Morning mild, cloudy and wet. At the Office. Great talk about the 421proclamation, people seem to expect a new era. A letter from my father this morning seems to me to give very much the most sound view of this question. The Paper is good so far as it goes. But every thing else the Government is doing is calculated to depress the best interests of the Nation. Let us see the end of it.1 I have little hope. A storm is coming and the only way for every man to do is to gather in his sail and lie quietly to. It may bring us fair weather and new breezes. Walk, after reading a good deal of our friend Dr. Lingard.

Afternoon, quietly at home reading and writing. Continued No. 8. But the publication of my numbers has ceased, in consequence of the more exciting topics of Carolina and Government politics. I am always unfortunate in my times, and never shall succeed as a political writer. Let me turn then as soon as possible to Literature. Even there, is a blank.

Evening quiet at home. Read part of Malvina. Lockhart’s Life of Burns, a pleasing book, though I could never form such an estimate of the Poet as he and others have done. German as usual.