Morning clear and cool. My Wife took advantage of it and rode out for the first time. Our course hitherto has been exceedingly prosperous, she having recovered very gradually and without any material drawback.

Finished my first number upon Proscription and a little specimen of a skit about which I have my doubts. At the Office engaged all the morning with visitors. First, Mr. Ladd who is the Tenant of the house 103. Tremont Street and wants repairs done. He sat a great while, Conant from Weston coming in and after him Judge Hall, the latter 196about nothing, the former about his lease. Conversation was kept up until the bell rung one, and my whole time appeared to have gone like a flash.

Rode to Quincy to dine. Found the family much as usual—My father perhaps in not quite so good spirits from the answer of Governor Lincoln to him.1 I think he has lost his diplomacy as he has advanced in life. No longer having objects to gain, he has indulged in the expression of private opinion to persons in whom he could as he thought confide. The consequence is that when they have a mind to, they become snakes and bite him. So it is with Governor Lincoln. One great rule with politicians should be to treat friends as if they might one day become enemies, and enemies as if they might become friends. And a difficulty in my father’s bold and energetic style is that it puts positions in so striking a shape as to be used by enemies against himself as decisively as it can be for him. A passage in one of his previous letters to Lincoln of which the latter reminds him is one of these and if published at this crisis would hurt him confoundedly.2 He has committed an error also of which he is aware, in trusting any thing to Alexander H. Everett.

Returned home after visiting the Tenants again uselessly. My Wife had a bad tooth ach.

In replying to Lincoln, JQA reserved until later a full discussion of “my consistency with myself on the subject of Masons and Masonry, and the purity of your Administration from ‘the reproach of Masonic influence upon Executive Appointments.’” However, in the meantime, in view of Lincoln’s be-197lief that publication of JQA’s letter to him about Davis would involve Lincoln in the controversy, JQA offered assurance he would not publish it: “It is sufficient for me to know your unwillingness to give this testimony to deny myself the benefit of it, were it even more necessary for my justification than I suppose it to be.” (19 Oct. 1833, same.)

Cloudy with heavy rain all day. I copied several Letters for my father and prepared them to go in the Mail. Attended divine service at Mr. Frothingham’s and heard him preach two Sermons on one Text. Genesis 27. 34. “And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding bitter cry and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.” He began by considering the question of the superior purity of the early ages of mankind—Denied it and held it to be discouraging to the honest efforts of the present generation. Considered the history of the Patriarchal period and selected the incident of the birthright of Esau—Commended him and severely reprehended Jacob. Considered the passages in Hebrews and the Prophets which looked otherwise, explained them and closed by a comparison between the narrow birthright of the Jews, and the universal spiritual birthright of the Christian dispensation. I did not go with these Sermons. It is clear to me that Jacob was the chosen of the Deity and that the character of Esau though fair in seeming represents the halfway morality and religion which would sacrifice much it most values for considerations of a temporary nature. At the same time I do not justify Jacob, but the wisdom of the Divinity is never to be questioned by me, even though I can not see the mode in which it is exercised. Jacob no doubt met with strict Justice, tempered with mercy. Occasionally these discourses occur in which I find myself at issue with Mr. Frothingham. His mind is not so stern and stiff as mine.

Read a Sermon of Massillon’s from Hosea 2. 19—20, the last upon the monastic vows. “I will betroth thee unto me forever, yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord.” The division follows the Text. 1. An Alliance of righteousness, 2. of judgment and kindness, 3. mercies, 4. faithfulness. It appears that this woman left her Mother, being an only child, her friends, her station, to become a Nun, against the consent and wishes of them all. This may be Christianity, but it is not the form of it which ensures my confidence and worship.

The baby was unwell today and made us uneasy. In the evening, I 198wrote a short letter to Mr. Brooks1 and read Bacon’s physical mythology of the Ancients explained.