My health is not really good this winter, I am sure. Went to the Office, but a Meeting of the Directors of Middlesex Canal having been called I attended it at Mr. Chadwick’s Office in Court Street. The attendance was very scanty. Yet the Report of the Agent was very favourable. A dividend of twenty dollars was declared and a balance of eight thousand more, equivalent to half as much on each share, 19reserved for next year. This besides an expenditure of eight thousand and more upon new works. Two years more of success would place this property on a most durable footing. It will in all probability meet with one or two drawbacks in a few years but on the whole with the present Agent, the prospect is encouraging.

My time at the Office was short, looked over Accounts &c. Walk shortened by calling at the Athenaeum. Afternoon, taken up in reading Anquetil whose Catholic notions are curious. Evening, went to the public Meeting at Faneuil Hall. Speakers ordinary. J. T. Austin engrossed most of the time. On the whole a failure. Our people do not care much about the Tariff.1 It is not true that it would ruin them. Called in for my Wife at Mrs. Frothingham’s afterwards, took a little Supper and went home.

Cold again. Drew my Middlesex Canal Dividend, inspected books and read Lingard. On the whole pretty actively engaged. Received a short and excessively dispirited letter from my Father, mentioning the sickness of the whole family and his own.1 I do not know how it is, but there must be something or other at the bottom of affairs at Washington. Things do not go on well there. Whose fault it is, I cannot pretend to say, but that it is some one’s it does seem to me probable. My father seems to have lost his energy of character and suffers things to take their course. I hope through all the darkness that we shall see some light. My trust is always in a power above us. May his justice be administered in mercy.

Took a long walk. Afternoon, finished Anquetil’s Spirit of the League. A valuable work on the whole, to study the effects of fanaticism upon the human mind. Mr. Everett sent me a palavering Note in answer to my Saturday’s.2 I was idle. Evening, went to Mrs. B. Gorham’s according to invitation, stopping an hour or two at Gorham Brooks’. Conversation. Mr. Gorham has gone to Washington.3 Several ladies, many of whom I did not know. Remained only half an hour, and wasted at home the rest of the evening.