Morning very warm with a thunder shower at noon. I remained at home, making a visit to superintend my House twice in the course of the morning. They get on fast now. But the rate of expense continues to make me uneasy. I am obliged to keep a constant check upon Mr. Ayer.

Home, where I wrote for an hour until I was much fatigued. I do not know whether I am quite equal to what I have undertaken. Read Homer. Afternoon, Plutarch and Wieland.

My occupations here are but varieties of study, yet they are a relief to me from the anxieties of life—the stretching and reaching, the fighting and lying, the envyings and contentions. I look forward with some hope to the moment when having the command of my own conveniencies for study, I shall be enabled to enjoy myself more fully.

Took a ride, with my Wife through Braintree and Weymouth. A little snug kind of a byroad which seems as if it was quite out of the world. Evening up to Mrs. T. B. Adams’. Found there Mr. and Mrs. Angier, Miss Miller, and Mr. Miller and several children of Mr. A’s school. My father and Wife and Miss Smith soon afterwards came in from a visit to Mr. John Greenleaf’s. We sat some time, and talked nothings, after which, home where I read some of de Tocqueville.

Morning clear and very warm. I went to town, accompanied by my Wife. My time very much taken up in various commissions I was obliged to execute. In the first place, I went down about my glass for most of which I contracted at what I thought was rather an advantageous rate. I then went to the House, to Miss Oliver’s and to see Mr. Storm the Engraver about the pictures of my Grandmother and Mother which he is engraving.1 Thus went much of my morning. The rest was taken up in a disputation about rent with Mr. Ladd. He has held me out of a quarter’s rent for more than three months and now has brought me two or three long bills in way of sett off. I am very tired of having him for a Tenant, so I treat him with less ceremony than I should otherwise do. After finishing with him, I went over to the Office of Mr. Brooks and sat with him sometime, which made me a little later than usual at Quincy.

Afternoon at the House inspecting. They go on better since the dry weather, and I think in the course of five or six weeks they could now get through the main body of the work. Read a little of Plutarch and 254Homer. My Greek is getting to be rather a fancy. And I am gaining through the Port Royal Grammar much more insight into the language. Evening to see Mr. Daniel Greenleaf who is sick. Found him and his Wife alone and the former suffering much from a cough. Home soon. Evening, Tocqueville.