Morning still cloudy and dark. I have not progressed much since my review took me away from it, in the Catalogue of my father’s Library. But now that I have my time this ought to become a very serious consideration. For the last two mornings, Conversation with my Wife has taken up the time I generally devote to it, but my time is precious, and I am reminded of the necessity of labour.

At the Office where I devoted myself to the study of Gottsched’s Grammar and liked the arrangement of it much better than Meidinger’s. For he begins with a most necessary thing to understand, the Article, while the other hardly seems to treat it by itself at all. Mr. Stone, the Treasurer of the City Guards, called upon me to pay the balance of the demand of my late brother’s Estate upon that Company. I was delighted to close the whole of that business and allow all his troubles and his pleasures to rest in peace. This demand I was particularly glad to collect, as it shows that his confidence was not always misplaced.1

I took my usual walk. After dinner, resumed and finished the first book of Cicero de Oratore in review. The argument is upon the necessity of all other Science to constitute the Orator. A question which involves no question when rightly considered, for it is solved by what 360may be made the definition of an Orator. The wider sense in which Crassus is made to understand it, is perhaps the pleasantest to minds generally, though that of Antony is likely to be the most accurate. Evening, Corinne and a little poetry in a desultory way, after which I read the first half of the third Book of Paradise Lost and two dry numbers of the Tatler.

This day presented no pleasanter prospect to us than either of the preceding—The wind still holding to the Eastward, our Stormy point. I went to the Office after resuming a little work upon my Catalogue. Continued assiduously my perusal of Gottsched and Meidinger, and gleaned occasionally a profitable idea, but their Grammars are both too cumbrous for a student of elementary principles who ought not to have his mind crowded with so many ideas as to expel each other from a durable position. I read over the adjectives, numerals and pronouns without fixing a great deal that was material, but still reviving some old recollections.

I took my usual walk, and had a better appetite than usual for dinner. Miss Mary Ann Phillips dined with us and passed the whole day with my Wife. I had a very long afternoon in consequence, but as I fell into my old superficial way of accomplishing twenty five sections, I concluded to read it over thoroughly and did not finish. The second book is not so difficult as parts of the first, and yet to me perhaps not quite so entertaining. But I speak only from a partial examination. Abby sat with me tonight only for an hour, after which I finished and reviewed the third book of Paradise lost, and read two numbers of no great interest in the Tatler.

The dark and dismal weather still continues without improvement. My spirits are not at this moment, I thank Heaven, particularly liable to depression or this would try them. At the Office, where after occupying myself with my Journal and Accounts, instead of continuing my German, I sat down to consider the subject proposed for discussion at the Debating Society tomorrow evening. As I gave it last Saturday, to be my opinion that a man should go prepared to take a part in the discussions of the evening, I feel in a degree bound to support my 361doctrine by my example. I laid out very good ground for my line, if I should conclude to take part in the discussion. My father’s Servant, John Kirke came from Quincy with a Note,1 and some Commissions to be executed. My Mother appeared in much better spirits than she had been.2

Tried to take my Walk but the weather was so bad, that I was somewhat disappointed about it. This is bad for to me now, regularity of exercise is of some consequence. After dinner, I read Cicero and accomplished pretty thoroughly what heretofore I had done slightly. The book is very interesting, there is a flow in the style so gentle and natural, the words seem to be placed with such peculiar fitness where they are to stand, that it holds forth a wonderful example for us pigmies to imitate.3 Evening, Corinne with my Wife when we finished the first Volume. After which I read to her from Byron several of his smaller and sweeter pieces. I also read for the first time, the Critique in the Edinburgh Review of the Hours of Idleness,4 which produced his famous Satire of the English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. It is rather harsh, and shows the danger in which Critics often are of undue severity. The Lion may be roused and use his teeth to some purpose. I afterwards went over two thirds of the fourth book of Paradise Lost, and read two Numbers of the Tatler.