My father left us this morning at 1/2 past 6 o’clock. I regret his going although in the present disturbed condition of our political affairs in this State, it cannot be disagreeable to him to be out of the State.1

I went to the Office and read some of Milton. He is coarse but nervous. His style is not genuine English, because he had written in Latin and this is a translation. Notwithstanding all of this, he can furnish us very clever hints.

Took a walk. Afternoon and evening, engaged in a review of my Article upon Hutchinson asked for by Mr. Everett again yesterday. I wrote over two pages and revised all but the close. I think I could do better if I were to write anew. But the labour is too much for these times. Who thinks of doing so much as I commonly do in this way? I read a little of the Fair Maid of Perth, but my Wife was fatigued from the child’s restless nights.

A cloudy morning but it cleared away and became a very fine Indian Summer day. I went to the Office and passed my time in reading Milton’s Defence of the People of England. One or two persons came in. Mr. Knowles, the Carriage maker who did not seem pleased with my objections to his tufts, and other parts of his work. I doubt very much whether he will be able to maintain his reputation if he does not pay more attention to thoroughness of detail. Mr. Hayford the Mason called in at my request and I gave him directions. P. C. Brooks Jr. called about a Pew at Mr. Frothingham’s Church. I authorized him to make an arrangement to suit himself.

Walk—Then home. In the Afternoon, I finished my revisal of the Article upon Hutchinson and to get rid of it, inclosed it to Mr. Everett. Perhaps I may have to send back for this also in consequence. Copied some letters left by my father and despatched several of the Packets he left, so that by night I found my work to be done considerably lessened. Leisure hereafter for the Winter, I hope.

Fine morning, but it afterwards clouded over and by night was very gusty with rain. I went to the Office and passed my time in read-210ing Milton, but his work is so coarse and so little English that I skipped to some treatises as they originally came from his pen. Several small papers upon the best mode of a Commonwealth interested me much and were in far more English taste. As I was threatened with a recurrence of head ach, I took a long walk and only with partial benefit.

I this day sent to Mr. Everett my Article upon Hutchinson. I cast it upon the waters—Hoping and believing that it contains principles of which I ought not to be ashamed. My afternoon was passed in writing and copying a letter from me to my father about the Lincoln letter,1 which together with the copies made yesterday, I sent away by the Mail. Evening, reading the Fair Maid of Perth, Virgil and Lord Bacon.