Morning cloudy and it threatened rain. I finished No. 4 and took the two last numbers down with me to the Office for the purpose of showing them to my father who was to be in town today. The Centinel does not publish the second number, probably waiting for the concoction of a reply, perhaps seeking for a hole to get out of the engagement. The Newspapers are all silent.

I was occupied at the Office in writing Diary and in reading a ridiculous Novel that came in my way by way of my Mother’s return to a Circulating Library, called the gentleman in black.1

My father came in and we got into conversation upon the Constitutional question. He gave me his ideas which are many and various corroborating the positions taken by me but I shall not use them at present as I wish to retain the original character of the papers.

Home to dine. Afternoon luxury and leisure. Read Thiers which I have for so long a time discontinued. The vicissitudes of the French Republic are good food when considering our own. Evening with my Wife. I felt so drowsy that I retired early. My father dined at Dr. Parkman’s and went to Quincy at 7.