Reading before breakfast. Went to the Office and read a little of Blackstone. News arrived of the death of Governor Clinton of New York. It will make some stir among the Politicians of the day and is in itself not an uninstructive lesson as to the vanity of human ambition. I regard it as the establishment of Mr. Clay in this part of the Country. Copied an answer to a bill in Equity for Mr. Kinsman 214and read Hutchinson. Evening quiet at home reading Cicero and writing Executive Record.

Wrote to my Mother but did not finish my letter before breakfast. The weather was unpleasant and it snowed. Went to the Office where I received a letter from my Mother without any expression of a wish that I should go on although the invitation is mentioned, which confirms me in the correctness of my decision. Finished my letter and sent it.1 Went over to inquire respecting Ward Brooks and found that Mr. Brooks was preparing to go on with Mrs. Frothingham in consequence of receiving information of a character still more unfavourable. It makes the family a little melancholy. I went to Mrs. Frothingham’s and found her about to start. Mrs. Everett was in town and asked me to ride out in the Carriage with her, and Henry and also Julia Gorham who is going out to accompany Abby during the absence of her parents. The afternoon was passed in reading and in conversation, and in the evening had some conversation with Abby.

Beautiful morning. Went to Meeting and heard a Mr. Farmer whom I remember as a Divinity Student at Cambridge.1 Tolerable. The day passed without any material occurrence excepting that one could not help being struck with the difference in the family by the absence of the elder portions of it. Mrs. Brooks constitutes one great charm of it. Had a good deal of conversation with Abby and saw her in a new light, although I was not unaware of it’s existence.

Returned to Boston with Henry Brooks. Received a letter from my father without any news in it. Read Blackstone. Afternoon writing and reading Hutchinson. Conversation with Mr. Davis. Went to the Moot Court and heard a good opinion from Chapman as well as a good argument although a short one.1 At home remainder of the evening.