Looked over two or three Messages before breakfast. Then went to the Office. Understanding Abby to be in town I went to Mrs. 203Frothingham’s but did not see her in the morning. I have been suffering from a bad cold all the week and my spirits are again breaking by the force of it. Read Blackstone. Afternoon at Mrs. Frothingham’s to see Abby, found her much as usual, drank tea there and shortly after returned home to dress for Mrs. T. B. Curtis’s party.1 Called for Abby and had a very stupid evening. It was a tea party which is another name for something very odious. Found myself tired and very much out of spirits on my return home at eleven.

Wrote a letter to my Mother this morning.1 After breakfast went to the Office and found one from her with but little of any thing in it. Went from there to see Abby and passed a large part of the morning with her. The day was so bad I concluded not to go out of town. But my spirits again fell in my desperate way. At such times my prayers are sincere but it is almost too great a trial to be often subject to them. Trusting in a divine Providence I should exist in hope, but sometimes despair will get the advantage. Afternoon occupied in copying the Lecture of Judge Howe, and in the evening instead of going to the Concert, I occupied myself at home. But employment would scarcely support me.

Morning occupied in finishing the volume of Messages of the different Presidents, and reading some other Papers in regard to the Congressional History of the Country. At eleven as the weather promised tolerably I started to go to Medford. The roads were in as bad condition as I ever knew them, occasioned by the late rains. Found Abby quite sick so that she did not come down to dinner but she had somewhat recovered in the afternoon and came down. In sickness there is always more scope for affection and I have seldom known an evening to pass with purer, kinder and more enthusiastic feelings on my part.

Abby was better this morning and I returned to town over the same wild track shortly after breakfast. Morning occupied in reading Blackstone. Afternoon in copying as usual. Went to the Theatre in 204Federal Street in the evening and saw the Tragedy of Venice preserved. The House was very thin and hardly encouraging to the Actors. Mrs. Sloman performed Belvidera; her acting is decidedly good, although not so supremely powerful as one would suppose a first rate to be.1 She was entirely unsupported by the other characters. This play is capable of great dramatic effect although somewhat defective in it’s plot. And it undoubtedly is calculated strongly to excite the feelings. The little Opera Farce of Brother and Sister closed the Performance.2 Keene sung much in his usual style. I was shocked by the small number in the House.