Cooler but clear. I went to the Office. Received a letter from Mr. Pearce in answer to mine, but not very encouraging to Mr. Walsh’s application.1 Also, a letter from my Mother asking me to go on.2 This I have no disposition to do. The state of things at Washington is by no means of a kind to render the place an agreeable residence. My father’s course deprives him in a great degree of the sympathies of the two parties and prevents my securing any of it myself. The furnace of politics is in many other respects disagreeable and to be avoided. I am better at home amusing myself with the currency and house building.

Accounts. Mr. Walsh came in and we afterwards took a walk, fine air. Livy, the latter pages of which I am now reading. What a pity we had not the continued history. Sylla and Marius, Pompey and Caesar and Cicero, Cato, Brutus and Augustus. Afternoon, Burnet and Chateaubriand. Evening, wrote my last number of Currency matters, slightly reviewing Mr. Rives’ ground furnished me by the kindness of Mr. A. H. Everett.

Went in the evening to Edward Brooks’, family as usual, with the addition of some of his Wife’s relations, Mrs. Friem and Miss Wells. Mr. Chapman of Greenfield came in at supper time. He is a memorable character in an intrigue that I well remember.3 He devoted himself entirely to the Governor and among other things intimated that the resignation of Mr. Webster was certain. If so, we shall probably arrive at the consummation so fixedly viewed by me, the overthrow of the Whig power.