I went to town today, Joseph H. Adams accompanying me. My time was as much taken up as it commonly is. I went round upon several commissions for my father and called to see Mrs. Frothingham about some arrangements respecting my man. I then went to my Office where I had a few moments talk with Mr. Walsh. Mr. Hartwell came in about my well and engaged to do it, but the main point, the when, he would not pronounce. He would see me again. Mr. Brooks also came in for a moment to inquire about Abby and leave a Note inviting her over on Friday to Medford.1 Mr. Ayer also came in to give me his account of timber to be furnished for my House. I looked it over with 93him so as to try and understand it pretty well. Thus the time passed so that I had hardly a moment for Mr. Curtis who called about some Charlestown Deeds and Mr. A. H. Everett who talked very disagreeable politics. He is an unfortunate man in being an electioneerer for himself.

Home, Joseph with me, who goes tomorrow. He told me an unpleasant thing, that a son of Mr. De Wint’s had run away and Mr. Angier under whose care he was, knew nothing of him. After dinner, with Price Greenleaf and my father over the ledges of the former’s father. We went to one owned by Mr. Richards and some others. The quantity of the material ready to be furnished of the very best quality is what surprises and exceedingly astonishes me. I wish to obtain some statistics but find it difficult. We stopped to see Price Greenleaf’s nursery and planting works, after which we reached home exceedingly tired by the day. Evening quiet.

A very warm day for so late in the Season. Immediately after breakfast, instead of going to town, I went down with Mr. Carr to see a place he calls the Coves Meadow, belonging to this farm; It is about thirteen or fourteen acres of Salt Marsh which by lying neglected ever since my grandfather’s day have suffered. He was a good farmer as every thing I see now convinces me, but my father has no vocation that way and is the worst man in the world to own mere farming land. The late rise in value of all this kind of property has had the fortunate effect of rendering the Tenants anxious to themselves improve it. Carr now offers to ditch out the salt marsh where the grass and weeds have filled up the old ditches and pay half the expense. Upon examining the premises I was satisfied the thing was needed and gave Carr the authority to go on and employ men to do it.

Home where I read my usual portion of Livy in the beginning of the twenty eighth book and then went with my father to Mr. Greenleaf’s wharf to bathe. The water was cold but pleasant. After dinner, went with William Spear to the Quarries at the Railway. My object was to see Dudley the tenant of the upper one who has been very remiss in his accounts. I met him accidentally as he was leaving the ground. He seemed aware of impending difficulty for he began in rather an impudent manner. This provoked me a good deal and we had some pretty 94warm words. However I was substantially so much in the right in my complaints of his conduct that I could hazard a little severity and he could only feel the justice of it. It was more remarkable as at the very moment he was assuming this high tone, he had favours to beg. I would not listen to them today at least and shall not at all unless he talks differently. The inconvenience arises from the position of the land and the accidental circumstance that in order to work the Quarry well, he must take the stone from one man’s land while he is himself standing upon that of another and throwing out the valueless material upon this which has not the benefit of the Quarry. Home to tea. Evening quietly. I assorted and put away most of my loose papers which kept me up late.