Attended service in the morning and heard Mr. Gannet deliver a Sermon as usual. Differing but little from any preceding ones which I have heard from him. The day was cold and blustering, fit weather for the month we commence. After dinner, I went to Medford in a sleigh, it being the first time I recollect to have driven a thing of the kind, and the first for a long time that I have been in one. I got there safe and glad to see Abby again after so long a separation. She was more affectionate even than usual, and I felt my feelings soothed and my happiness raised to a degree which has not happened before for a long time. Not that I have not been occasionally very much so, but this was an evening “par excellence.”

Passed an hour with Abby previous to my return to town, pleasantly enough. The day was fair and I came in pretty rapidly. Morning at the Office, writing a letter to my Aunt Smith in reply to one received from her on Saturday.1 Afternoon, engaged in reading Adam Smith but my attention was not fixed to it. So that I gained little. In the evening, Mirabeau, Cour de Berlin, not interesting at all. I felt heavy, and apathetical, if there is such a word. I suspect, a little bilious, for this was my condition last Spring.

Morning at the Office. Weather tolerably mild at last. After being engaged some time in filing papers, I went into Court. The Supreme Court of the State commencing its Session this day. I heard an argument on a motion for a release of a Prisoner brought up on Habeas Corpus. This occupied the morning, and I took a Note of it which I passed the Afternoon in filling out, excepting a short time in which I was occupied in reflecting upon my argument about Banks which I am engaged to make before the Debating Society.

Morning at the Office, and in the Supreme Court where I listened to a case of not much importance. This is the day upon which Genl. Jackson takes upon himself the responsibility of government. It is the day consummating the triumph of his party, and was celebrated accordingly by his partisans here who have never been numerous in this 353quarter, but who were anxious to make some display on this occasion. Guns were fired, the troops paraded and so forth. My father is now a private citizen after a long life of public service. I hope he will feel pleasure in the circumstance, but have yet to see how the change will become him. Four years since, the scene was different and I took my part in the pride and in the pleasure. Now I feel little regret, and little interest in the matter. I could not help thinking that it might be a trying day at Washington though it was not so here.

Afternoon, engaged in writing and reading on the subject of the Banks, and copied very clumsily my Note of the Argument in the morning. I will make an attempt to open the first subject distinctly, and therefore passed a part of the evening arranging and digesting it.