A very sharp morning. The cold this year sets in early. I went to the Office where I was busy for some time in Accounts. Read a little of Sismondi and began a letter to my Mother but had not time to finish it. These are now the shortest days of the year and short indeed they are. Home after wasting an hour at a bookstore looking at books which I do not want.

Finished the seventh book of Herodotus being the last of the two books which are studied at Cambridge and which therefore I wished to 366look over. The latter is easy and I well recollected it but the former presented some as embarrassing Greek as I have read lately.

Afternoon so short that I had little time to devote it to any thing. Selected a few more letters. Evening at home. Read Lockhart to my Wife and afterwards made a remodel of my commencement for my proposed Lecture. But my time is so cut up I must make a new arrangement.

Very cold for the season. I went to the Office. Carried to the publisher my last revised sheet of my pamphlet. If this has not been a good exercise of patience, then am I unacquainted with that virtue. Finished my letter to my Mother and sent it.1 Mr. Walsh came in for a moment. He is on his road to New York to join his vessel and I bid him Goodbye although he announced his intention to come back. Nothing particular.

Home to read Herodotus but interrupted by a visit from Edward Brooks and his Wife who wished to see my cabinet.2 Afternoon short. Looked over my Letters and selected the rest of those coming within my plan.

Evening, went to a concert at Boylston Hall. Madame Caradori, a German prima donna who has come out to America to make money.3 Quite a full house. She sung one specimen of the National music of every Country. One Italian of Rossini, Una voce poco fa, very well, one English, Angels ever bright and fair of Handel, a french, a german and a scotch one. She executes with very great neatness and simplicity all her difficult passages, but her voice wants volume. On the whole an agreeable without being a very great singer. Walked home. Very cold.

The cold yielded this morning and we had a very fine day. I went to the Office but did not occupy myself very usefully. Mr. I. P. Davis called to ask if I could prepare my Lecture for Tuesday week. This is very short notice and I have been so much worried about selections I do not know what to say. He said he would call to know my decision on Monday as there would be no vacancy again until February.

Called in to see T. K. Davis. Conversation with him about Edmund Quincy who it seems has come out a warm abolitionist, his letter being published in the Liberator and he having made a speech last evening. Dr. Channing has also written a letter which is in the same paper.1 I sent for it.

Herodotus. My pamphlet did not come out as it had been promised. Afternoon, I began to reduce my Lecture into shape. Read Dr. Channing’s Letter which appears to me to be sensible and moderate, but he falls short of being a good political leader for he wants the insensibility to acute moral discrimination. I wish I could be an entire Abolitionist but it is impossible. My mind will not come down to the point.

Mr. Brooks here in the evening for an hour after which I finished the second volume of Lockhart and tied up the latter part of my proposed Lecture.