A cold and clear morning. I went to town in the Carriage with the ladies, my wife, Mrs. John Adams and Elizabeth. I left the first at the House, where all the improvements have been made and prove really beneficial. Then to the office where I passed my time in Accounts and also occasionally performing commissions. Mr. Walsh came in and we 118had a talk upon politics which look at present about as we would have them. I saw A. H. Everett for a few moments and Mr. Brooks also, but the days grow shorter and shorter.

Returned in the Carriage with Mary sick. Afternoon out upon the hill where my men go on with excessive slowness. I must awaken them. Then to the Quarries. Colburn showed me two of the posts he has got out. They will do although not the very best in shape. He has also got nearly all the underpinning to the House which as it comes from the same piece of stone will probably be uniform.

Home. Evening, almost all the family having retired or being otherwise occupied I read Goguet, and passed an hour in assorting papers.

The first morning that gives us a token of the advanced state of the season. I was actively employed all day in superintending the removal of some large trees, which have been suffered to remain in the Nursery too long, to my place. The work was by no means a trifling one, and at one time I had all the assistance in the House. I succeeded in placing eight on the South West side of my lot which will extend northward so far as to break the force, I hope, of the North west wind upon the House. I propose to intersperse firs and pines and other trees of thicker undergrowth.

My cellar goes on slowly but the delivery of lumber has stopped entirely. On the other hand Dutton came with two of the Posts from their Quarry which I did not desire delivered until next May. I called at their place and took an account of their stone for the past fortnight during which their business has increased. Called also at Hardwick’s where they are actively at work, and left for him an agreement I had drawn up which he agreed to sign some time ago. Nothing further of importance. Evening at home. Cards. Mr. Beale came and I gave up my place and sat out.

A very mild and pleasant day reminding us of June rather than October. I passed much time in assorting MS. papers, and am happy today to see so far as my grandmother’s letters are concerned, a termination. I think I shall be able to complete them before the day of my return to town which draws on apace.

Attended divine service all day and heard Mr. Lunt preach from 1. 119Thessalonians. 1. 5. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power.” A discourse upon the progress of the Christian Religion, quite sensible but not so interesting as many of those I have heard. The truth is that little of new can be said either upon the instruments or the means through which the Deity thought fit to communicate his will. Afternoon John 1. 46. “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” I had not been able to secure my nap and therefore lost most of the discourse.

Read a Sermon of Dr. Barrow’s upon the same subject and text with those read the two last Sundays and treating most especially of the imperfection of the Jewish system, all which is no doubt true. Evening quiet at home. Conversation with my father who appears not well.