Fine day. At home. Evening at the Mansion.

I was occupied most of my morning rather idly, in working upon my grounds and in finishing off several letters which I proposed to dispatch. This with Menzel took up my morning time without going at all upon the letters of A. A.

Menzel has now got upon Education and his observations are exceedingly acute and true as well of this country as of Germany. There is some similarity in the mind of the nations. Activity and fondness for novelty, Omne ignotum pro magnifico.1

Read a few more sections of Tacitus or rather the Dialogue ascribed to him, but I cannot think he could ever have written so. There is merit in the composition nevertheless. What a fascinating subject Oratory is and how the Ancients handle it. We are feeble in the comparison for the reason that we do not make it a business. Evening at the Mansion.