Morning rainy but warm. I went to the Office as usual. But as I did not recollect my materials for study, my time was again spent idly. Read the Newspapers and Mr. Clay’s Speech.1 And mused upon the course which political events are taking. It is now totally impossible to foresee to what they tend, but I hope to something safe. The elements of our Government are however a little too floating. Looked over my Accounts. Paid one or two bills and attended to my father’s affairs. These with Commissions of various kinds consumed the morning.

Afternoon. Read the second book upon Rhetoric nearly through and had no occasion to change my opinion. Went with my Wife this evening to Mrs. P. C. Brooks Jrs. and found there, Miss Mary B. Hall, Mr. Brooks, Gorham and his Wife, Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham, and Edward Brooks. Quite a family affair. Inasmuch as I have become more accustomed to the members of it, and more at my ease, my time was passed more pleasantly. We returned home at ten, but I had no time to do more than read one or two pages of the Life of Fuseli, and the Guardian.