Diary entries cover the weather, domestic and social affairs, cash accounts, business activities including rental property, lists of purchases, Masonic affairs, inventory of his wealth, and comments on local events.

Travel journal “Ten days tour to Vermont, Canada, the Lakes & c.” The journal consists of 24 pages with entries dated from August 21-30, 1850. The journal describes his journey through Vermont to Montreal, Niagara Falls, and cities along the Genesee and Mohawk Rivers, to Albany. The entry dated August 27 contains a lengthy description of his trip through Niagara, with descriptions of the suspension bridge, the burning spring, and Lundy’s Lane. He writes that “…we took the cars for Niagara and were drawn over the mountain by horses, three being attached to each car. At this place there is an apology for a monument erected to Gen. Brock...The land on this mountain very fertile and the view of the Lake from its summit very interesting…arrived at the Falls 9 o’clock and stopped at the Falls House and very soon took a carriage with an intelligent driver to show us all that was worthy [of] attention at this place. We rode to the Suspension Bridge and after paying $1 for the carriage and 25 cents each making 2.25 we sent the carriage on and walked over. The toll seemed to me high, but when we considered that the cost of the Bridge was $190,000 we concluded all right. The Bridge appears to be substantially secured and is a great work of art. From the bridge we have a tolerable view of part of the Falls. After crossing the bridge we rode to the top of the Falls and had a very fine view of the Horseshoe Falls and table rock, part of which had fallen into the chasm. We also went up into the lookout to view the Falls from that place. It was truly a sublime sight. After purchasing a pair of Indian moccasins rode to the burning spring, this is also a great natural curiousity which on touching the water with a lighter match a very bright flame issued, the smell of the gas being very strong and unpleasant. Drank of the water which was good. From thence to Lundy’s Lane at which place there is an observatory on the top of which is a survivor of that battle who will show you all the grounds and give a complete history of the Battle at the place, the fee being 20 cents. Returning we rode after the Bridge to the House to dinner after which we looked in at the principal hotels. There are a vast many people at this place, more it was said than at any former season.” He concludes the journal by making a reference to the famous Parkman-Webster murder case, delaying his entry into Boston in order to avoid the crowds attending the hanging of Professor Webster. He writes on August 30 that he “…arrived at Boston 245 miles from Albany, 12 ¼ o’clock. This being the day set apart for the hanging of Professor Webster did not wish to get into Boston until this awful tragedy was over…”