We have had cold Easterly winds prevailing for some time and occasional mists. I remained at home, busy in superintending my work. The road to the house is a matter which needs not a little reflection and I am striving to make it as little expensive as possible. Today my man Kirk was at work upon it alone. He has proved himself of great value to me this year by his steadiness and attention, and has saved me much in positive economy.

I had not much time for reading, but I copied one or two letters for my father. After dinner I rode to Braintree to see Mr. B. V. French who had sent a letter to me requesting a call, in order to make inquiry about resolutions and the probability of my father’s replying to them at the meeting which has been originated in this paper in Quincy to strengthen my father upon the Texas question. Mr. Richards another Braintree gentleman was there. The intention manifestly was to get me to give a draft of the Resolutions. Upon reflection and consultation with my father I had made up my mind to decline on the ground of the importance of the expression of opinion on the part of the District being free and unbiased.1 I stated this very freely to the gentlemen who were satisfied with it. The conversation turned upon Texas and the questions connected with Slavery during which I found that Richards was an Abolitionist and that French was rather tired of his Van Burenism although not decided to give it up. He is flitting about Abolition-295ism. My main purpose in going, to get out of French an idea of Hallett’s position was however not successful. I left them and returned home with a ride. Evening, conversation with my father rather warm upon the currency.

Notwithstanding the cloudy and threatening appearance of the weather I went to town today for the purpose of doing the work I had been unable to finish on Thursday. Time divided between commissions of various sorts and Accounts at the Office, and entirely taken up, so that my principal business, the deciding upon the Tenant for Hancock Street was not done.

Home. Afternoon at the House and directing about the road. The columns are now up and give the finish to the outside appearance and the carpenter tells me he expects to be out of the House next Saturday. This sounds like relief to my ears. I like the building very well, but the anxiety about the means and the fear lest they should be exceeded is too oppressive.

Evening walk with my father to Mrs. Adams’ where the ladies had taken tea. Mrs. Angier there and the usual large family. Nothing of interest. Home in the carriage as it rained.

Morning cold and cloudy. The Easterly winds for a few days have chilled the air. I passed an hour at the Office, looking over books which have now, since the farmer’s retirement, found a resting place.1

Attended divine service and heard Mr. Lunt from Romans. 5. 4. “And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” A very beautiful Sermon upon the experience of religion illustrated in many ways. John 6. 12. “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Upon economy as discriminated from carelessness and profuseness on the one hand and parsimony on the other. This is the first practical discourse, I have heard from Mr. Lunt and was a very good one.

Read a Sermon of Sterne. Genesis 47. 9. “And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, the days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.” Jacob’s history is one of the most remarkable in the Bible, and features 296of it are touched off with great beauty and delicacy in this discourse, but there is more leniency in it than in one of Mr. Frothingham’s upon the same person. Jacob was not happy in life, perhaps he did not deserve to be but if so how came he to be the founder of a race of elect?

My little Louisa was six years old this day. She has enjoyed health somewhat improving within a few months, a circumstance of much comfort as I had been anxious about her. May she go on flourishing, if it is the will of God. Evening at home. My mother not well and in her room where we spent an hour.