Clear and cool. Office. Afternoon at home reading and in the evening to Mrs. Gorham’s.

Morning devoted to the Office as usual. My father dined out at Mr. Bancroft’s, who did not invite me because I have not visited him. I do not like the man’s character but I suppose I ought to visit him.

Read Aaron Burr. His Wife an English woman apparently of some intellectual power. He seems to have had the art of gaining female affection perhaps because he made it a study.

Evening, a party at Mr. B. Gorham’s to the Wife of Mr. G. Gardner. Mostly Lowells and that connexion.1 Rather dull. Home early and fa-145tigued from a long walk taken in the course of the day to see my investment in lands at the South Cove.

Day cold. Ride to Quincy. Return to dinner at home with company. Evening, Concert.

At the Office and from thence to Quincy. Transacted business at the Bank and then returned directly to town accompanied by Kirk who drove the horse back from the South Boston Turnpike, where I got out and walked home. The air was very keen. Mr. Buckingham published today the sixth number of my papers and I am greatly doubtful whether it would not be most expedient here to stop.

I had to dine with me six gentlemen—Mr. Brooks, Governor Everett, Dr. Palfrey, W. Lee, Mr. Lothrop and Col. Quincy. Tolerably pleasant. After it was over, I went to a Concert to hear De Begnis, an Italian Opera Buffa singer. He was assisted by Russel and a Mrs. Franklin.1 The singing was good.

Home where I found Edmund Quincy talking with my father upon Abolitionism. It was somewhat dull to me as I thought my father’s trouble was all thrown away. Quincy like all the other persons of that stamp in this State is somewhat impracticable. He has got hold of a good principle but does not know how to use it.

Severely cold. Service all day. Reading and evening to see Mr. Brooks.

The thermometer was near zero this morning. I read some of Milman’s History of the Jews and attended as usual divine service at Chauncy place. But the exercises were interrupted in an unusual manner by an alarm of fire which scattered the congregation. The Stove having been heated overmuch caught the on fire and was burning with great rapidity. After seeing it put out, I returned home.

Afternoon to Mr. Lothrop’s where I heard him preach from John 9. 1465. “I am the light of the world.” Christianity considers man in four relations—as a social, intellectual, physical and moral being, and acts upon him in all.

Read a Sermon by a Mr. Trebeck from Ephesians 4. 26. “Be ye angry and sin not.” A reasonable examination of the real nature of anger, its bad effects and its allowable limits. The evening was taken up by a call at Mr. Brooks’. Nothing material. Miss Harriet Welsh and Mr. Degrand at my house.