Morning dark with violent wind and rain. I went to the Office and was busy in writing up my Diary which the preceding days had thrown behind hand. This with more walking in rain for furniture consumed nearly all my time. I did buy something at Auction today however though I am not sure my bargain was a very good one.1 I also went to see about more fuel as my Coal is exhausted. This has been a most consuming Winter. We have had nothing but cold Weather.

Returned home and passed the Afternoon in reading Spanish. I continue to find it easy. My study this afternoon accomplished ten pages which I thought quite fair for a beginner.

My Evening was passed quietly at home. I read a good deal of Scott’s Life of Napoleon as my Wife was engaged. The French Revolution is as interesting as the best Novel. It presents human nature in a singular aspect. All things magnified and inflamed. A people committing the most atrocious crimes under cover of the fairest names. Worked up to madness by the most fascinating temptation of liberty. On the whole, few things in the world are of a kind deserving more intense reflection. I afterwards finished the life of Bird to my Wife which after all does not amount to much. His pictures are probably of no permanent character. Finished this evening my comparison of the Gospels.