A mild pleasant day. I went to the Office and was occupied there in a somewhat singular manner. Before I left my House, Gibson who is a sort of deputy of Mr. Hallett came in and showed me two articles in the two democratic Newspapers of the morning, having each a hostile bearing upon the other. He consulted me upon the mode of pursuing the subject. The Custom House party has been so far foiled in it’s attempts to make Mr. J. K. Simpson Collector in the room of Henshaw, as to show great symptoms of discontent at the counteracting movement which has been produced by the nomination of Mr. Robinson at a caucus in the Legislature. The Morning Post has not ventured to take ground itself but has transferred to it’s own columns a violent article from a Lowell Newspaper with a kind of indorsing comment at its close. On the other hand the Advocate has attacked the Post in rather an ungracious manner for it’s jesuitism in regard to the Legislative proceedings. Gibson’s object seemed to be to get from me an article which would defend them. I told him that I thought the whole subject should be left to Mr. Hallett’s own judgment. When he came, he knew how he stood at Washington and could then take the course that suited him. In the mean time and article might be put in which would be defensive and yet not absolutely commit him. I agreed to draft such an article, although I notified Gibson that I was not over well satisfied with Mr. Van Buren and was by no means inclined to be ranked as yet in the number of his supporters.

At the Office, T. Ayer came about my House to ask more directions and I gave them to him. Gibson called again and I gave him a paper I had drawn with which he appeared satisfied.1 He detained me talking until quite late. Home.

Afternoon reading Burnet and Forster. My wife went to Cambridge to tea so that while I was taking it alone, in came T. K. Davis who joined me and passed the evening. We had talk as usual of political principles and of theatrical criticism and so forth. He went late.