To town, not returning until evening.

This was a day of great heat. I went to town accompanied by my Wife. Passed the morning much as usual, various commissions requiring an unusual portion of exercise from me. Walk up to Acorn Street but found the house shut up.

Mrs. A. had agreed to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brooks today and I joined her there, where we were met by Mr. Brooks the elder. Pleasant time enough, but after it I undertook to walk to the Athenaeum to see the Gallery, which was rather uncomfortable, the Gallery itself was over warm so after running over the newspaper files in the reading room to find notices of any thing done lately by me, without success, I went back and immediately after tea returned home.

The evening at home was delicious and I could not help thinking how much better it was not to stir from it. The very first summer evening we have had and in itself perfectly exquisite.