Morning foggy with a cold easterly Wind, but it afterwards became clear and pleasant. I went to the Office after reading a little of Voltaire’s Orphelin de la Chine. This suggested itself to me by the reading of Grimm, whose criticism on its first appearance reminded me how very defectively I had read it. My morning was spent quietly in continuing the “Bibliotheque de l’homme publique” with a consideration of the influence of Montesquieu upon the Revolution. These papers all have the particular spirit which brought on that catastrophe, and a person looking back at this moment feels a singular sentiment in reflecting upon the result as compared with the earnest prophecy.1 Took a walk after attending to two or three applicants for Houses.

Afternoon, feeling as if I had better wind up some things that had been troubling my patience for some time past, I devoted to pasting my father’s papers and preparing books for the binder—Pamphlets and old things that have been in my way for some time.

Evening, took a walk with my Wife, and called to see Miss A. S. Adams who was not well enough to come down, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brooks, paying them the long promised visit. Read La harpe’s Criticism of Voltaire’s Orphelin de la Chine, and Two Spectators.