The morning opened cloudy and it soon began to rain which lasted all the day more heavily than ever. The season is remarkable for coldness and rain, and this is very bad for me inasmuch as my house suf-248fers thereby. I went up to it to see the man who was putting the Pump in, but he was soon obliged to desist from work, and I had rather a bad time getting home.

Occupied myself reading Tocqueville and Wielands History of the Abderites1 as well as some of the third book of Homer. After the excitement and exhaustion of last week and the turmoil in which we have been kept it is refreshing to get into a quiet, retired place and dwell in antiquity and beautiful pictures. I enjoy it as a relief from anxieties both public and private. The day passed without further comment.

Morning clear and somewhat pleasant. I rode to town and found the roads in as bad condition as they commonly are in March. Office. My principal business in town was about money. The payments for rent &ca. are so slight that I am entirely without means, and I therefore concluded to resort to a Bank and make a loan which I accordingly did. The President was very accommodating and I thus obtained means to get rid of all my principal debts remaining for Acct. of the House. This was a great relief. The remainder of my time was passed in executing Commissions of various sorts, for Quincy.

Returned to dinner. Nothing new. Afternoon went up to my House. Mr. Adams was fitting in the Pump which was nearly done. This is an important thing out of the way. The workmen are now going on as rapidly as the weather will admit. But I am not fortunate in this part of the season. As I was passing over the portico, the heel of my boot caught in the joist of it, and I fell, severely straining my ancle. This sent me home pretty soon and pained me much, but I felt glad to get off with no permanent injury and learnt a lesson of caution. To bed early.

The morning was fine but the elements were visibly gathering for another storm. I felt a little incommoded with my foot but not so much as I had feared and had good reason to suppose it would turn out no worse. Walked up to the House and watched the workmen in their various occupations. A great deal of work is going on at the same 249time and now our only trouble is the weather. After being there long enough for directions I returned and wrote Diary besides studying Homer. It is refreshing to me to be out of the turmoil of the city and to have my mornings, the most valuable part of my day, to myself.

Afternoon, I took my Wife out a little way to ride but she complaining of the cold I left her at Mrs. Adams’ and after going to Quincy point returned to superintend the removal of one or two trees. The rain came on as we were finishing, and Mr. Persico and another gentleman came out to see my father,1 who was not at that moment at home, so I was obliged to entertain them, then to go for my Wife who had already come down in Mr. Miller’s carriage. Evening quietly at home. Conversation and reading Tocqueville.