The day was cold with a North East wind and drizzle, which is another alternation of the temperature in a short space of time. I went to town and found myself having very little leisure. At the Office, a succession of persons. Mr. Walsh, Mr. N. Curtis, Mr. William Spear and a man by the name of Hartwell whom he brought with him about digging a well for me. Mr. Ayer also called and promised to furnish me the statements he was making next week on Tuesday. Hartwell who has now an abundance of employment and can find no time to do my work also engaged to answer on Tuesday. I had also a good deal of money to draw and pay out, besides purchasing a bill on France to transmit to Mr. Johnson his Quarter’s Income, and despatching a letter to go by the New York and Havre Packet of the 14th.1 I thus was fully engaged until the time for returning home.

At dinner today, Mr. and Mrs. Lunt, Elizabeth C. Adams, Mrs. Adams, Miss Smith and Joseph H. Adams. A sort of notice of the birth day of Mrs. J. Adams and her daughter Fanny. The one is thirty and 91the other six.2 Time passes over our heads with much rapidity now. My next birthday will count the same number. After dinner Mr. and Mrs. Lunt spent the afternoon. Conversation various but not very interesting. They went at dusk, and we played afterwards a game at Whist, that is Miss Smith, Miss Adams, Mrs. J. Adams and myself. The two former returned home at eight after which my evening occupation as usual. Looking into Loudon.

The wind was Southerly and the weather was warm again. I passed the morning in a variety of occupations, principally connected with my MS duties, which must be accellerated. I am sensible I go on lazily and will hereafter do better. These papers ought all to be put in order before I leave the House and now barely six weeks of the Season are left, during which I shall have much attention to give to other matters.

Attended divine service and heard Mr. Putnam of Roxbury from Luke 16. 10. “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much.” Upon the attention due to the lesser duties in life, and I. John 4. 16. “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love.” I think I have heard both these discourses at Mr. Frothingham’s, but will not be sure. Mr. Putnam is generally a sensible preacher and perhaps stands as well as any body of his age in his profession. He dined with us as did also Miss Smith and Eliz. C. Adams.

I read in the afternoon a discourse of Dr. Barrow upon the proof of a God from supernatural effects. John 5. 17. “But Jesus answered them, My Father hitherto worketh and I work.” He considers these effects as having been shown in two ways—first, by causes acting against or above the course of nature—second, those which cross the stream of human affairs. He relies for his proof, upon the concurrent evidence of man pretty much as in a former one. And upon a special providence which has even less of authority in its support and yet my own mind has always impelled me to adopt the idea very much in the manner in which it is here noted. Parts of this discourse struck me much though as a whole perhaps inferior. Evening at home very quietly. Nothing of note.