Morning fine. It was passed without any attention to any particular subject. The morning is so wasted by the late hour of breakfast and the time I pass in company with my Mother, that I have no time at all to occupy myself in any thing remarkably useful. Took a ride with her and Mary. On my return, occupied myself in writing a letter 290to Abby which was not completed when dinner was announced. Mr. Williams of Baltimore dined here.1 He is District Attorney of Maryland, and a great friend to the present Government, and reported to be a man of talents, but I did not discover any thing particularly agreeable in his conversation. In the evening, I was with my Mother part of the evening and a part of it conversing with Mary.

Morning at home. Copied a good deal of the Vaughan papers before breakfast. Had an amusing and laughable conversation with Mrs. Smith and my Mother upon our prospects of which we make a laugh now at any rate. Received a letter from Abby informing me of her intention of going to pass a month at New York with her sister Fanny. I have no objection to this arrangement and have many reasons for liking it. It will have a good effect upon her to be away from home and it may prevent the repetition of importunity at a more unseasonable time. But I have a kind of apprehension attending it, that in some measure it may retard my marriage, a step which my mind is now bent upon with singular pertinacity. Rode out with my Mother, and found it late before my return, so that I did nothing before dinner and only sat conversing after it, during the evening.

Morning at home copying a portion of Mr. Vaughan’s Papers. The day was chill and cloudy so that I did not go out at all. I read part of Irving’s Life of Columbus aloud to my Mother. She seemed to be tolerably well. The day was extremely uninteresting in all respects. Evening in conversation with my Mother. I felt a little dull but the political prospect is rapidly closing, and certainty will soon appear. This will assist me in my arrangement about marriage very materially.

Passed the morning at home. We breakfast so late now that I have an opportunity to copy some of the Vaughan papers. And the remainder of the morning, I pass in reading the Life of Columbus to my Mother. It becomes more interesting as we proceed. Took a walk today making some stop at my Tailor’s to give him some orders. The day was very fine. My mother overtook me in the Carriage and I went to ride with her. The rest of the day passed in writing to Abby 291at New York. Evening with my father and Mother, engaged in a pleasant and lively conversation.