Clouds and occasional rain. I remained at home today. Began reading a Biography of Oliver Cromwell with the view of making something out of it.1 I was led by it to look into the Parliamentary History and to make a kind of Analysis of the facts in the beginning of the Revolution.2 I have thus cleared my ideas still more. Perhaps I should have written some passages of my last Essay differently at this time. But vox missa nescit reverti. I must stand the test of my own offering. My whole morning was taken up in this manner.

Afternoon, finished Seneca’s second book of benefits. I certainly am agreeably disappointed in this work. He makes a great deal out of it. And what is more he hits upon a doctrine of extraordinary purity. He considers generosity as it’s own reward, excepting so far as gratitude on the part of the benefitted heightens it. This gratitude acquits the debt. Though a kind of obligation yet remains, to be valid for the return of benefits, provided the thing is possible.

Evening, continued Mr. Canning. My life on the whole at Quincy is a studious one. I accomplish a good deal, though somewhat of a varied nature. It may fairly be questioned how far my plan is beneficial to me, but one thing is certain, that I know not how I can at present better myself. Perhaps if I was to write more and read less, it might be more useful, but I do not feel like taking so much trouble unless under the incitement of publication in prospect. This is a suggestion however worth thinking over again.