The weather rather cloudy but cleared off and became cold. I went to the Office and idled away my time a good deal. Mr. Spear from Quincy was my only interruption. I read two or three articles in the North American Review upon various subjects and was on the whole better pleased with the tone and spirit of it’s productions than usual. I did not feel any inclination to writing.

Mr. Hallett has published my third number and it has had it’s effect. Those pieces may or may not have done something towards directing the course of the Antimasonic party.1 Suffice it, the course as laid down in the resolutions given me to examine by Mr. Hallet is the 71one I wish. After the Senatorial election is over I may try my hand for once more. Perhaps Mr. Webster may feel the consequences of his low intrigue even yet.

I took my walk. Ovid. Began the fourth book of the Fasti. It is wonderful that Ovid can sustain himself as well as he does. Afternoon, reading Beckford’s second volume—Portugal in which he appears to have found many charms. They courted him as a rich Englishman. Evening, nothing material. I continued my various readings.