Fine day. My father and Mr. Price Greenleaf were in the parlor when I got there. They had walked in from Quincy and were proposing to take breakfast. After this Meal was over, the latter took his leave while I accompanied my father on his way to return some visits. I called at my house 5. Acorn Street to see the Tenant who wished some repairs done. She was very reasonable. This made it very late before I got to the Office.

The Newspapers too were full of matter this morning. The Morning Post has at last come out in decided commendation of my Appeal.1 So far, so good. The Globe has also a Manifesto from the friends of Mr. McLean seceding from the Whig ranks,2 and at the presentation of the vase of silver last evening, Mr. Webster took occasion to repeat his ground upon the Executive Patronage bill as a sort of answer to my Pamphlet.3 I called to see Mr. Hallett and discoursed the matter over with him. He had seen and observed none of these things. This conversation made me so late that I did not find time to do any thing at the Office. Returned home.

According to engagement, Mr. Everett and Mr. Hallett dined in company with my father. Conversation chiefly political and an exposition of my father’s policy in the present state of affairs. He is as independent as he ever was and presents one of the singular instances in this Country where superior ability makes it felt in the policy of the Country. I do not think he can be imitated in this by any body. I certainly have no fancy for so thorny a path.

At seven, I left my company and went to the Theatre with my Wife, to see the Maid of Judah a piece founded upon Ivanhoe, the music of Rossini. It is a scene of constant clatter and motion, with music much too loud for my taste and without any decided character. The 242best portions of it were a concerted piece during the trial scene of the Jewess, a little chorus of Robin Hood’s men, borrowed however and inferior to those in the Freyschutz, and one or two of her songs. The roughness of a first representation was also a disadvantage.4 The omission in the Opera of the black knight strikes me as a great mistake. Mr. Wood as Ivanhoe, Mrs. Wood as Rebecca, Cedric of Rotherwood, Mr. Brough, who seemed to me out of voice. We sat with the Millers. The piece finished at ten and we returned home finding Mr. Hallett not gone. He went soon after however.

My father passed the night at my House and spent this morning in town. We went out shortly after breakfast and I was engaged much of my time at the Office. I send off daily a few pamphlets. Mr. Webster finds himself in an extraordinary position respecting this and I am looking with some interest to the Report of his speech which is announced to us as likely to come when it shall have been prepared. This means that he anticipates criticism and will not be caught again.

I worked upon my Arrears of Diary until it became time to return home for the sake of taking my father with me in my gig to Quincy. We rode along through Roxbury observing all the changes which have taken place in it. Conversation upon political affairs. The more I reflect upon it, the more embarrassing I consider his position. He has nobody to support him because all are taking sides in one way or other and expect to be supported. For myself I must also stand entirely upon my own bottom. I neither wish nor expect party favor. But in the progress which I hope to make quietly through life, I desire very much 243to avoid the asperity which has done my father so much injury. He writes too strongly. A singular fault. And one which in a republic like our’s makes enemies as bitter as the sting which hurts them. Dinner. Afternoon quite alone as my father went down to Mount Wollaston and the ladies out to ride.

I started to return home quite early in the evening as I wished an hour’s leisure prior to going to see Mrs. B. Gorham—A supper party of a select fifty. I regard all such things as vanity and vexation of spirit. Idle, and unmeaning forms in which I take no delight. But the rules of Society will have it so and I submit. My condition in society makes it somewhat more unpleasant than it would otherwise be. I know myself to belong to a race who have been for a century the mark of a thousand contemptible jealousies. I am so myself, but my only course is to overlook them as unavoidable evils. The path of life should not run always perfectly smooth. Home at eleven.