The weather still cold, but cloudy. Went to the Office as usual and that part of my time which was not occupied in writing my Journal, was passed in reading Williston. I this morning examined Mr. Pinkney’s Speech upon the Treaty making power—A very able thing and bearing much more highly the marks of careful polish than any thing I have yet read.1 This was a very able man. His power was clouded with a little affectation, but on the whole I incline to the belief that he is more respectable as a Speaker in the eye of the future than any man we have had.

I called to see Mr. Brooks who was this morning exceedingly discouraged. He had conversed with Dr. Swan and had derived little or no consolation from his opinion.2 I am afraid that the case is desperate. Thus the morning passed and I went home. The afternoon was passed in inspecting the Copies of some more letters of my Grandfather, in reading a portion of Demosthenes, and in finishing the copy of my letter to my Father which my wife could not complete. I receive many more interruptions than I wish I did, in the prosecution of my most profitable studies. In the evening after calling at Mrs. Frothingham’s to know how she was, and being informed that she was relieved from her sudden attack I returned home and was just beginning to read Sir Charles Grandison to the Ladies, when Edmund Quincy came in and sat all the evening until quite late. He is quite fond of coming here, and somehow or other, we seldom have a single entirely uninterrupted evening at home.