A beautiful day. I remained at home and occupied myself pretty steadily with the exception of a walk with the children to school and down to the house to see my Mother. I commenced this day my attempt at a Review. It is remarkable what difficulty I find in this. My practice in the Newspapers if it had no other effect gave me great facility and this I find I lose by occasional neglect. There is another difficulty in the distraction of thought occasioned by external circumstances. The air, the heat, the vegetation and every thing of nature. Still it is something to say that I commenced. Two hours I devoted to correcting the copy made of MS. Afternoon, Pliny, and engaged as usual a little in working upon my grounds. Evening, with my Wife at the Mansion.