Morning fine but it changed soon after to quite cold. I remained very quietly at home. Read the Carmen Seculare which is a beautiful specimen of the Religious Lyric Poetry of the Ancients. Ben Jonson has done something in the way of successful imitation. I also read over the first Satire and the first Ode—In which many of the ideas are similar. My next study was Neale of whom I read about one half the first Chapter in the reign of Elizabeth. I also read some of Hutchinson’s History and was just in a train of interesting research upon the first principles of the division between the parties at the Revolution when the call for dinner intervened. One thing is to be noticed, how much my Grandfather’s statements made at an advanced age are corroborated by Hutchinson’s third volume, printed since but written at the time.

Afternoon, I cannot yet bend my mind to occupation. But I have effected much in thus employing my mornings. My character is now so formed that my happiness depends greatly upon the occupation of my time in a satisfactory manner. Evening quiet at home. Madame de Sevigné and the Observer.