Morning bright and clear. I went to the Office after having paid my usual visit to the Tenements to see how they are going on. Found the Irish Tenant had moved but the person she left was still there. This is a piece of work. At the Office where after reading some political articles upon the President’s message I sat down to arrange what I proposed to say tomorrow at the Meeting of the Debating Society upon the Working Men’s Party. I did not make very rapid progress and felt obliged to go to the Athenaeum for the purpose of consulting the works upon America in the question that occurs to my mind.

As P. Chardon Brooks had invited Abby and me to dine at his house today, we accordingly went. It is the first time that I have dined 384there for I do not know how long. We found them pleasant as usual and I returned home in time to accomplish a considerable portion of Cicero’s book called Brutus or de claris Oratoribus1 which seems to be a mere account of such as have enjoyed reputation in the Republics of Athens and Rome. Evening at home. We read a little of Corinne and some of the Baroness Minutoli’s Book, after which I made good progress in my Catalogue and read my usual numbers in the Tatler.