Attended Prayers and recitation this Morning in Topography. I was taken up first but did not manage well at all. The subject of Projections is an exceedingly dry one, and without much amusement even when we study it, which is not the case with Mathematics in general. After breakfast, we attended a Lecture of Mr. Channing’s in which he continued and closed the discussion commenced last time. But there was not much which could be called new. He talked about the right use of figures and went over the very same ideas over again which we have so often heard. He talked to us about originality and weakness on this point and said as usual. I am glad his lectures are drawing to a close. He has said so little to us of late which is of any importance that really I think it is wasting time. I recollect very little remarkable from all he says. After it was over I returned to my room and read over the lesson in Paley until ten o’clock. It was a discussion of the origin of landed property and the commencement of a chapter upon promises which was our day’s lesson. Mr. Hedge in his observations today upon the fallacy of one of Dr. Paley’s propositions referred us to a work by a Mr. Gisborne1 which he says is a good refutation of his opinions. A book which I shall take the first opportunity to read. The hour after recitation was spent as usual in reading tomorrow’s lesson, and the remaining half hour was spent in a nap.

After dinner I wrote my Journal all the time which I had to spare from Mr. Farrar’s lesson, which did not take me long. We attended his recitation, but did very little this afternoon. In the Evening the Company paraded as usual. Cunningham was bent upon doing one manoeuvre which in my mind, we cannot perform. Be that as it will we did not succeed once tonight. On the contrary, we brought the company into terrible disorder—and I became as usual exceedingly 271irritated. The fact is, I was in bad humour when I came out, as I found we were about to waste the Evening in many useless manoeuvres, and as we have no time to lose, I thought it was shameful. The soldiers were never better inclined, and never were more fooled with. After it was over, there was no Meeting of Officers tonight, luckily for our peace. I went down however with Rundlet and Chapman and we sat there until pretty late. I then returned and went to bed. X:30.

Attended Prayers and, after the interval, recitation. After breakfast, I went to the reading room and saw a number of violent pieces against my father which I did not take the trouble to read. They are making a dreadful fuss about the last treaty which I do not understand or at least do not take the pains to examine.1 Time passes swiftly to one reading newspapers so that it was past nine o’clock before I had got seated to my lesson in Paley which was a continuation of the subject of promises. The lesson was easy however and I had got it pretty well yesterday. This plan of mine takes off the burden of the week very much. After recitation I studied as usual and took a nap which is a singular practice I have lately and perhaps not the most proper one. It was a cloudy, gloomy sort of a day however and I could not resist the temptation.

After dinner, I got my lesson in Trigonometry and recited it to Mr. Farrar very well. The rest of the afternoon I employed in writing my Journal which at last I succeeded in bringing up again. I then studied military tactics a little while to understand the principles of what was done last night but I could find no such thing as the evolution we practiced. As it had rained all day, we could not drill this evening and after Prayers, I went and took a walk with Dwight and Rundlet. We had some interesting conversation with respect to the Knights as our course must now be strictly prudent, the other club having met with a misfortune on Friday night which has given the Government a handle.2 I sounded them upon the plan which I have in my head and they appeared well disposed. We then got into a discussion upon Cunningham’s character which was not the most in his praise. The fact is that I have seen too much littleness in this man’s character, too much small vanity and pride which renders any man contemptible with naturally high and correct feelings. He has managed queerly to destroy 272much of his proper tone and has assumed a style which makes him unpleasant. His pride interferes dreadfully in the place where I see him most and where he should have had the least of it. I hope he will improve. When we had returned, I went with Rundlet to the Hotel and we spent half an hour there pleasantly. By the time I spend here I may appear rather dissipated, but I imagine it is in effect less so than I ever was before. I returned home, spent an hour talking in Sheafe’s room and then came down to bed. XI.