Missed Prayers but awoke in sufficient time to attend recitation, not in very good time for it, but I was not called upon. After breakfast I attended a squad of my section. My guide was not out so that I was unable to advance them as fast as the other commandants had done theirs. I then wrote a theme on the subject of style, “he that would write, should read.” I was much pleased with the subject and wrote it very soon indeed. In observations on style I cannot help thinking that the most proper are the cautions concerning false taste which is so often prevalent in the style of this century. Reading good books is an excellent preservative against this, as we naturally take our form of expression from them and are disgusted when we meet with any thing which opposes our ideas of nature. I am not so extravagantly fond of natural style as many people but still I like it much. I then carried up my Theme. I insert it here as worthy of remark that Mr. Channing approved one line of my last Theme.

I then went to the reading Room, found no News and was considerably disappointed at not finding any letters for me. Returned home, wrote my Journal and finished Salmagundi with which I have been exceedingly amused. I then went to a Lecture from Mr. Nuttall who discussed the property of the Monadelphia and Diadelphia Classes of Linnaeus. I also attended Testament as it appears for the last time. Dr. Popkin at the close of the recitation gave us his usual words, “Farewell and I wish you well.” Having thus completed an education in the languages, after a study of nine years in Latin and six in Greek, I must conclude by saying that I do not regret this much.

Mathematics over, and Education that trouble of life, at least the 229drudgery of it is over, and I enter upon matters directly pertaining to the course in life which I am about to pursue. The day opens upon me at a distance when I shall be able to go on in that track which I have laid down for myself. Attended Prayers, gave my section an excellent squad upon the wheeling and turning, after which I spent an hour with Rundlet and Lothrop as usual. They are both very good fellows and we amused ourselves conversing for some time after which I came home, a few minutes at Wheatlands, Silsbee there. Looked over Bible and lesson and went to bed. X:35.