The morning was cloudy and soon after breakfast it began to rain in torrents. The first approaches of Spring. We were prevented from going to Medford so early as we intended but by eleven o’clock it cleared up so that we could go out to dine. Found the family as usual, but rather more alone. I felt a little inconvenience from head ach which increased as the day advanced, and by evening became quite serious. Attended divine service in the afternoon and heard Mr. Stetson preach, though without attending to him much. Somehow or other I felt drowsy and dull.

The remainder of the day was passed in reading superficially the Memoirs of the Court of Napoleon by Bausset, a book owned by Mr. A. H. Everett.1 I was somewhat surprised by his ideas as they were new to me, though I did not feel thoroughly convinced by them. He 187intimates that the escape from Elba was connived at by the Allied Powers, in order to give them the excuse for removing Napoleon to St. Helena and to divide France, but this last plan was defeated by the unanimity of the people. I am inclined to the opinion that the risk was too great for had they been defeated at Waterloo, a thing not impossible, the result might have put much at stake to them.

A short time was passed in conversation with Mr. Brooks. I wonder at and admire his remarkable shrewdness of character. It has brought him to his present prosperity and seems to be an infallible guide to success in worldly affairs. Retired feeling quite unwell.