Cool day. Attended divine service as usual. Evening at home.

Read part of Milman’s History of the Jews of which I have now the second volume. Attended at the Church in Chauncy Place and heard Dr. Gray preach both parts of the day. Morning from Colossians 3. 1. “Seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Afternoon from Matthew 7. 1 and 2. “Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.” Dr. Gray is not very interesting and even if he was my mind is in such a state as to prevent my giving him much deliberate attention.

Read a Sermon in the English Preacher, by Tillotson. Titus 3. 2. “Speak evil of no man.” The best discourse of his which I have read. Thus passed the day rapidly enough. The evening spent at home. Nothing of interest.

Day pleasant. Morning spent at the sale of South Cove lands. Afternoon at home. Evening, Mr. Lawrence.

My time during the morning was taken up by the attendance upon the sale of the South Cove lands. This is a matter into which I have gone with a hope that it may benefit my children, although originally merely drawn in upon a point of honour. I purchased a number of the lots on the judgment of Mr. Nathl. Curtis and my own. The sale generally went off well, I thought and may enable the company to get clear of it’s difficulties provided they will not incur any more. This is the rub.

Afternoon Life of Burr. Evening Mr. Abbott Lawrence came in to see my father who was out. Talk about indifferent matters. Continue work.

Day cloudy. Office as usual. Afternoon and evening at home.

I passed the morning in endeavouring to fill up the arrears of my Diary which are now constantly going on. I was also occupied in Accounts. Mr. Buckingham publishes this morning another number of my papers which are treated like all the rest. A little casual talk in private circles but not a whisper about them in the press. I have done my best with these and if they make no sensation will do no more. Exertion can scarcely go farther. Not that it has not produced some result, but it is so gradual as scarcely to be perceptible.

Home. Afternoon, reading the Life of Aaron Burr. Curious and on the whole more interesting than I could have expected. Evening quietly at home. Nothing of interest. Tried to write another paper but found myself dull.

Clear day but cool. Morning to Quincy. Return to dinner. Evening at home.

Immediately after breakfast, my father accompanied me to Quincy. 144After an hour’s stay at the house where every thing looked cheerless enough we went down to Mount Wollaston on the reference as to bounds which had been agreed upon. Mr. French came late but the Surveyor and other parties were present and we proceeded. No more vexatious affair could occur. The whole thing was cheerless in the extreme, and I was glad to hurry off my father to make good his engagement to dine at Governor Everett’s. As it was, we did not get there until half an hour after the time. No body present but the various members of the family and I. P. Davis. The dinner was pleasant and we stayed late. My father then went to a club and I stayed at home. Difficulty again in writing.