This morning was remarkably cut up. I first attended an auction at which I was desirous of buying some things, then spent time in reading the President’s Message which has come and which appears to me a virtual retreat from his high ground.1 It is however very adroitly covered, and we must wait to see whether the conservatives will regard it as enough.

Walk and occupied until I went home to read Herodotus. Afternoon, a tendency to head ach which came on worse and worse towards night. I managed however to counteract it today. La Science des Medailles. Evening, Mr. Brooks was here.

I went out to attend a meeting called without distinction of party to oppose Mr. Eliot’s election.2 Without feeling a particle of hostility to him personally and having now no motive, since his retracting his refusal to grant Faneuil Hall beyond a general dislike of the unremoved principle of that refusal, I yet felt it my duty to do my part in showing that that principle was not our’s. The court room was full, but there had been no previous concert, and inasmuch as the firemen appeared the principal persons engaged I left before it succeeded in effecting any organization. There seemed to be material enough for an opposition without any concert to bring it into action. Home. Mr. Brooks had not gone and Mr. Walsh came in. Conversation upon banking.