day. I went to the Office and was busy there in draughting my Quarterly Account for the close of the year, which was a business of no small difficulty from the number of secondary Accounts. The charges at Quincy, the travelling expenses to Washington and the 44sales of New England Insurance Stock making separate papers. Mr. Jones from Weston called in and made settlement in part which enables me very well to meet my engagements here at present.1

I called in at the picture gallery and found things by sunlight looking a great deal better. One or two of these pictures I should like, but I have already consumed all of my fund for things of this description so that I shall let them go, Walk. Ovid, Glaucus and Scylla. Evening at home. I finished reading Faust to my Wife and continued Don Carlos to myself, also d’Israeli, whose book is very amusing. This is a species of literary luxury which spoils a man for more continued studies. It collects the cream so handily for conversation. Yet the multitude of anecdotes makes remembering them difficult.

Fine cold day. I read d’Israeli in the morning and Don Carlos. Attended divine service and heard Mr. Frothingham all day upon the same text. Luke 2. 40 “And the child grew.” The long preparation of the Saviour from infancy and from thence into the more general provision of nature for the rearing of man. The growth of the affections, the inculcation of wisdom, the lesson of experience. I thought the morning discourse good, but the other one superfluous. Mr. Frothingham preaches well but never since I have known him does he address himself directly to the feelings of his auditory. He seems to throw this out of his line yet I think it forms the leading recommendation in Whateley’s rhetorical precepts, to my mind at least, very justly.

I read a discourse of Dr. Barrow. 1. Samuel 2. 30. “For them that honour me, I will honour.” He considers first the nature of the reward, honour, and next the duty, to honor the Deity. Upon these points he expatiates with great fluency yet I find in this Sermon nothing extraordinary. Evening quiet at home. Read d’Israeli and Don Carlos.

Cloudy day and dark. I finished Don Carlos this morning and on the whole admire it very much. Although I hardly think justice is entirely done to the characters. Alva for instance is represented as a mean, fawning courtier in league with an ambitious priest. Yet Alva 45was a proud grandee of Spain exercising a command of great latitude with the most decided authority. The Queen and Carlos are made to enter into a Conspiracy against the King which ought to take much from the sympathy for their fate. And Posa by failing in all his vast undertakings runs great risk of meriting the cognomen of “tete exaltée” – visionary.

Office, where I was detained until dinner time by the closing of the sales of the New England Insurance Stock, which was done, the money received, deposited to the credit of my father in Bank and a letter of notice written and despatched before going home.1

Afternoon, MS. papers. Letters of J.A. to Edmd. Jenings and his answers. This man’s character and relations with my Grandfather require explanation. I do not see clearly as yet into these matters. Evening. Finished the first volume of d’Israeli. Afterwards began Wielands Oberon.2