Morning at home, Executive record, walk, ride, Spenser, evening with the family, Cards.

A large dinner at home of Members of Congress. Principally men of our side. Col. Mercer of Virginia, a wavering and weak man, sat next to me.2 He had very little to say. The dinner was on the whole neither agreeable nor dull.

John King dined with us. He is just from England, and has brought out with him a Convention settling the amount of Indemnity for Slaves carried away at the close of the War. It has produced much gratification to the President, who has been in better spirits during the last week than I have ever known him. A sign that things go very fair.2

Morning at home, Spenser, Executive Record, ride with ladies, evening with the family.

Morning at home, Voltaire, Spenser, Executive Record, walk, evening with the family, Cards.

John and I went out to dine at Mr. Pleasonton’s according to invita-94tion. A small dinner. The foreign Ministers, Mr. Clay, and a few members of both houses. It was pretty well. But I cannot bear to dine away from home. I have very little comfort in it and as to gratification derived from conversation, I find but little. After dinner we escorted Miss Matilda to Gen. Brown’s. She is a young lady entirely unique in her style. But more fit to be ranked among the prudes than any other class. But her style is almost disgusting from it’s sensual nature. Although very averse to committing herself directly, she looks at you in that way which a man easily understands. It is very happy for her that she is educated in so christian a community. Gen. Brown’s was hot, crowded and dull as usual, so I was very glad to get home.