Clear and cold for the Season. I began Schiller’s Cabal and Love, but finding it somewhat difficult and my Dictionary defective I laid it down for the purpose of taking up Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship as it is translated by the English. This has been much praised.1 It is not difficult.

Office where I was occupied though not very usefully. Col. Jones from Weston came in and paid his Note which turned my attention more particularly to money affairs. Walk. Home. Read Chateaubriand. Letters from Italy.2 There is something rather pleasing in the style of this Author. He writes with feeling and that in these days is something.

Afternoon Grimm. And Guizot’s Course of Lectures upon the general civilization of Europe which is something different and precedent to the particular one of France.3 He refines and subtilizes in a manner which English writers very seldom are found to do. But some of his positions are curious and instructive.

Evening Mr. Brooks went out again to the Theatre. I remained with my Wife who is suffering severely from a cold. Miss Forbes came in and paid her a visit. She is a niece of the Perkins family who are near us in the Street—her mother resides at Milton. She spent half an hour in conversation and then took her leave. Afterwards I read Wilhelm Meister which did not prevent my being drowsy.