Morning cloudy with occasional rain. Went to the Office. Nothing particularly new. Engaged in my regular occupations, the monotony of which destroys all the interest of a Diary. Pursued the study of Lingard and owing to the weather, did not take my walk.

Afternoon, rather idle. Read an Essay upon Criticism by Villemain with which I was very much pleased. I do not now wonder at his reputation as a Writer. To begin with him where I did is doing an injustice to his character.1 I finished the Afternoon by looking over Voltaire’s Account of the English Revolution.2 It is written with vivacity but with the same French mind. He sees things only by halves. He cannot understand the true character of the English Puritan. He sees nothing but fanaticism. Yet there was conscientiousness, morality, faith in God, and immense firmness of purpose. All good qualities in their way and strongly in contrast with the unprincipled looseness of their opponents, in whom Loyalty was the principal merit and a sense 430of honour according to the worldly notion apart from morality or religion. Voltaire is however more fair to Cromwell’s character, Dr. Lingard yet more so.

Quiet evening. Malvina, and Conversation. Afterwards, German.