The morning opened cold and dark, the weather moderating produced snow, and the day was dull throughout. I went to the Office but was not occupied so pleasantly or properly as I might have been. Mr. Gilbert called to let me know that he declined taking the House owing to the high rent, a thing I very much regret though I do not see how I can diminish it more in conscience. I then went to inquire how Mrs. Brooks was. Mr. B. seemed much discouraged and told me to go and ask Mrs. Frothingham to go out to Medford with him which I did and then returned to give her consent. I do not know what to think of the case, but I cannot help feeling as if it was not yet so bad.

Mr. Curtis called to see me to let me know part of the scandalous transaction of Petty Vaughan and the course thought advisable to be taken in the case by Mr. Lowell.1 Josiah Quincy also dropped in, for a minute only and did not seem able to say what he wanted. Returned home and passed the afternoon reading Mitchell’s Translation of the Knights with Brumoy’s remarks upon the same Play. There is great spirit in the Translation though the Comments upon republican usages are altogether unjust. He gives a dash, I notice at the Americans in one of his Notes, though manifestly ignorant to a great degree of our Institutions.2 This rather affects the correctness of his inferences in the others. Yet he is amusing. As to the merit of Aristophanes I have not yet made up my mind, but La Harpe’s opinion is deserving of consideration. My Cold was very severely upon my Chest all day, but I 143felt on the whole better. I read aloud to my Wife in Clarissa in the Evening. Edward Brooks and his Wife called to tell us his report from Dr. Stevenson, which was rather encouraging.3 I then read part of the Clouds of Aristophanes.