At last a perfectly bright, clear day, with wind at the North west and some promise of a continuance. The men began to put the shingles on the roof today and this once done, they will be able to go on with their work inside without much interruption from weather. I waited for Mr. Ayer who came at last and gave me an account of his loss as well as mine. Fortunately he is insured upon his tools which breaks the blow upon him, although he says he had stock and work amounting to about as much more than the insurance. My doors were taken out the day before, so that I lose only the shafts of the columns, and the fixtures for the folding doors &ca. Upon this I must congratulate myself.

Went over to the quarries and took a return from Dutton of both quarries worked by them. Then to Mr. Brigham’s where I settled for another canal Note. He says the payment of the Assessment is very slow and he fears some of the Shares must be advertised. Then to the Canal Wharf about materials, in getting which there appears to be no end.

Home late, and wrote for an hour. After dinner, took my Wife to ride, and to pay a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Seaver at their place. Found the house easily and them at home. It is quite a handsome place. But there is something about him I do not greatly admire. And I was glad 252to get home. We rode round by Milton Hill home. A beautiful ride. Evening at home. Tocqueville.

Beautiful morning. Went up to the House to give some directions and almost lost my breakfast being detained by Martin the Stone cutter who came at my desire to contract for some work. He seemed willing to do it for almost anything. And it is a tolerable evidence of the times that he contracts to do work for just one half what it cost me last season. I had not time to finish with him, but took a hasty breakfast and then to town.

My time much taken up in various commissions about town. Conversation with Mr. Everett. He still seems to hang upon the Government. Well, this is perhaps as well as any thing. I see no path through the briars and am therefore making up my mind to act without reference to them.

Home to dinner, then to the House where they go on vigorously. Mrs. Frothingham and Mrs. Everett with some of their children came out today, and took tea. There were also other visitors. So that I did nothing and in the evening felt so much fatigued that I retired early.

Morning very warm with the sun quite scorching and altogether the most summerlike day we have had. I went to the House and found them making very good progress in the various parts of it, but the expense of the undertaking somewhat alarms me. I began upon a scale of very great modesty, have resisted every proposition to increase expense as well as every idea of ornament and nevertheless here am I in a state of some uneasiness from overrunning my means. My only way is to meet it at once by a reduction of my capital which I shall do. I should not have had any occasion to have resorted to this if it had not been for the loss which I have experienced in my income by the state of the times.

Home where I was writing for an hour or two. Then Homer. Afternoon, visitors to my Wife, Mr. and Mrs. Lunt. We then took a ride, the country in a state of extraordinary beauty the result of the late warm days. Home. Read Wieland. Miss Smith came from town to spend a few days with us. Evening conversation, and Tocqueville. Somewhat fatigued.