The day was brighter, and our weather generally has been singularly mild. No letter from my father which surprises me. I have been upon the point of a speculation in the Stock of the United States Bank but it was broken off this morning as we could not agree as to price. Perhaps considering the state of French affairs this is fortunate. I must wait to see the operation of these upon the Stock when the news of the reception of the President’s Message in Paris gets here.

Mr. Walsh was at my office nearly all the morning. He has kept pretty clear of me since I presented him his bill for Office Rent, but today he fed me with promises. He is nevertheless a very intelligent man and his conversation contains ideas, which is not universal.1 I was restricted in my time for a walk. Home, reading Ovid. Finished the second book of the Fasti. Afternoon I felt indolent and therefore avoided assorting Papers. Amused myself with d’Israeli and finished Beckford. John Gorham was here and passed the evening.