Morning occupied in supplying the omission occasioned by my dissipation of the preceding days. I then returned to Boston with George. The day was again exceedingly warm and I felt it much more severely than on any preceding day. Walked to Mrs. Frothingham’s twice to see Abby, wrote a short letter to my Mother,1 and feeling the 267effects of exercise, I went to take a cold bath. It was pleasant but it’s effect was sudden and the fatigue of swimming, on my coming out, made evident how much strength I had lost during the past summer. Indeed I am becoming seriously apprehensive about my health. The bath restored my appetite, and I took dinner, though from utter want of appetite I had thought at first of going without. Sleep then came over me and I took a short nap at George’s Office, previous to returning to Quincy. My father looked fatigued from his day’s expedition and is very thin.

My sleep at times is lethargic and I find it impossible to rise quite so early as I had hoped. Besides I am entirely disarranged by the irruption of so many into my room. Rode into Boston, met Abby who was coming out to Quincy with Mrs. Dexter. Too late to turn back. Morning at the Office reading Saunders. Dined with Mr. Webster. Company, Mrs. Perkins of N.Y., Mr. and Mrs. Johnston of La., Mr. and Mrs. Everett, Mr. and Mrs. Hale, Mr. and Miss Shepherd, Mr. N. Appleton,1 Mr. J. C. Gray,2 Mr. Frothingham, Abby and myself. The dinner was a pleasant one and in better taste than any I have seen in Boston. Mr. W.’s house is really beautiful and well repays him for the expense laid upon it. Our time passed very agreeably, and at seven o’clock I took Abby to ride to Medford. The evening was pleasant and I felt uncommonly happy notwithstanding the presence of some floating clouds in my mind which portend another darkened atmosphere. I hope not.

Returned to town, bringing Abby to Winter Hill to spend the day with Mrs. Everett. Morning at the Office, reading Saunders. The news from Louisiana is not very favourable in the latter end. In the afternoon I read the commencement of a new work upon the United States by Mr. Pitkins professing to contain an account of our civil history.1 It was interesting and contained some new views having a direct bearing upon a question which I had some time agitated in my own mind. Went to Quincy an hour earlier than usual but occupied myself in 268nothing particular. Evening, conversation with father and George upon miscellaneous subjects.