Morning very clear and pleasant but it clouded up at night. I remained at home, walking up into the town on certain commissions, and then round by the quarries which are deserted, home. At the house, superintending the outside work which is in progress. The remainder of my morning passed in reading Homer, which certainly becomes easier. I find that I have still much to learn, but the Port Royal Grammar is a mine of information.

Afternoon, Humboldt and Lessing’s Laocoon which I barely com-282menced. The first, difficult to remember. I am perhaps more particular than most persons about an apparatus of study. I cannot do so well if I have not the assistances within my reach, which is much the case at home but not here. Evening the ladies walked up to the House, and back. The results are now daily becoming more visible and I am satisfied with every thing but the expense. Conversation with my father. Politics and Banking.

A very pleasant summer’s day with air enough to keep the temperature down. I was at my house much of the morning superintending and directing the external work which is now going on rapidly to completion. And the second story is almost done also, the men being engaged in laying the floors.

At noon I went down to join my father and ride to Squantum, my Wife and Mary having gone first in a hired vehicle. It was a Quincy party such as we have had once or twice in former years.1 Mr. Miller and his family, Mr. Beale and his family, Mr. Lunt with his father and brother and their families, Mr. T. Greenleaf, his Wife and daughter, Mr. Wales of Boston and the lady he is engaged to, Dr. Woodward, J. H. Foster and J. Q. Adams. This made a large table. We had the usual dinner and much the usual entertainment. I was tired of it early and made a move to come home which succeeded.

Evening at home. The great want here is a want of cultivated society and this I am afraid is increasing throughout the country instead of diminishing.

Pleasant day. I went to town and first to my House where I was very busily occupied in copying my letter to Mr. Hallett which he has never taken the least notice of. I feel very unwilling to push the matter against him, and yet see hardly any other alternative. He has driven so violently against a wall that there is no rescue for him and his act depresses those who have gone with him. If he perseveres in this plan of silence, I must publish in another form.

To the Office where I had visits from Mr. N. Curtis about the affairs of Mr. Boylston, and Mr. Sayer who is making my furniture. And I went about on commissions. Thus passed the morning. Home to Quincy.

Afternoon at the House as usual. Regretted deeply to hear of the death of a poor man here who in assisting the mason to set the last steps at my house last Friday trod upon a nail which went into his foot. He paid no attention to it and continued work until the day before yesterday when symptoms of lockjaw appeared, and he died today. There is something particularly unpleasant in accidents of this nature as connected with work upon a House and it would seem as if there had been many of them since my undertaking. I felt depressed by it although I had hardly seen the man and did not know he was employed there. Evening, the ladies went over to Mr. Beale’s, but came home shortly. Conversation.