Morning at the Office. Wrote a letter to my Mother in answer to two which I have received from her in the course of the week. It was not long because I would not express my feelings fully and could not write much without doing so. The remainder of the day passed in reading Law and Books relating to History. In the evening, I went to a meeting of the Private Debating Society. Question on the duty of the Representative to obey instructions. There was a tolerable discussion. I am as yet exceedingly doubtful whether I shall ever be able to succeed as a Speaker. I feel as if I had the material, but one great obstacle is in my way, an excessive diffidence.