A very hot day. This is a Summer such as we have not had for several seasons. I went down to the old Mansion for the sake of trying a horse offered for sale, and of making some selections of books. This took up time I had proposed to devote to copying.

Home where I had hardly become seated before the bell rung and I concluded to go to the Meeting House to hear Mr. Lunt deliver the Address to the schools. This is an interesting mode of celebrating the National Anniversary. The schools of both sexes made a handsome display and the citizens of the town, probably most of the parents occupied the remainder of the House.

Mr. Lunt opened by an eloquent exordium alluding to the propriety of learning the true principles of liberty here in the very spot where two of the men of that day who signed the first great declaration of them, were baptized.1 He then went into a discussion of the moral in connection with the political system, and the introduction of this now for the first time into the decision of political questions. He glanced at the present dangers of our system for the purpose of insisting upon the necessity of moral education, concluding with a brief allegory addressed to the children. The Address was not all of equal merit, passages of it were eloquent, and others well thought out but others were feeble and inconclusive. On the whole however, it deserved a better audience than it had and was delivered with a degree of animation un-73common for him. After some other brief ceremonies the parties retired as they came.

I went home and found there T. K. Davis come to spend the day. Talk of many things, but he has taken of late to ultra opinions which I admire very little and his manners are less pleasing every hour. I regret this much on his account as it does him injury with others, but experience must teach him as it does us all even like it as we may.

Before he left Col. Quincy and his Wife and sister Anna came, who were followed by Mr. Beale and his daughters, Mr. Angier and his Wife, E. C. Adams and Mr. Price Greenleaf. The evening was warm and we sat until late watching the fireworks in Boston many of which were distinctly visible, and very handsome. To bed but not to sleep for the musquitoes.

Very warm indeed, perhaps the hottest day yet of this hot season. I rode to Boston however taking Kirk in with me for the sake of riding the horse back and allowing me to drive a new one for trial. My time much taken up in Accounts and with interruptions. Saw Mr. Angier, Mr. A. H. Everett and Mr. Brooks, and two or three others. Nothing very new.

At one I started to return with the new horse, but owing to a misunderstanding I was allowed to take him without a pulley bridle to which he had been used. The consequence came near being fatal to me, for my hold was entirely unequal to restraining him for any length of time, so after two effectual attempts, I gave way on the third and he ran away with me. Luckily his former master had been in the habit of stopping to water him at a pump by Glover’s store, and to this he directed his course so I by a last effort brought him up there. But my strength was so entirely gone that I had to hire a young man to accompany me the rest of the way and by doubling the reins back, he obtained the necessary control of the horse to make him go gently. Thus was I saved from an imminent peril, for which I felt duly grateful to that being who in all cases tries us for our good. The horse was also saved from injury as a further run on this hot day would have ruined him.

I was so fatigued as not much to enjoy my Afternoon. But I read Pliny, and Grahame. E. C. Adams spent the day here and Mrs. Stebbins took tea in the evening. We had a thunder shower but not a se-74vere one. I retired to bed in a tone of mind which I hope may benefit me.