- Brooks. Rev
d.Charles - Anna Thaxter
- Greenleaf W. C
- Spear Alpheus
The Night was cold, and the frost this Morning so sharp that I found myself unable to
write in my Diary before breakfast— This throws an arrear upon the whole day— William Greenleaf passed the day and Evening here.
I proposed to him to take up his residence with me until I go on to Washington and to
assist me in copying papers and making a catalogue of my books, to which he agreed,
and after copying two Letters, was engaged all day in making the Alphabetical index of
names preparatory for the Catalogue— I went morning and afternoon to the Meeting-House
where they were at work on the Monument— The making of the holes in the Wall to
receive the Trusses which support the marble Tablet has been a laborious Work— The
tablet was in the course of this day put up. I met Mr Daniel Greenleaf there this morning.
Mr Wood gave me a
certificate signed by himself, Nathan Fisk,
Josiah Adams junr. and Benjamin Page, that
they removed the remains of my father and mother on the 1st. of
April 1828. from the family vault in the burying ground, to the Tomb under the new
Stone Temple— Mr Wood informed me that Mr Cary would come out
to-morrow— Miss Thaxter dined with us— She had
been to the Dedication of the new Stone-Meeting house in Milton, at the Railway; which
was done this day. Mr
Brooks of Hingham went with her, and dined with the dedicating party
there. He called for her here after dinner on his return home. Ruth Turner returned home also this Evening. I made very
small progress with my abstract of Title Deeds, and not much more in putting up my
books, though I have nearly filled my shelves. In the Evening I read a number of
Letters from Voltaire to Madame du Deffand— There is something irresistibly
ludicrous in the sportiveness of his Wit, though it is always disgustingly coarse. He
appears to have been totally destitute of the Sentiment of delicacy. His indefatigable
industry is one of the most remarkable parts of his character, and he tells Madame du
Deffand, that his secret for rendering life supportable, is to keep himself
incessantly occupied. He says too that with all his other engagements, and with the
perpetual stream of visitors especially English and Russians whom he is compelled to
entertain, he has to write ten or twelve Letters every day— But he had not lost the
use of his right hand.