A cold but fine, clear day. Occupied in the morning in writing and then accompanied the ladies to the Capitol, where they were going to look at the two houses. In the Representatives hall, Mr. Cambreleng was making an opening upon the bill to authorize the issue of Treasury Notes. His tone was by no means conciliatory, and he took a sort of credit to the Administration for the present state of things which bordered a little upon the ludicrous. C. Cushing of Massachusetts made a brief reply during which we transferred ourselves to the Senate where a lazy debate was going on about the District Banks.

The ladies then left us and I returned to the House where Mr. Thompson of S. Carolina was then speaking—a premeditated Essay upon the general subject with a very occasional allusion to the matter in hand. Thompson has not gone with the rest of the Carolinians and Mr. Calhoun in their new policy, and being thus in a degree hazarded in his own State, he takes the present opportunity to make his justification.1 Before he had finished the Committee rose2 and I walked home. Mr. Frye here in the evening. Conversation general.