I find my mornings much shortened from a lazy practice I have of remaining over the fire at my House dipping into the Newspaper. Today my stay was to superintend the putting up at last of the Curtains.

At the office, finally where I was busy as usual in Accounts. My receipts come in very slowly, but I busy myself paying off my debts as fast as I can. Walk.

Afternoon quietly at home. Read Bacon, and in the evening began a Letter to my Father. The last act of the Play is now performing, and I am to describe its close. In a few days, we shall know what the effect of the series of events of the last year will be. I endeavour in my communications to my father to be perfectly impartial, to keep him informed of the true state of things here and to guard him as well against the measures of his friends as those of his enemies.

Cold weather. I went to the office where I pursued my occupation of Accounts. Nothing of any consequence happened.

The political affairs of the day are at last settling down into quiet. Mr. Davis will be chosen one of the Candidates to send up to the Senate, the vacancies having all been filled by the National Republicans, the Senate will by a large vote elect him as their Governor. Home. Afternoon, wrote more of my Letter to my father.

I was sincerely grieved to hear today of the death of Dr. Stevenson’s only remaining son.1 This is a severe blow to him, and it made me feel gloomy all day. Every parent must in some measure have an affliction of this kind brought home to him. Read in the evening from Miss Edgeworth and Mackintosh, whose work I am going over.

A very beautiful day. Our weather this season has been uncommonly mild and open. I went to the Office. The Editor of the Advocate sent me a proof of my father’s Address this morning and in going over it without the MS, and afterwards with it I was taken up nearly my whole time. It engrossed three hours morning and afternoon and after 244all I did not look over the whole. Mr. Davis was not elected today so that it became necessary to put off the publication until Friday.

Mr. Frothingham dined with me, for the first time for a very long while. He talked much of Dr. Stevenson and of his affliction. Miss Julia Gorham took tea and spent the evening here so that I was disappointed of my promise to go to see Mr. Brooks. J. W. Gorham her brother came in afterwards. I read a little of Mackintosh and copied the letter to my father.