Mild but pleasant. Divine service as usual. Evening at home. Edmund Quincy.

I read two chapters in the Old Testament with my two children Louisa and John, and then heard the former go through her other exercises. Attended divine service and heard Dr. Frothingham preach from Psalms 4. 6. “There be many that say Who will show us any good,” a very beautiful discourse upon this text which I also heard Mr. Greenwood treat once with much effect. But the rest of the verse makes the answer. Afternoon Luke 14. 24. “For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” The meaning of this to be a reproof of negligence, inattention to and rejection of the value of the Gospel.

A walk with my children round the Park. Evening, sermon by Mr. 372Orr in the English Preacher. Matthew 23. 23. “Wo unto you, Scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tithe &ca.” Text too long to quote but the subject the importance of morality above form.

I was at work finishing my review when Edmund Quincy came in who was pleasanter than usual, talking of general literature and indifferent matters. I was glad to get rid of disputed points. He went at eight and we intended to have gone out but it rained. So I finished my Article.1

Foggy. Division as usual. Evening, Mr. Brooks.

After coins, I went to the Office. Received the last proof sheet of my Lecture in Hunt. I read it over with satisfaction. The close is eloquent, if I may be permitted to judge. But it is not at all possible for any one to make any just estimate of one’s self. I never yet read any thing of mine over twice with any thing like the same impression.

Accounts, then Home to read Oedipus. Afternoon, rather indulging after my stretch of the previous week. Read over the Review too to see if I had omitted any thing. Evening, Mr. Brooks called for an hour very pleasantly.

Clear and mild. Distribution as usual. Evening at Edward Brooks’.

After coins I went to the Office. Mr. Warren the antiquary called to offer me some coins which he had lately purchased and I was irresistibly tempted to buy up some of them. I find upon looking over my accounts too much goes into coins. Diary.

Walk round the common. Home where I went on with Oedipus. Afternoon reading Sharon Turner’s History of Henry, Edward and Elizabeth. He adopts a rather new method of writing which gives a better general view but his notes though containing a vast deal of information are like all notes serious deductions from the effect of a narrative.

Evening, we went to Edward Brooks’ to spend an hour. Nothing materially new. We have not heard from Washington for some time.

Mild day. Distribution as usual. Evening at Mrs. Frothingham’s. The regular course of things. I tried to do a little at my accounts but 373was prevented. But I did Something towards bringing up my Diary. Then home. Finished Oedipus Coloneus which I find Potter agrees in opinion with Schaeffer about. It certainly is a beautiful play and I am very glad that I have been over it again pretty thoroughly. Afternoon, Sharon Turner’s Account of the rise of the reformation, and resuming the old MS work which I find rather fatiguing. Evening, a small party at Mrs. Frothingham’s. About forty or fifty, some singing by Mrs. Habicht. Nothing new.