Morning at the Office. Attended Court for a little while but found nothing of any consequence. I therefore returned to my Office and read a portion of Starkie on the Law of Evidence which book has given me some ideas. In the afternoon read the Life of Mahomet just published by the Society for the diffusion of knowledge in England.1 I was not pleased with it. These pamphlets are all made abominably dry. My mind during the whole day was much agitated by the idea of the family at home. A more pitiable set I do not 389think I know than my father and mother, and John’s machinations I can neither admire nor approve of. Poor George once said to me that his only objection to John was that he was so artful and he said true. But this cannot be helped. Where his own interest does not interfere, he is kind and generous. Evening, a solitary walk. Brilliant night.