Arose and looked over my lesson before Prayers, which I attended, and recitation in Topography. I was not taken up, it being a hard lesson and I not being able to recite, as he supposed. This was not true however for I was. My spirits were in not much better state than yesterday, but gradually I became better and after breakfast laid it down as a rule hereafter to follow, to keep Richardson at such a distance that I could hear no more of his stories nor could be exposed 261to his insulting speeches. I shall as much as possible in future, to good terms with him, treat him as I did when but slightly acquainted. I wish to try to see if I can succeed in my attempt.

This morning passed singularly quick from some reason of other. I was at the Athenaeum a little while, then transacting business at Mr. Higginson’s1 and finally writing an answer to my Uncle for Whitney.2 I encroached a little in this way upon my hour for Paley and consequently when the time came, I was not perfectly prepared for recitation and therefore did not recite as well as usual. After this, I spent the hour as usual studying tomorrow’s lesson. That today was upon rights.

In the afternoon we had a review with Mr. Farrar of all that we had been over in Plane Trigonometry and we recited very handsomely indeed. This over I did not spend the rest of the day very profitably. I wrote only part of my Journal the whole of which I should have finished.

There is some pleasure, after all, in being an Officer, as it gives some amusement and excitement to the Evenings. After Prayers tonight I scarcely knew what to do with myself so I went and took an extremely long walk with the two Otis’, Sheafe having gone to town. I find that Exercise is a great preservative of health here and that I have not had half the pain or languid or sickly feeling that I had before I was a soldier. I am convinced this is an excellent establishment on this account. And as a proof of it, fast young men are fond of the company merely on that account. Upon returning I came to my room and read and wrote as usual. My Topography, I did not study particularly, as I have not the honour of being taken up very often. Went to bed early. X:15.