A cold morning. I went to town in the Carriage with my Wife and Mrs. J. Adams, with the intention of finishing the work left undone before. Accordingly I regulated my Accounts and finished all other commissions enabled to get through just in time for the hour of return.

Brought with me from the Athenaeum Parry’s second and third voyages which I go on with. My afternoon is commonly very short, and employed in manual exercise at my house. To day they had finished laying the gravel upon the circular road before the door. But there is yet much to do. The evening was quite cool and I sat downstairs reading over the voyages of Parry and attempting to pick and choose.

The day was fine and a little dampness which finished in a gentle rain was productive of no disadvantage to my work. I had intermitted gravelling for one day in order to give time for more thoroughly preparing a bottom for it. This was followed up to day steadily. My day much taken up in superintendance but I managed to advance my work pretty fast. The main difficulty is that the field is too wide and there is doubt about the selection of points. Afternoon, Kirk had filled up the drain and that business was complete.

I walked over to see the progress in the new quarry and found a hole worked which made something of a show from the top of my hill. The stone is good but the seams are frequent. Home. Evening, instead of passing with the ladies, I retired to the study which gave me uninterrupted time and I profited by it.

Rather cold again. I went to town and was employed very uninterruptedly all my time. Went and collected Dividends and entered them in my accounts, paid bills, made inquiries respecting Mr. Johnson’s Mortgages, the houses being about to be sold under a settlement of Mr. Thorndike’s affairs. Mr. Brooks thinks the probability is they will not sell for much more than the Mortgages. There is reason to apprehend some difficulty from Mr. Coolidge who mingles with every thing.1 He wants to buy the Houses without an atom of property to pay for them and the object is to prevent him.

At the House to see the Masons about a furnace instead of the troublesome plan of an entry stove and additional grates. From thence to 326the house in Hancock Street to superintend the repairs. I was late out of town.

Afternoon short. The gravel carts were going all day and accomplished about two thirds of the work. I was occupied in regular labour which improves my health. Evening again devoted to my other labour which makes progress.