A mild, southerly wind with a warm day. The family is in much disorder from the illness of my Mother and two of the servants at the same time. My first interruption was from two of the men, Hezekiah Martin and Emery, Lessees of the ledge near the railway who wished to know about my work. I had a long conversation with them and fi-113nally agreed with them for all the hammered work. Thus I have nearly completed all my contracts, and nothing remains this season but to attend to the delivery of the lumber and the execution of the remainder of the contemplated work. This will however take up with the remainder of the month.

Having finished with them, I returned to the study and read a portion of Livy’s thirtieth book down to the supposed conference between Hannibal and Scipio previous to the battle of Zama. I say supposed because the language put into Hannibal’s mouth does not reconcile itself at all to my idea of his character. I then walked round as usual to see the Quarries and compared the several products. I find Colburn’s is not so deep a color as either Bass’s or the Railway. But the shade is of secondary importance compared with the clearness.

Afternoon, assorting letters, a work which I do at intervals and slowly but it goes on and furnishes me with much valuable minute information. Evening went to our neighbour, G. Beale’s, a Quincy party of the usual character. Whist and a light supper and then home.

A lovely morning as I ever saw in this climate and not much in character with the advanced state of the season. I rode to town and was fully occupied during the time I was there. A. H. Everett came to me and made an application for a loan of a hundred dollars. He has within a day or two been engaged in a scuffle with one of his opponents not much to his credit. And now I suppose he needs money to keep him up until the election. The application did not surprise me, and from having foreseen the probability of it I was more fully enabled to act at once. My disposition to aid Mr. Everett is considerable. I am willing to let him have the Office he occupies without asking him for rent, and also to write Addresses for him to aid his Election to a responsible Office at a critical moment of his life, but money for him to squander in the thoughtless manner he has heretofore done is neither within my duty or inclination to furnish him. I was enabled to decline the more quietly as I am myself at this time in need of all my funds to meet the extraordinary expense incurred by my building project.

Went to the House to give directions there, thence on an expedition to pay certain Accounts now open and to see Ayer, the carpenter. He called, as did two or three others, after I had returned to my Office, and they consumed the remainder of the time. Home. Afternoon upon the hill superintending the disposition of the trees. My cellar goes on 114slowly. Evening quiet at home. My Mother is better today though still not up. Conversation with my father upon the news from Pennsylvania which appears conclusive as to the Presidential question.1