Morning very mild, the snow melting pretty rapidly. I went to the Office as usual and was met in the first place by my punctual Tenant, in Court Street1 with his Rent which was due yesterday. This is what I call good. I wish every body else was equally punctual. But Mr. Spear still hangs back. I sat down to read but did not accomplish much this morning. I will say however that I was agreeably disappointed this morning by the receipt of a letter from the publishers of the North American Review with a Check for $21, being in payment of my Article. This quite relieved me from feeling the effect of the failure in Dividend of the Middlesex Canal and came exactly at the right time. I ought to be thankful even for such little marks of fortune, and not repine when any thing looks badly.

Took a walk and went to the Athenaeum. Streets very wet. Afternoon, occupied in reading the Oration against Caecilius commonly called Divinatio being the first upon the business of the Praetor Verres. It is short and in some places rather difficult on account of 415the allusions to peculiar habits among the Romans. Evening. Read to my Wife and afterwards continued with the Port Royal Latin Grammar and the Tatler.