Weather pleasant, divine service all day, time divided as usual.

Continued Milman’s History of the Jews, and finished Davis’ life of Burr. It is difficult to tell whose moral obliquity is the greatest the author’s or his subject.

Attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham from Proverbs 8. 3. “Wisdom crieth at the entry of the City.” A series of reflections upon the character of city life and the ordinary impression that it is unfavorable to religious impressions. Mr. Frothingham’s mind is a curious one and partakes of the influences around it. He sees little in the external world upon which to throw himself and his feelings. Associations fix themselves with difficulty. To him the holy land is nothing, the green face of the earth nothing. Art delights him more than nature. These are not my feelings, who regard nature in all her forms as beautiful and who think more of a thing from its imaginary than from it’s real value.

H. Ware in the afternoon from Romans 3. 5.6. “Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world.” A sensible discourse upon the question so frequently discussed of rewards and punishments in this life as in the place of a future retribution. Mr. Ware articulates with difficulty so that I could hardly hear him.

Read a Sermon of Dr. Clark from Proverbs 9. 10.11. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding, for by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.” Length of days the result of virtuous conduct. True as a consequence of the opposite proposition that vice shortens life. Evening quietly at home.

Cold and clear. Office and regular distribution of time.

My morning runs away in reading the Newspapers at the Insurance Office. Received a letter from my father1 announcing his safe arrival at home and his having been to see the President who is polite as usual. Made up arrears and accounts. Alcestis as usual.

After dinner the Catalogue of coins, I finished Nero. It will be of use to me to look over the Roman History in the mean time. Began Crevier but think I shall go to Cook.2 In the evening made a call upon Mr. John Parker, but not finding him at home, stopped for an hour at Dr. Frothingham’s.