I went to the Auction sale of Furniture but the prices were too high for me. Then to the Office. Mr. Gibson again came in but gave way to Mr. William Spear from Quincy who came for various matters connected with Quincy interests. After dispatching his business, Mr. Paine came in, and shortly afterwards Mr. Gibson again. The first appeared to be under the operation of very strong feeling, and seemed desirous of explaining to me his reasons for the articles he had written. I was glad both were present as Gibson had evidently made representations of my opinions which to say the least of them were safer to come from myself. I explained to Paine my reasons for the opinions I had ex-202pressed at the same time absolving him from all blame. He finally concluded by admitting he had been hasty and then he inquired what he was expected to do. I told him the best thing to do was to pass over the whole matter until Mr. Hallett should come home.

Mr. Gibson remained longer. The article I furnished did not appear, and the question was what to do with it, another having shown itself in the Post containing it’s own statement of the matter of the Collectorship. I told him, I would revise the copy if sent back to me, which I did in the Afternoon. I have some suspicion this is the last piece of service I shall be called to do for the Advocate. Perhaps it will be better for me if it is. Politics are bad enough, God knows. And I am so shackled that I had better have meddled with any other topic.

Evening, I did little. Conversation with my wife who is in one of her poorly turns. Afterwards, reading Moore. This is a pleasant book because it throws into strong relief the particular features of his hero’s character. Byron was a genius under circumstances strongly adverse to a favourable development of his powers.

I stopped reading Moore this morning, as my Wife appeared to wish to have me read it aloud, and began Wraxall’s Memoirs,1 a work far more amusing than I had expected.

Attended divine service and heard Mr. Colman from the 5 Matthew 8. “Blessed are the pure in heart.” A very sensible discourse upon the duty of regulating the mind. Mr. Colman is however not a favourite with our Community on account of his restlessness of character.2

Afternoon, Dr. Ware Jr.3 from Isaiah 62. 1. “For Sion’s sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” I had never before heard this gentleman and was therefore the more anxious to do so. He preached without any written discourse and his object was to gain a contribution for the propagation of religion. He began by laying down as his basis that the safety of the public depended entirely upon the will of the majority. Upon that degree of moral and religious principle which could be disseminated, therefore, the only reliance in times of public danger could be had. He drew the distinction between moral culture and intellectual culture, showing that most of the efforts at education were directed to the latter and not the former point. He adverted to the enormous increase of the Country and to the hazards to which religion was exposed 203unless new efforts were made. He divided these into four heads—the risk from the system of voluntary worship, that from sectarian divisions in small towns, and those arising from the emigration to the West. To counteract these he thought each parish should contribute as much for the support of a missionary as it did for it’s own teaching. The discourse was ingenious but not convincing. The emigrants carry their principles with them. If they are as strong as were those of their ancestors they will effect much. If not, our labour will be in vain. The West will no doubt govern the Country. We must submit to misgovernment for fear of not having any at all.

Mr. Walsh was absent today. Read a discourse of Sterne’s today.4 Psalm 4. 6. “There be many that say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” The search after happiness exemplified by the miser, the epicurean, the philosopher, and found only with the religious man. A pretty discourse upon a text I remember hearing discussed by Mr. Greenwood. Evening out to see Mr. Brooks. R. D. Tucker, C. Brooks and W. G. with his wife.5 Home early.