A fine day. I went to town, and first with Mr. Hayford to the House in Hancock Street to direct the repairs which should be made, then back when I was engaged in Accounts and one or two commissions.

There were accounts from Europe which excited some interest today, the account of the effect produced by the news of our general Suspension, of the difficulties of the house of Welles in Paris, and of the death of the King of England and the accession of the Queen, Victoria, a girl of eighteen years old.1 How Mr. Johnson will make out, I do not know.

Called upon Mr. Brooks for half an hour and had one or two visitors, then returned to Quincy. After dinner, at the house where they are slowly making progress. The upper story is nearly completed, and the masons are still hanging upon the parlours. I found Mr. Spear fitting in the last of the fence stone and directed Kirk to fill with earth. These are indications of my arriving at the end. Not much time to read. E. C. Adams and Miss Smith were here at tea and passed the evening. Afterwards, I copied for my father.

Day fine. I passed it much as usual. Read about seventy lines of Homer, and spent some time in examining a book called the Planter’s Guide by Sir Henry Steuart.1 This gentleman has been very successful in forming wood round his place in Scotland by moving trees twenty five and thirty feet high. His book is useful on other accounts to a planter as giving the results of experience of soil, of exposure and of treatment.

Afternoon, assisted and directed Mr. Kirk in sodding the ends of my bank wall which was done as it appeared to me very satisfactorily. The carpenters now weary my patience and as I have nothing left to do while they are there making lumber and litter, I set Kirk to digging and trenching the belt of trees on the South west side of the lot. This will be good as a preparation. Home quite fatigued.

The ladies had some friends to tea,2 Mrs. Miller and Mr. J. Quincy with Mrs. Apthorp. Mr. and Mrs. E. Miller and daughter with Mrs. Nicolson and Miss Mansfield, Mrs. P. Foster, Mrs. Adams, Elizabeth, J: Q. and John H. Foster. The time passed heavily, there being nothing 286to amuse the company with. It is not easy to entertain and for my part on the footing it is now carried on, it is not worth the trouble. I was so fatigued that after a little writing, I was glad to get to bed.