Morning Cloudy but not disagreeable. I went to the Office, and occupied myself in looking up the facts relative to the Affairs with the Indians as given to us by the Message of the President of the United States. And I could not help being struck with the flimsy network of it’s argument when I came to look into the thing—The Indian Treaties and the Controversy with Georgia.1 But I could not devote my whole morning to it, and therefore sat down to draw up my Letter of Accounts to my Father which I did so effectually as to conclude to make another. This is always my way. But my morning passed and as I had advised Abby to go out of town to day to see her Mother I went down myself to Mrs. Frothingham’s to dine. Found them at home as common and dined without any ceremony. From thence I went down to the Athenaeum and in a great measure wasted the Afternoon. This may often prove the case unless I guard against it by some means or other. I did however read a considerable portion of Captain Hall’s book upon America and was amused with it. I do not however agree with the notions taken by Mr. Everett of it.2 No American need be afraid of such a work. We have got beyond that stage of existence when the hasty opinions of any single Individual can produce any permanent effect. Our Institutions are taking a solidity which will 116make us look to ourselves more and abroad less. Captain Hall is on the whole entertaining. His prejudices and his candor, his English feeling with his parental one all combine to make one diverted with him on the whole. But the book is not intrinsically worth much. I left off to go to the Debating Society where there was a very considerable meeting. The discussion on the Bank was renewed and continued during the whole evening. I spoke unpremeditatedly and was not so well satisfied with myself. But we closed the subject very thoroughly.

Did not rise very early this morning. But I hope to be able to do so for my time now slips away exceedingly fast. For the two past mornings I had succeeded in starting early but again fell back on this. As I did not feel desirous of reaching Medford very early, I read a little of Brumoy’s Preliminary Discources and two of Blair’s Lectures upon Oratory which interested me very much.1 They are full of interest to a young man who like myself is endeavouring to fix some school for himself to pursue. And they contain much advice which had occurred to my mind spontaneously. The whole study is exceedingly fascinating, and if I could only give my whole time to it, I should be pursuing the most anxious wish of my heart. I feel favoured in many respects, by the independence which I enjoy, by the circumstances of birth and character which I need not be ashamed of. Now if I can fill up the rest of the outline, I can enjoy a respect and consideration in society to be excelled by few individuals in the Country. I can support the the name at least respectably among us.

But I was obliged to think of going to Medford and so at eleven, I 117started and going through Milk row and Cambridge arrived just before dinner. Found the family as usual, excepting that Mrs. Brooks appeared to me suffering, though with a better appetite than she has had. We dined, and went in the afternoon to hear Mr. Stetson who preached a tolerably sensible Sermon upon the close of the year; This gentleman has some power, but his great corpulency is a drawback. We returned and spent the evening at home quietly. I had little or nothing to do, so occupied myself in looking over the Pages of the New Almanac gotten up under literary patronage. But, I should have preferred to have been at home pursuing a more useful purpose.