Morning pleasant. I went to the Office and was busily occupied in my Accounts at the close of the month. They took so much time I had hardly any for any thing else.

The politics of the State are getting more heated and entangled at every moment. A vast number of things have been brought in having no sort of relation to general questions, which make me feel more and 257more pleased at the determination I made to keep out of all struggles for Office. Mr. Alex. H. Everett is not so lucky. His career throughout the last two years has been such as very deservedly to subject him to the lash of the Atlas today.1 Had that man acted an independent part from the first, had he pliant instrument in every hand, how different would have been his and our situation. We should not have had this battle to fight.

I went home and read Juvenal which is better than politics. Indeed now I believe I shall take a vacation from political scrapes—Now that I have written as much as will do before the election. After the smoke of the fight is over we may then if encouraged by the result point our guns anew. I have done my best both in Bristol and in Plymouth.2

Afternoon, I read Adam Smith, History of Astronomy, made up on a new principle, that of basing it on the affection of the mind which leads to tracing causes in a chain of wonderful events. Smith was a powerful thinker on many subjects. I know few men of modern times who excel him. Read a few of Voltaire’s and Mad. du Deffand’s Letters. Mr. Price Greenleaf called in for a short time.