Snowy day. After a little reading of coins, I attended divine service and heard Mr. Frothingham in the morning from Matthew 23. 23. “These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” A discourse upon the duties of Christians, not merely of the weighty sort but of that more retired and less noisy kind in which moderation finds its source. I thought the discourse had an evident bearing upon the questions which now come up so thick in connexion with the great subject of slavery. There is much in connexion with that deserving of profound consideration. The line between duty and fear.

Mr. Walsh dined with me. Afternoon, Mr. Ripley. Hebrews 1. 14. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Mr. Ripley is so very dull a preacher that it is altogether out of my power to attend to him.

Afternoon, a discourse of Sterne. Ecclesiastes 12. 13. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” A review of the arguments of this book, and of the folly of resting upon any source of hap-360piness in this world not connected with the preparation for the next. Evening at home. T. K. Davis came in for an hour, the remainder of the evening alone. Crantz.

Cloudy with a gently falling snow. I went to the Office where I was occupied with accounts. Received a letter from my Mother inclosing my biography with which she appears tolerably well pleased.1 Nothing further material.

Home, to read Herodotus with whom I am now making very good progress. The Greek language is perhaps as remarkable for it’s great difficulty of ellipses as for any thing. The syntax is half of it supplied by implication. Afternoon, reading Crantz with whose book I feel much interested. I find my lectures so superficial that I am glad I have had no occasion to deliver them uncorrected. What is knowledge among us but to be the least ignorant.

Evening, my Wife had some of her two sister’s children, to come and play Loto at which I assisted to teach them the game according to my way of playing it. After it was over, Mr. Frothingham and Governor Everett came in and we had a light supper for them all.

This was the day of the Mayor’s election. Mr. Eliot was opposed upon many grounds, but principally for his action against the fire department, which is perhaps the best measure he has taken. I voted against him with reluctance from a conviction that his paper of reasons for refusing Faneuil Hall showed him to be anti-republican in his principles. After they had gone, I corrected the proof of two sheets of my pamphlet.

Fine day. The snow has fallen very level and the country makes a very fine winter appearance. At Office, where I had visitors, first Mr. E. Whiting with the balance of his account, adjusted by me forthwith. There are now no more heavy accounts in connexion with that house, but it cannot be denied, it has imposed upon me a heavy temporary burden, made worse by the failure in my income. However, even with all this, I am so much better off than my neighbours that I must make no sort of complaint. Mr. Kirk and his Wife also came in, and with 361them I completed the payment of the summer’s wages and thus settled that affair.

The condition of our currency is such that I am glad at least to get released from any of my liabilities. No Summer could have disappointed me more in the command of my resources but it is over and I am nearly through. This consumed my time until my return, when I read Herodotus as usual. Afternoon reading Crantz. This appears to be a kind of compilation from the various works upon Greenland and put under the name of the principal author.

Miss H. Miller took tea and passed the evening with my Wife. I went to a ball and Supper at Mr. Eliot’s the Mayor’s. Quite a showy affair at which most of those who claim to be of good society were present. I renewed my acquaintance with almost every person I could, and thus managed to pass quite a pleasant evening. Home late, having been imprudent enough to drink a cup of strong coffee which kept me awake for hours.