Morning pleasant but with a remarkably smoky atmosphere which seemed very much to intercept the rays of the sun. I amused myself reading Miss Martineau. Her descriptions of scenery and manners form the most pleasing part of her work. You do not so often have occasion to notice the person who is speaking, to think that she is deaf, opinionated and conceited and has the restless character of mind pe-267culiar to women who think themselves profound. She thinks women should participate in politics, which they are now doing extensively in this country, somewhat, as I suspect at her instigation. Slavery is the great topic for her to enlarge upon.

Attended divine service and heard Mr. Lunt from Matthew 22. 30. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven,” and in the afternoon from Romans. 4. 18. “who against hope, believed in hope,” but as usual when I get out here I lose all possible control over my mind. Country life has its pleasures and advantages but one of the difficulties is it’s tendency to unsettle the thoughts.

Mr. Degrand was here in the afternoon. I read a sermon of Sterne’s from Job 2. 10. “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil also?” An endeavor at explanation of the passage that gives rise to this answer, and then a view of the heathen philosophy of consolation under adversity, contrasted with the maxims of religion—a good discourse. Evening walked with the ladies of the family to see Mrs. Adams. Found Mrs. Angier and several others. Indeed a roomfull. Home shortly after nine.

A pleasant day with the same hazy atmosphere we had yesterday but quite warm. I went to town for the purpose of attending to my glass about which there has been so much difficulty. I procured a part but not the whole, and it took me much time to get that. Various commissions and attention to accounts took up the rest of my time. Returned.

Afternoon at my house, where I found them pretty actively at work. The masons have commenced the plaster work inside and the carpenters the covering outside, both which bring about results.

Finished reading Miss Martineau’s first volume. I do not think much of her judgment, or her powers. It appears to me that a great mistake has been committed in exalting her much. She writes very prettily and occasionally with much good sense. Upon the leading topic of her book, Slavery, she says much that is wise and more that is foolish. Evening, Mrs. Angier, E. C. Adams and Miss Miller were here.

A third day with the peculiar atmosphere already noticed. It terminated however upon this day in a short rain. I passed some time as usual in superintending at my house, and after a walk round the com-268mons where I was struck with the contrast between this year and the last, went home. Not a soul working upon either of the three quarries that were opened with so much promise during the last season. Thus it seems in this country that intermittents are our natural diseases.1

Read Homer, and attempted to dig a little deeper into the mines of the Greek language. But the process is not easy. Made a draft of a portion of the work I wish done for my fence which took me some time but satisfied me when done.

Afternoon owing to the rain I was driven home, and passed the time reading Humboldt and Wieland’s Abderites. Lawsuits and factions are both the subjects of his satire, and well they may be. Evening, conversation with my Mother who seemed better and the rest of the family.