The greater part of this day was devoted to the continuation of an examination of the papers of my grandmother which are so voluminous as to present great difficulties to an arrangement. But I occasionally pick up scattered papers of considerable value which I shall keep for the purpose of copying. Among other things an abstract or two of his conversation made by Harriet Welsh during the time of her stay which are more amusing than any thing.1 I once had thoughts of doing the same thing, particularly as I recollect upon a night when I had heard from him an anecdote or anecdotes of a rare sort. But I was then too young to do it with effect. Were it now, I should certainly have done it. Yet even now I have the opportunity with my father and I do not use it. But in truth my father is yet too much wrapt up in politics of the day to dwell much upon the things of the past.

He talked to me today about the course of the Advocate respecting the Bank and ended with a request that I should for him make a remonstrance to Mr. Hallett. I found in the course of this conversation one of the inconveniencies of my position. He intimated that the connexion I had with the Advocate would inevitably implicate him and thus give a very bad aspect to its course upon the Bank subject. Now he very plainly thinks I do take my opinions from him and that the world therefore judges with good cause. It is possible that I do, but 213as there are many points upon which I differ from him, although I do not press them at present upon public notice, it follows that my being able not to press them arises from my private situation where I can select my topics. In any public one I could do so far less and should often embarrass as well as be embarrassed by him. This will be a caution to me for future guidance. Domestic politics must be avoided. I must decline every prospect of place in which they are agitated. This is no sacrifice to me for I prefer my present independence.

This is the birth day of Mrs. John Adams and her younger daughter and the usual ceremonies at dinner. Evening Mr. Price Greenleaf and Mr. Lunt.

Morning cool but fine. I went to town and was as usual engaged in a great variety of duties upon my getting there. I went to the House from which I despatched a Note to Miss Julia Gorham who is about to be married,1 with a present. She expects almost too much happiness to be likely to have her wishes realized. Office where I found Mr. Isaac P. Davis and made the arrangements necessary previous to starting on Monday morning next. Mr. Brooks has also agreed to make one of the party.

I called down to see Mr. Hallett and according to my promise to my father I laid before him the precise state of the case. He was far more tractable than upon a preceding occasion. He said that he had been willing to consider it a dead question that he held opinions of rather a radical sort respecting banks and was opposed to the National Bank but knowing that my father was of a different opinion as well as many members of the party it was his design to avoid all notice of it. The pieces which had been put in during his absence had gone in without his knowledge and he should not have consented to them. The understanding between us therefore is that hereafter no attacks upon the Bank are to go into the paper. We talked about some other points in connection with the state of the party which are of difficult decision. But there is nothing else of difference at present between us. This experience will however warn me not to go in deep water. The ocean of politics may do very well for my father and grandfather but I cannot reconcile myself to it’s billows or it’s bitterness.

This Journey will take me out of the Atmosphere for a few days and 214probably change the current of my thoughts. The time flew so that I heard the bell ring at Mr. Halletts Office. And as I had got no proof today, it rendered my going to town again tomorrow quite necessary. The remainder of the day was passed in attempting to do something more with the MS papers but I made slight progress in comparison with what was left. Quiet at home in the evening.