Morning clear and pleasant. The Sun is gaining the Battle. I went to the Office as usual and received a letter from my Mother upon the 430matters relating to this Correspondence1 but no Letter from my Father which makes me suspicious that mine has produced a disagreeable effect. For this I feel sorry, but I cannot disavow the sentiments it contains. It may not have been judicious just at this time to express them, but this is at least doubtful. For this may be the very time when truth will have most effect and lead him to make a deliberate revision. I hope this may be the consequence but in the mean time I have no letter.2

I was occupied in reconsidering my argument for this evening and amending it in some passages. Drew up my Accounts also for the month and found myself correct. Returned home and in the Afternoon, Completed the last Oration against Verres, de Suppliciis which is a splendid effort. On the whole, I doubt whether in the way of accusation any thing, can be done beyond this. Whether in arrangement, force of argument, and power of expression, it is equally admirable.

Evening. Mr. Angier at our House. I went to the Meeting of the Debating Society. Owing to the absence of the other side no regular argument was made, the discussion such as it was, had salt enough3 in it. I took part in it, perhaps too much. We did not go home until ten o’clock after which I read the Tatler.

Morning delightful. The Snow is now rapidly making it’s disappearance and we hope soon to see again the face of the Earth. My Wife, Miss Adams and I attended Divine Service in the Morning and I went alone in the afternoon. Sermon by Mr. Frothingham. One upon the Season by Mr. Frothingham, part of which was very good, part not to my taste. Another upon substitution1 which did not attract me.

Mr. Angier dined with us and I sat in my study, reading the Correspondence attentively which I have not done before. The whole betrays a tone and spirit in our public men which augurs ill to our Institutions. It is disgraceful to every body that meddles with it. I 431passed a portion of the Evening in writing upon the same subject to my Father, but I do not know that I shall send it. I did not feel perfectly well today and indeed for some days past I have experienced a disagreeable sense of fulness. After this, Greek Grammar and the Tatler.