The season is uncommonly clear and dry. I went to the Office and occupied myself as well as I could, not however without reading News-285papers an undue portion of the time. The state of public affairs is becoming daily more critical. The Bank of Maryland has failed, and the Governor of New York has sent a Message to the Legislature which looks very much as if the Safety fund was in the most imminent danger. Yet there is not a symptom of relenting on the part of the Government.

Walk. Afternoon Benjamin Constant—The Age of Homer which he construes to please himself. Began Cicero’s third Tusculan Disputation upon the Stoical doctrine of endurance. We passed a quiet evening at home quite alone. Finished Madame de Fleury. I pursued German.