It has become very much the practice here of late years to go out into the Country on the first of May in quest of the Season of Spring and it’s flowers. Our climate lends itself kindly to no such custom. The poets sing of May with some license even in England, but here with us the error is too gross. The morning was cloudy with a raw East wind.

I as usual paid my first visit to the House where I inspected the proceedings of the various departments of cleaning, painting &ca. Afterwards, at Office, Mr. Walsh came in and discussed matters in 129general for some time. He has rarely been at my Office from a sense of his debt, which I confess I could wish he would pay for both our sakes. He has conversation and mental cultivation if he has not wealth, which makes him as a companion rather agreeable than otherwise.

Walk, business accounts until a little later than usual then home. Afternoon M. Thiers, with whose history I am in many respects pleased although in others it does not quite satisfy me. Evening at home. Goethe. Kunst und Alterthum.1