Morning cold. Went to the Office as usual, and after performing my daily matters, I busied myself in perfecting my argument for tomorrow in case I should be called to make one. This is a good excuse if I should ever be obliged to deliver in public. I really am much inclined to the opinion that if ever I shall have to speak, my power of doing so will have been obtained by these efforts. For I well remember the time when I could not say three words.

Went to Mrs. Frothingham’s to dine without company, P. C. Brooks Jr., Abby Adams, my Wife and I. At dinner much longer than usual and obliged to take a long walk afterwards for exercise so that I did not reach home for study until after five o’clock. As my Wife remained at Mr. Frothingham’s I made it up in the evening and accomplished a large portion of the Oration de Suppliciis which is certainly a Masterpiece of Eloquence. Nothing seems to be left untried to produce one grand, burning whole. Returned for my Wife and took a little Supper. After reaching home, One of our Chamber bells rung in an unaccountable manner two or three times. We were all puzzled. I read the Tatler.