Morning cool and clear. Pursued the study of the Oration against Aeschines which has a great deal of power. Indeed it is worth full the same study as a specimen of Attack, that is bestowed upon the famous Crown Oration as a Defence. I then went to the Office and occupied myself in writing my Journal. Tried to take my Grandfather’s book upon the American Constitutions. But it is absolutely too dull and I give it up. I then went to the Athenaeum where I lounged half an hour in the Gallery and another half hour in the reading room. Looked at one or two of the political Papers and regretted that the state of public affairs should look so gloomy. But a most astonishing combination of events is favouring the most unprincipled Rulers we as a Nation have ever had.

Returned home and after dinner read the Letters to Atticus, Book 4th. No man probably ever had his whole soul so fully laid open to the public as Cicero. This may be said in palliation of the faults of the man, but it condemns all men. Human nature is not perfect, every body knows. Nor is Cicero the best specimen of that nature. Read Bacon’s Essay on Dispatch which is as sterling sense as any of the rest of his Works.

Evening, made a little further progress in my translation. I have copied it, into the margin of the Quarto Copy of Cicero which I have.1 This is perhaps wrong. The translation is rather difficult from the concise style of the Text. He rather touches than opens his ideas. This is unusual with him but he had written a great deal upon Oratory and was probably tired of detail. The Spectator. My Wife and Child tolerably.

Morning clear and quite cool but it soon clouded over. I pursued my usual study of Demosthenes, until it was time to go to the Office. Began today a review of the Federalist which I propose now to examine more thoroughly than I have yet been able to do.1 It is becoming every day of more importance to know what the framers of the Constitution did really and in truth mean. One man says one thing, another thinks the opposite to it is the proper sense, and none are willing now to bow to the decision of any common arbiter. If there is any thing more particularly dangerous than the rest, to our prospects of continuance as a Nation, it is this growing indisposition to compromise. A disposition which if cherished in the minutest concerns of life makes unhappiness, 136must be destructive when it is prevailing in the divisions of a People. If I should ever be called to deliver any address, I think this would be a useful subject. No body called today. I passed an hour in reading George’s Papers, particularly his letters to Mary. How sorrowful they make me. And when I look back, what causes have I to be grateful to the protection of a divine Providence.2

Returned home and passed the afternoon in reading the Letters to Atticus. An Essay of Lord Bacon on Seeming Wise, and in the Evening Translated the rest of my task excepting the last Section, and the Spectator. My Wife was pretty well, the Child with a little cold.