Warm and cloudy. Morning to town. Afternoon reading and evening at the Mansion.

I went to the City to perform the duties in which I failed yesterday and at last set in proper train the work for one of my houses. These visits are fatiguing and dispiriting. On my return I read Lucretius 1. 825–930, and some of Bayle’s letters. Deacon Spear interrupted me by a call on business.

My pleasure is mainly in the hours of literary occupation, varied in a degree by domestic and social relations. Evening is generally devoted to this at the other house. The political accounts from Maine this morning are rather favorable to the Administration.1 Such are the fluctuations of popular opinion.

Heavy rain with a N. E. Wind which came on to blow very heavily at night. I remained at home all day reading.

Continued Locke’s Essay p. 162–220. The ideas of duration, expansion and number all resulting from the repetitions of a simple idea. Mr. Locke certainly explains himself clearly. His theory does not come half fledged. I also continued Lessing enquiry into the modes in which death was represented by the ancients. p. 198 of volume 10 of his works. There is a sharp controversial tone which takes off in my mind from the merit of this work. A theory especially requires moderation to sustain it, particularly one in a study admitted to be very uncertain. Lucretius to the end of the second book. A few letters of Bayle, a portion of Grimm and a tale of Hamilton finished the evening.

Rain fell heavily but calm in the morning but it cleared at noon. At home all day, reading and working. Dined at the Mansion.

Continued Locke’s Essay, Chapter on power. p. 220–252. A difficult topic not very satisfactorily developed. The famous question of liberty and necessity rather evaded than met. The title itself, power does not appear to me to express any very distinct idea.

Finished Lessing’s Essay. Very ingenious and in portions almost convincing. Death as a skeleton certainly is in it’s analogy more Gothic than Grecian. Yet it is a natural idea and was unquestionably adopted in some shape by Lessing’s admission. Lucretius Book 3. 1–136. The work on my ground took some time. Evening passed at the Mansion.

Fine day. Morning in town. Afternoon reading and work. Evening, a visit at Mrs. T. B. Adams’s.

After reaching town I thought I would call at the State house for the purpose of returning to Mr. Felt the lecture I had borrowed, and look into my own house. Upon opening my inner entry door I found the parlour door which I had left locked was open, and was not long in convincing myself afterwards that the house had been forcibly entered. My precautions respecting the plate and the jewels of my Wife had not 110proved useless for I found the doors of the chambers forced like those of the parlour, and my Wifes draws1 in which they were kept thoroughly ransacked. But the plunderers did not seem in quest of silver for they had left some pieces which I did not think to take with me. In my study they examined two or three draws and left the remainder untouched. My Cabinet they did not touch nor the sideboard. They appear to have entered in the cellar although I could not ascertain precisely where. On the whole, from the very cursory examination which I could make, I felt tolerably well satisfied with the result and my first sensations degenerated into mere surprise. I called at Mrs. Frothingham’s to tell her and thence to the Office in Accounts.

Mrs. Smith and Mary dined with us, who with my Wife were startled by the information. Lucretius. b. 3, l. 136–258, and some time at work on my trees. Mr. and Mrs. Miller and Mr. Beale were at Mrs. Adams’s.