Morning clear but quite cool after the rain of yesterday. I made considerable progress in the Poetic of Aristotle. The Commentators upon all the works of the ancients make a large class by themselves. Many of them have done little but to heap up useless masses of quotation to show their learning. Perhaps of all the follies to which the human mind is subject, none is greater, than the folly of disquisition upon trifling points. To see the fury with which men take sides upon the true reading of a passage supposed to be corrupted, one would suppose that the world was to feel the consequences of a mistake.

Went to the Office and read the Defence of the American Constitutions. I was very quiet and without any interruption. Read Mr. Berrien’s exposition of the causes that led to the difficulty in the Cabinet. It is very dignified, and calculated to bring men back to their senses if any thing can. But the view it gives of Genl. Jackson is disgraceful enough to the Nation.1 Talked with Mr. Brooks and went to the Athenaeum. Home to dine, found Miss E. C. Adams from Quincy who told us the family were well.

Afternoon, reading Cicero as usual. Letters to Appius. They are beautifully written but Melmoth is a painful expositor of their want 100of sincerity.2 Evening, Judge Hall, and Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham, so that I had only time to read the Spectator.