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.

Spent the day at home, part of it in giving general directions respecting the disposal of trees, this being the season for transplanting, and part of it in reading the narrative of Ross’s voyage to the Northwest.1 This is the last of the series and is a curious production, it has eloquent passages and yet the general tone is far from good. It detracts from the merits of Parry who certainly deserved his honors, and this in an illiberal ungenerous way which would always displease independent of the mere repining at all things with which the book is full. On the whole, Parry is the prince of navigators. At the same time it is fair to add that there is a very good religious temper so far as his grievances allow, and a general encouragement of correct notions in life. I do little or nothing else now but follow this track and attend to my house affairs. These together are anxiety enough. Evening I now reserve very much to myself. And this enables me to space more easily for other purposes the hours of the day.

A fine day although cool. Morning I hear the children read a portion of the bible which takes much time before the service. Dr. Gray of Roxbury preached from Proverbs 25. 28. “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.” And from 2. Timothy 5. 22. “Neither be partaker of other men’s sins.” Dr. Gray is very clever but very common place. Many men could write worse sermons and make them at least to me far more interesting. The hour had been changed today and I was belated.

Read a discourse of Sterne’s upon the course of the world disregardful of all the warnings of religion. 2 Peter 3. 11. “Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved,—what manner of persons ought ye to 327be in all holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hastening unto the coming of God.” Sterne’s description of the manners and morals of high life in his day was no doubt correct then, but the world has changed since his time for better or worse. Morality is more fashionable and aristocracy is more democratic. Still there is however a great deal to gain in this path.

I was engaged in reading Ross’s Voyage most of the day when not otherwise occupied, but I had one interruption in a visit paid to Mr. J. Quincy with the ladies and another in a call at Mrs. T. B. Adams, to take leave of Elizabeth who goes to Fishkill to pass much of the winter,1 and of John Quincy who starts upon another long cruise.