After visiting my site where the diggers had made six feet progress in the well, I went in the Carriage to town, with Mary and Elizabeth C. Adams and the little daughter of the former, Fanny, who were on their 98way to Medford to pay a visit to Mrs. Angier. We stopped at Mrs. Frothingham’s where I left them and went to the Office, but I found for once I had nothing to do. My duties here appear to be pretty well performed and I have a recess of ten days when they begin again. I returned in the Carriage alone shortly after one. The afternoon was passed partly at my site, partly in rambling over the hills with my father and Mr. Price Greenleaf, partly in a very agreeable bath. Evening quietly at home.

A cooler day with an easterly wind. I remained at home and spent my time as I usually do. I go up the hill to oversee what is doing occasionally and then home again. They go on digging without any immediate prospect of finding a well. A hardbound clay and gravel. They also work on the cellar and I have set Toohey to taking care of the soil removed from it.

I continue my Livy and my father has lately given me an extra job in making a copy of his Eulogy. Thus I have little or no time for the work on the manuscripts which I had intended to push this year. Mr. and Mrs. Cruft called here, also J. H. Foster and his Wife whom I did not see. Afternoon passed pretty much as I have described. Evening at home. Backgammon with my Mother and writing to a late hour.

A clear and warm morning again. My time spent much as usual. I had made an engagement with Mr. Johnson who is the Agent of the Railway Company to call for me to go and see the land for which they have been applying for some time past. But he did not come. I read my usual quantity of Livy, containing the account of Scipio’s mode of suppressing the mutiny of the troops in Spain, and wrote an article criticising the Whig State Address.

The workmen still go on with their work but as yet find no water. Mr. Spear’s men were clearing the ground of rocks today. As I was standing there Mr. Hardwick came along and made an application to try the rocks on the lower end of the Farm not far from where Dutton has gone. I told him he might try. Accordingly when I went over in the afternoon I found that he and his men were hard at work although there was not much of promise in the appearance of the rock. I called 99also at Colburn’s ledge and took an account. They are very much encouraged here. My father walked over the ground with me.

Evening at home. Mrs. T. B. Adams and L. C. Smith dined and spent the evening in cards. My boy John Quincy this day three years old. Not so well as he commonly is, but I have reason to be grateful for his preservation thus far.