A colder day and far more like Winter. I went to the Office and made my arrangement in consequence of a letter from my Father to deposit a certain sum in cash to meet his Check.1 A certain Deacon Adams came from Quincy and sat all the morning. His object to give notice of a certain trespass done by a man in Quincy in cutting by mistake the limb of a particular oak tree much valued by my father. But he talked about every thing, and among other things about my father’s property. As he seemed to entertain the inflated notion so very prevalent in Quincy, I thought it a very fit moment to go pretty 67largely into a statement of the facts of the case. And limiting myself entirely to the truth of the case as it is at this moment, I hope I have sown a seed which will prevent some inconvenience in future; and thus yield good fruit.

Short walk. Ovid. Afternoon amused myself with reading d’Israeli and a new number of the Quarterly Review. In the evening, I attended a Meeting of the Directors of the Boylston Market and subsequently the annual meeting of the Proprietors. Very few there. Organization as usual. Afterwards a Meeting of the New board at which there was a discussion of a new Fish Market. This was carried and a Committee raised to execute it. I think there is too much of this building, and if I can get a good price I think I shall sell for Thomas at least. Home late.

A cold morning again. I went to the Office. Nothing very material. I was in part of the time engaged in Accounts, and called to see Miss Oliver about her rent. She subsequently came in and paid me.

The town was in a state of agitation from a report of an attempt to assassinate General Jackson-As he was coming down the Capitol steps at Washington from the funeral of Warren R. Davis of S. Carolina, a member of the House of Representatives, a man by the name of Lawrence presented a pistol and it snapped after which he presented another and it did the same. I do not know what to make of this incident. At first I thought of it simply as a wonderful preservation. It afterwards occurred to me there might be jugglery. We must judge the tree by its fruits.

Walk and home. Ovid. Afternoon, I continue upon the papers but more deliberately as I approach the end. Read the Quarterly Review. Evening. Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham came in so that I passed in amusing conversation.1

I went to the Office this morning. My time after breakfast and in the evening is not devoted so usefully as I could wish; I lose ground in my German from the indifference respecting the selection of a new work to read. Supposing I select the Robbers of Schiller?

Mr. Walsh has got over his modesty and comes in to see me much as he used to do. He informed me this day of the unexpected result of the election in the Senate of the State of a Senator. They have unexpectedly made choice of my father on their part. This is one of the most singular political results that has occurred within my remembrance of political affairs. The present Senate of Massachusetts consists of Forty men not one of whom stands in any political relation with him. It consists of a large proportion of the old federal spirit which is as well as Masonry adverse to him. And yet the reputation of my father is too strong for them to resist. As a testimony to his character I think this is flattering although it is extremely doubtful whether it varies the general result.

I took a walk and read Ovid as usual. Afternoon engaged upon a new translation of Faust by a man named Hayward with a Preface in which he explains his particular opinions.1 He is very critical in his judgment of Leveson Gower’s production. His is a literal translation. It is interesting if not absolutely sound. Evening, reading aloud to Mr. Brooks. Afterwards d’Israeli.