Cloudy dull weather. I went to the Office and was engaged as usual, succeeded in bringing up Diary somewhat. I forgot to mention yesterday that the petition of the Quincy Canal Directors was returned to me signed and that I took it up to the Senate and gave it to Quincy to present, who did so and had it referred to the Committee on Railways and Canals, thus I discharged that duty.

Mr. Walsh came in for a little while. The public has been very much agitated within a day or two by the notice of an extraordinary failure at New York in connexion with several large ones in New Orleans.1 The pressure for money continues and indeed there begins to be an indication that the state of plethora is past. What will follow remains as yet a mystery. I fancy that we shall see very hard times.

I. H. Adams called upon me for some money in advance, he has received orders to join a survey on the Charleston Railway, and is going. I am glad of something for him at last. Failed in getting tickets for the Theatre again. I suspect my letter has had the wrong effect. Homer.

Afternoon, Burnet. I have finished the second volume of Forster and in the absence of the third, read Plutarch in the edition of Reiske which I got from Quincy.2 Evening, Mr. Brooks, and Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham passed a couple of hours. The former much elated at a purchase for E. Everett of a house in Summer Street belonging to Mr. Cabot.3 Afterwards, Whitney’s History of Quincy.4