As much fire in my room as in winter. The day was spent in study almost incessant. So much so that I felt the effect of it in the day time. But the evening’s relaxation restored me and preserved me from impending headach. I performed all my duties to admiration today. But am apprehensive that I shall not be able to continue so intensely. 126Family rather dull today. I played Billiards with Mary in the evening. Nothing remarkable to record.

I performed my exercises of the Morning with great regularity. And received a long and gratifying letter from my dear Abby. Mr. Reynolds called to see me and remained an hour talking of his expedition and finally came down as I had long expected, with his regular subscription list. As I had said so much, of course something was to be expected, and I was compelled to put myself down. In the evening we had a dull party of people consisting of the brides, Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Cooper, and Mrs. Weed,1 and the Roberdeaus, and McLeans. It was very stupid. Mr. and Mrs. Frye and Miss Buchanan,2 together with Mr. Myers who by unlucky fate just dropped in to be invited. Glad when they were all gone.

Morning as usual. But Wyer interrupted me in my Law and so I lost an hour. The afternoon was entirely occupied in writing an answer to Abby. In the evening I rode out with John. We went to the burying ground on the Eastern branch as I happened to say in going near it that I had never seen it. It will in time be a melancholy monument. Clinton and Gerry1 are now the most distinguished of those who lie there. The members of Congress have only a simple low block of stone with their names. In treading over remains of useful and distinguished men an awe strikes me which in common places of this sort I never feel. Indeed having diverged a little, my risibles were a little excited by these lines Weep not, my wife, nor mother dear Your son’s not dead but sleeping here. Billiards in the evening.