Morning cool and pleasant. My number did not appear. It is tolerably clear to me that the plan is to kill their effect by delay, and I am 168not certain that I shall not lose as much by my introduction of my papers as I can expect to gain.

To the Office where I was occupied drawing up the Account for T. B. Adams for three quarters of a year. I regret to perceive in the Newspaper of this morning that Mr. John Bailey is dead of a consumption—A valuable man and a good friend to my father.1 I regret it. Went to see Mr. Durand about Mr. Brooks’ picture. He has finished it and means to send it home tomorrow.

Home where I found my Mother who came in with little Louisa for a sitting.2 As usual there was so much uneasiness that my Wife was not well and the house in confusion. She remained until five o’clock when I went with her to pay a visit at Mrs. Pickman’s to Mrs. De Wint. Found Mrs. J. H. Foster and two daughters with Miss Harriet Welsh there. Short and stiff. Home where I finished Thiers’ Account of the Convention, and the famous day of the sections.

Evening with my Wife, after which I resumed my Papers, and bearing in mind Mr. Francis’ Sermon, sat down to write over and improve No. 3.

“Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.” The Centinel after this long delay publishes nothing but my number and five lines of comment that had better have been left alone. I fancy the poor gentleman finds himself in a maze and no helping hand to get him out. But I do not relish this awkward sort of postponement. Silence is the word. I am therefore reworking my two numbers in order to add more potency to the pills. Finished the second draught of No. 3 this morning.

At the Office engaged in Accounts at the close of the Quarter, then to Mr. Durand whom I paid for the Picture of Mr. Brooks. He has much improved the coloring of that of my father. My late acquisitions are very valuable. In the afternoon I went out to see Mr. Hallett but could not find him. Left both draughts of my No. 3 that he might take his choice.

Home where after reading some of Thiers I sat down to No. 4 and gave it a good deal more depth and force. I am not one of those 169 clever people who ever make a thing shorter by working it over. My ideas are always too much condensed and require developing. Evening with my Wife, after which I sat down and nearly completed my fourth number which I design to force out the party if any thing will do it.