Warm. I went to town with my Wife. Occupied a little in Accounts but not much and found I had at last some leisure. Boston to a man who has nothing to do is a very uninteresting place. I was glad when the time came for me to call at Mrs. Frothingham’s for my Wife and drive to Medford.

We had been invited by Mr. Brooks to go on this day for the purpose of meeting the family all the members of which within reach, excepting Mrs. Edward Brooks were to be there. Sidney and his wife are making a visit, and this was the occasion of the meeting. It was more pleasant than usual as the members of the family are more separated during the summer months and it is therefore a novelty to be all together.

After dinner, there came on a shower of rain, and the various members of the family left until Mr. Brooks, Sidney and wife, and P. C. Jr. and Wife with ourselves were left alone. Pleasant conversation. In the evening, we had a thunder shower of some severity and the wind changed, turning cold and rainy. Retired early.

The day was cloudy with a north east wind and occasionally a drizzle. I much feared that a regular storm was about to set in, so I started rather early for town, leaving all our friends who had been exceedingly kind to us. Arrived in town, I found I had little to do, so after a visit at my house, and one or two commissions I had nothing left excepting to go to work drawing up accounts. The weather however looked so threatening that I thought best to start earlier than usual for Quincy which we reached quite dry some time before dinner. Afternoon, upon the hill directing and assisting Kirk in sodding on the back of the house. This was not finished before sunset. Evening, at home. I was a little fatigued.

Morning cloudy and it looked like rain but it cleared with only a trifling shower. I was engaged a part of my time in making a copy of my correspondence with Mr. Hallett. This I mean to keep in reserve to publish in case he is disposed to continue the game of delay he now appears to be playing.1

At Meeting all day where I heard in the morning a very fine discourse from Mr. Lunt from Corinthians 10. 12. “But they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.” The object seemed to be to recommend the Christian Religion through the principal effect of its doctrines, humility, particularly in this age of self confidence and presumption. The close was very eloquent. Afternoon, Romans 10. 3. “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” I failed in attention.

On our return home we had much company. Mr. Wm. Lee and a Mr. Campbell of Alabama. Mr. Quincy and his daughter Abby, J. H. Foster and Elizabeth C. Adams. I managed however to read a Sermon 288of Sterne’s upon the prodigal son. Luke 15. 13. “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all he had together, and took his journey into a far country.” He begins with some comments upon the parable and finishes with the fashion of travelling then prevalent when he wrote, with much sound sense but occasionally a levity which reminds one of the author of Tristram Shandy.