Morning at the Office and in Court. I listened to rather a dull argument this day. Richardson came in and chatted for half an hour. I then returned to the Office to read Starkie. In the afternoon I read Clarendon’s State of Ireland.1 It seems to be in the nature of a defence of the particular conduct of the Duke of Ormond, and is without interest. Received a letter from John,2 intimating that all their arrangements are changed and that my Mother will remain at Washington and that only he and my father will come. This is a most unexpected and I must add bitter disappointment. I could not digest it directly, and the more my mind reflected upon it the worse I felt. Mr. J. H. Foster called upon me to let me know that my poor brother had been found on City Island off New York. He came to advise me to go on which I declined doing. Evening, a solitary walk on the Common. My mind much taken up and not pleasantly.