Cloudy and cold. Morning to Quincy. Day as usual.

The day was not pleasant but I felt obliged to go and attend to my affairs at Quincy which now begin to press upon me. My Wife went with me and stopped at Mrs. T. B. Adams’s. My morning was consumed in writing down tasks and seeing workmen. The ground how- 212ever looks cold and the country ungenial. Called and transacted business with Mrs. Adams and Elizabeth and then glad to get home.

Afternoon, the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, a work calculated to be somewhat useful. Evening at home. Read to my Wife a part of my Article upon Burr and was a little better pleased with it. Gardiner Gorham came in and stopped it. Afterwards, Read Sparks’ Life of Washington.

Very fine day. Distribution as usual. Evening at home.

At the Office whither I transferred my Review with the design of writing it out and improving upon it. But I am yet so taken up with business matters as to be unable to attend to it. My father is to deliver an Address before the Historical Society at New York on the 30th inst. so that he will be here a day or two after.1 I must therefore get ready for him.

Walk round to see the florists and purchase one or two more plants of them. Continue the Trachinians. After dinner, the pursuit of knowledge. It revives in me my ambition which prosperity will sometimes deaden. I have seen plenty of instances of the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties made by poverty and low birth but I wish to see more of those carried on under discouragements of a higher kind. Evening at home. Continued Sparks’ dull book.

Fine day. Distribution as usual. Evening, visit Mrs. Blake’s.

At the Office where however I had a visit from I. Hull Adams which disabled me from doing any thing about Burr. Communicated with him respecting the affairs of T. B. Adams but settled nothing. Time in fact wasted.

Continued the Trachinians, and after dinner the pursuit of knowledge. A man may be learned and not be useful. The thing is to combine the two.

In the evening Mrs. Adams and I called at Mr. Otis’ to see Mrs. Ritchie but finding her not at home we went to see Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Blake, with whom we had a very pleasant evening. And looked over some engravings of Paine’s. There are a collection of Morghen’s which are very valuable.1 Heads of painters most of whom however I have in 213the British Gallery, the collection of which is at Quincy.2 Home at ten. Sparks.