A beautiful morning. I went to the Office and occupied myself as usual in writing and Accounts. Went to the Athenaeum for the purpose of picking up some items of political information to make use of in my future numbers.

I wait the issue of this election with great anxiety. I want to see how far my efforts have succeeded in producing any effect at all upon 254the public mind. If they altogether fail, why I think I may as well stop in my career. If on the other hand they succeed, we shall then do better. I shall fix a base in Massachusetts to resist the confounded machinations of Mr. Webster’s jealousy.

Dropped in to see some pictures which are now exhibiting, copies of Old Masters, and remained until dinner time. Found Mrs. John Adams at the house who has come in to spend a few days. Afternoon I spent in writing out another paper of the Massachusetts Voter. This work is becoming laborious to me and unprofitable. I passed the evening with the ladies. Elizabeth C. Adams came in to stay the night. I wrote and read a little of Smith’s History of Astronomy.

My morning was very much taken up by various arrangements which were necessary in advance of the little compliment we designed to pay this evening to Mrs. Robbins as well as the return to our numerous invitations since our stay in Boston.

I had intended to have had my child christened on the same day, considering it as the Anniversary of my Grandfather’s birth, but my father appearing to have an idea that by the true rule, twelve days instead of eleven should be allowed to the new style, I concluded to postpone it until tomorrow. I then arranged it for three in the afternoon but received a notice from Mr. Brooks that he had an engagement at his own house. So that I fixed it for high noon. But the whole thing kept me in a motion all the morning. The day was sultry and I was in that sort of feverish uneasy state which attends such experiences.

Went down to give Mr. Hallett a new number and found him at home. Had some conversation with him upon various topics, and particularly upon the project of a Convention. He asked me to write for the Taunton Antimasonic Newspaper and to think whether I would go as a delegate, to the Convention. The season December 28 is eminently unfit for me. It is my busy time. I did not refuse but I inclined to waive it. The prospects of the election are but middling. There is more energy exerted here than I had expected. Lucky that I am in a work which at least puts out of my eyes the ambition of Office seeking. My walking was great and fatiguing. Home, dinner and afterwards in my study. I thought I would write up enough to last and entirely disembarrass me from further call just at present.

The evening came and with it a heavy rain which prevented many 255from coming to the party. There were however quite enough. The bride and her party, and the Quincys, Everetts and others enough to make up about forty. The whole thing was quite a successful first effort. It went off quite as well as I had reason to expect or hope, and it was nearly one o’clock when wearied out by fatigue I was able to get up to bed moralizing upon the weariness of society and the satisfaction of being able to pay in full some of its empty debts.