This was the first morning since our return home upon which it might be really said to rain. A heavy North Easter prevailed all night with very heavy rain. Of course I was kept at home all day and was glad of it for it enabled me to do much work which was on hand to be finished. I drew up the Leases both of Carr and of Chadwick and prepared them in all respects for execution. I also arranged a receptacle for the assorted papers of my grandmother where I think they will remain, waiting for the rest. Read Livy, finishing the twenty ninth book. And passed a good deal of time in drawing up a form for an Address 108for Mr. Everett, but it would not do. My pen runs very heavily in the cause. Read a little of President Goguet, but my regular attention to literature will hardly commence before my return to town. In the afternoon, the weather cleared, but too late to do any thing out of doors. The sunset is so soon after dinner as to render the afternoon of little value. In the evening the family played Whist, but I had felt the want of exercise all day and was not quite well. I therefore sat out and looked over Hitchcock’s Report upon the Geology of the State which I consider a book very deficient in method and in thoroughness.1

Clear but cold and blowing a severe Northwester. I rode into town notwithstanding the discomfort which was great. The first portion of my morning devoted to the collection of the various Dividends due at the commencement of the Quarter and to the entries in my books consequent thereupon. Afterwards, Mr. Everett came in and we had much conversation upon political matters. He requested my decision upon the Address and I told him I would write one if the party would think it satisfactory but that I could dash into no radicalism nor into any praises of Jacksonism. He said he supposed I could avoid both. He asked my opinion of his writing and I gave it him but in a qualified and subdued form. Called to see Mr. Brooks and had a call from Mr. Curtis who wished me to draw a Deed by Saturday which I concluded to do at once. Home to Quincy.

Afternoon to the Quarries again where I found Hardwick busily at work upon the place he selected where I think he will remain. Concluded my agreement with him. I then went to Dutton’s and had a few words of difficulty with him as to his right of passage out. These men are so keen, they require incessant watching. Home. The ladies had been to Boston and I stopped on my return at Mrs. T. B. Adams on business. Quiet evening.

Morning a clear, cool air suitable to the season. I remained at home today and occupied myself pretty diligently, first in reading Livy, whose thirtieth book I began, containing the history of Scipio’s masterstroke of policy, and then in writing very industriously and very pertinaciously upon the democratic Address. I found at first it was prodigiously hard to get into the track but once in I went on easily.

In the afternoon, I walked up the hill where Spear has two men at work digging the cellar. They go on so slowly that I am fearful they will hardly finish the work I have proposed to do this season, before I get away. From thence to Colburn’s Quarry where he is splitting a very fine block of stone, but he had not succeeded in opening it today. Hardwick has resumed work upon his block and the appearances grow more favorable as he goes down. Thus if the quarrying of stone continues an object, the facility of access now made to this common may be likely to make it as frequented as any, particularly if the color prove as favorable as it promises.

Home. An evening party of Quincy people. Millers, Quincys, Greenleafs and Whitneys and Lunts. Cards and a light supper after which they retired.