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.

Clear day but cold. I generally spend an hour of my morning in making a catalogue of my new coins. Went to Market and from thence to the Office where I passed some time in accounts.

Received a revised proof of my pamphlet and Mr. Walsh coming in I asked him to listen to it which he did and commented more on the style than the matter. I do not know how it is but I feel uneasy about this as I never felt before. And Mr. Walsh was so subdued in his tone as to add to my distrust. There is a prodigious delay too in getting it out.

Home. Herodotus. Afternoon, Crantz and a little of Potter’s Antiquities.1 My studies are a little too miscellaneous at present. Evening, reading to my Wife Lockhart’s Life of Scott, but the children were uneasy and I broke off early. They have all the Whooping Cough. Writing Diary.

A cold morning. I pass an hour usually in making out a catalogue of my coins and then out to the Office when my business is about sufficient to keep me employed until one. Mr. Stanwood this day brought me the Deed of the Estate which I filled up with my own name he not 362having performed his part in the engagement to redeem the houses, and returned to Mr. Appleton. This has been another vexatious business, and my pamphlet drags on shockingly. I do not admire my new publisher.

Mr. I. P. Davis stopped me to talk of a Lecture before the Historical Society and referred to the ones I had delivered at Quincy. I told him they were two and made but an imperfect sketch themselves. I proposed to him to make something out of my grandmother’s papers which he seemed to think feasible and requested me to prepare something for January. Thus my hands are full of literary projects.

Home. Herodotus. Afternoon, Crantz and the book on Medals. Evening quiet, reading Lockhart after which I began a sketch.