Fine morning. I was not very usefully employed, although not at my house as much as common. Read the greater part of the pamphlet 318upon Texas which gives the substance of the whole matter. Went down to Mr. Daniel Greenleaf’s Wharf to fish for an hour by way of relaxation, but I caught not enough to remain. Afternoon passed much in the same general way. Nothing but Texas today. The case is a more striking one than even I had supposed. We must try and work it up into something good.

Evening at Mr Miller’s whither the ladies of the family had gone. Only Mrs. T. B. Adams and her family, with Mr. Price Greenleaf besides. Heard of the death of poor Frances Beale who has gone since we first came out to Quincy this summer, in a very rapid consumption. She was as lovely a flower as one could expect to meet but almost marked beforehand, by the delicacy of her frame. I continued my paper upon the currency.

A succession of cold and clear days with the wind prevailing from the East and North. I was at the House part of the time and then walked over the hill to observe the progress of my neighbour Bass who is about to build upon his ground. At the top of the hill my attention much attracted by the novel appearance of workmen at the Quarry leased by Chadwick. I was induced to go down and found him at work in earnest. This was a surprise to me as every thing else seemed deserted.

Home where my attention was attracted to the disorder of my father’s study and I set in operation a thorough retrenchment and reform but it consumed the whole morning. Afternoon, I went out to ride and took my boy John with me. Went by Milton, turning home by Dr. Codman’s Meeting House.1

The evenings grow so cold that I find it rather trying to sit in the study. I lounged away over Lady Montague’s letters an hour. Then to bed, but not to sleep, for my wife was unwell for an hour, and just as she became relieved, the town bell rung the alarm for fire, which proved to be the house and shop of Mr. Littlefield not far from us. I went to offer relief as is necessary in a town where every man is of importance but there was not any thing to be done. The shops, and house were entirely on fire and the stable directly behind it could not be saved. Luckily, the wind was Southerly and carried the sparks clear of other buildings. I returned home when I found nothing could be done.