My spirits were slightly improved. Read before breakfast, and afterwards went to the Office. Received a Note from Abby1 with a beautiful present of an Emerald for a breast pin, and a hint that I was expected. I did very little accordingly and rode out of town at one o’clock. My day passed in uncommon happiness. Such feelings as mine diminish on paper. I could never express them as they ought to be. Affection is the feeling of a man’s breast which he cannot easily show. In words it sounds puerile, in deeds, it is but seldom in life that it can be exhibited. But such days as this are worth ages of dull life and the only difficulty with them is, they make me relish dull life the less.

Returned to town this morning. The roads were in as bad a condition as I ever found them, and the weather warm as summer. At the Office. Read a Chapter of Blackstone. Afternoon engaged in copying Law Authorities which have been cited heretofore at the Moot Court. Took a walk with Richardson and passed the evening at my room reading Cicero, and copying Executive Record.

Morning occupied in reading as usual. After breakfast, Blackstone at the Office. Received a letter from my Mother announcing John’s intention to be married on the 25th of this month. I was rather surprised at the manner in which it was noticed.1 Afternoon writing and reading Hutchinson. After which a walk with Richardson. He passed the evening with me and drank a bottle of Champagne. George called in for a few minutes. After which we took an Oyster Supper.

Wrote to my Mother before breakfast. At the Office, Blackstone. Received a long letter from my Mother and one from John.1 The latter, an Invitation to his Wedding on the 25th. I do not know what to say about it, and I reflected so much upon that subject as 212to make study quite useless. After dinner, as I felt incapable of doing any thing, I went to Medford, and spent the remainder of the time in conversation with Abby. I consulted her upon the subject of this visit. But she felt in a manner bound by her peculiar situation. It has its advantages and its disadvantages, and I am more fairly puzzled than I ever was before in all my life.