Moderating. Exercises as usual. Evening H. G. Gorham.

The weather looked a little moderating today though still severe enough. After my exercises with my daughter, I attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham preach from 1. Samuel 20. 3. “There is but a step between me and death.” A very beautiful and touching discourse upon the late conflagration of the Lexington which drew tears from most of the audience. There were several persons on board who had been much connected with this congregation, Mrs. Jarvis and children and Mr. Finn the actor as well as Dr. Follen. I know of nothing which has lately happened here that has brought to the soul of every body such a harrowing sensation. At the Post Office today there were accounts of two more saved.

Afternoon, sermon from Isaiah 44. 16. “I am warm, I have seen the fire.” Upon the cold from a text too remarkable not to recall the fact of it’s being a repetition. Read a sermon by Mr. Tidcombe in the English Preacher from Psalms 73. 3. “For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Upon the unequal distribution of good and evil as we see it in this life. A fruitful topic for commonplace.

Evening H. G. Gorham spent an hour with us, and I went to bed early as it seemed from the accounts very clear that I must get to New York tomorrow overland.

Mild. Ride to Springfield and thence to Hartford.

Before day break I arose and prepared myself for my Journey. Took breakfast and rode to the depot of the Worcester Railroad, from thence at 7 o’clock I started in one of the cars. The day was cloudy but mild and it cleared before night.

There was nobody there whom I knew excepting Mr. Lemist a person who formerly kept a shop in Washington Street, and who is going to New York to find some traces of the body of his brother, who was one of the sufferers in the Lexington. We arrived at Worcester at about ten and went immediately forward to Springfield. The interior is heavily covered with snow and presents a very wintry appearance. But this is an easy way of travelling such a long distance.

We arrived at Springfield a little after one o’clock and having taken 361a very hasty dinner at a poor house we took stages or rather sleighs to go to Hartford. The road is through a series of pretty turns along the bank of the river and even at this season of the year is a pleasant ride. There were in the sleigh, Mr. N. Thayer, Broker of Boston, brother of J. E. Thayer and the Revd. L. Everett a Universalist minister formerly settled in Charlestown but now in Middletown, Connecticut. They made the ride amusing. We reached Hartford after dark and found very comfortable accommodations at the City Hotel.