Fine day. At home. Afternoon to visit Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Gray. Evening at the Mansion.

My morning was consumed in a sort of studious idleness. Finished reading the first volume of the Diplomatic Correspondence of the Revolution. Also the second volume of Texier, whose book is a very excellent developement of the Roman polity. I think I have really acquired much information from it. But am I right? or is not my mind a sort of sieve through which all runs but the coarser and less valuable materials of knowledge? Continued Meissner’s Alcibiades.

After dinner, finish the fourth book of Annals of Tacitus before going over to see Mr. and Mrs. Gray at Dorchester where we took tea. A pretty antique place which belongs to John Welles. Home and brief visit below.

Fine day. Exercises as usual. Evening to Mrs. Quincy’s, and at the Mansion.

After the usual course with my daughter, I read a little of Tucker’s Light of Nature and attended divine service. Heard Mr. Lunt preach from Hebrews. 4. 3. “For we which have believed do enter into rest.” A curious and paradoxical proposition that rest is the most desired of all things, and yet that it is that rest which results from the faithful performance of active duties. It may be so, but it appears to me that there is some confusion of terms in the whole process. Or if not, that the ideas conveyed are calculated to be rather curious than useful. Afternoon John 6. 38. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” This was a much finer discourse upon the selfdenying character of the Saviour.

Matthew 10. 16. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” A sensible discourse of Dr. Smalridge in the English Preacher upon the necessity of Uniting Wisdom and innocence, the one being not alone sufficient to form the Christian character.

We went to pay a visit to Mrs. Edmund Quincy, the ladies to see Mrs. Parker her mother who is staying there. E. Quincy was not there but had gone to town. We returned early and spent a short time at the Mansion.

Clear. To town. Afternoon at home. Evening at the Mansion.

I went to town this morning, partly for the sake of accommodating my father who wished to go and partly to superintend the repairs going on in Acorn Street. I was also engaged in other business, particularly in attempting to bring to a close the accounts of the Estate of T. B. Adams. This has been hanging on a great while, and still bids fair to trouble me somewhat.

Returned to dinner. Afternoon, Tacitus, the fragment remaining of the fifth book with nine sections of the sixth. The dark period of the 272reign of Tiberius developes itself by degrees and shocks one more and more at every step. Evening at my father’s. Nothing new.