Clear day. Morning Office. Afternoon Quincy. Evening at home.

I kept on working as well as I could this morning although interrupted by one or two persons on business. The labour of this composition of Burr is greater than any thing I have undertaken and it makes me at times a little impatient. I am drawing however towards the end. Home to read Ajax.

After dinner, Mr. Brooks accompanied me to Quincy to see the 229progress I had made in improvements, and we passed a couple of hours and returned. He has purchased Mr. Webster’s house,1 and today he intimated his wish that my Wife could occupy it with him. Against this I should have no serious objection for the winter months but he desires a person to reside also in Summer at Medford which is not practicable for me. On the whole I prefer my present way of life but I am not so selfish as to make it a sine qua non as it regards my comfort. Mr. Webster is going to Europe and his friends again come forward to pay his debts and set him up. His career is entirely unexampled in our history. And it is much to be desired that it should never be imitated. Evening quietly at home.

Windy and clouds. Divine service as usual. Evening at home.

I devoted an hour of the morning to the pursuit of my medallic studies for which I have not had much leisure this year, and another to my daughter Louisa as usual. Attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham preach from Genesis 7. 16. “And the Lord shut him in.” A singular text enough nor did I gather much from the discourse. Afternoon Mr. Bartol from Daniel 5. 6. “Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed and his knees smote one against another.” An oratorical style with little at bottom but common place.

Read a Sermon by a Dr. Foster from Proverbs 30. 8.9. “Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain.” Upon the middling condition in life as productive of virtue and happiness. A sensible discourse. Went on with Tuckers Life of Jefferson.

Clear. Morning Office. Afternoon to Quincy.

At the Office working upon Burr which I am now finishing. Nothing else shall take precedence of this because it has been so long upon hand. Home a little late but went on with Ajax. After dinner my Wife accompanied me to Quincy together with my second boy. Found the men at work clearing rocks but having made exceedingly indifferent progress. They blow1 tomorrow. I was not very well satisfied and man-230ifested my sentiments. They go on tomorrow, but finish in the evening for I shall be exposed to severe expense otherwise in letting these men hang along. Home to tea. Short evening. Continued Tucker.