Continuance of Southerly winds and dark, gloomy weather. I went to the Office and occupied myself in accounts and Diary. The returns 266of the election still continue fair. Plymouth County is carried which is a very great point. Thus the Whigs have but a majority of two or three in the Senate. The change is certainly very extraordinary. And it must now be properly followed up. I do not know that I am called upon to do a great deal and shall think about it occasionally as I go along.

Conversation with Mr. Walsh who has just returned from Philadelphia and talks of the U.S. Bank. Called at the Advocate Office, and asked them to send me a proof. Then home where I read Juvenal finishing the tenth Satire, which I have carefully read over and over. Afternoon, Rousseau’s Social Contract, a production full of plausible things. Copied and sent my letter to my father. Evening, went with my Wife to see Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham who are again quietly established at home. Mr. B. Bradlee was there and afterwards Mr. Brooks. Home early.

Blustering day but not cold. I went to the Office as usual. My article, on the result of the election was published today. But it was very incorrectly printed and did not appear to do me justice. My time taken up in Diary &ca. and collected Dividends and drew Accounts. Called at the Athenaeum and procured some books upon Coins and Medals.1 Walk. Home rather late as I was delayed in making a purchase or two. Juvenal.

In the Afternoon I was employed in cutting out and pasting in a book various of my publications. They are in a Newspaper form and will probably be forgotten unless some such process is resorted to.2 I began with the Treasury Report which is on the whole as able a dissertation as any I ever wrote, thence to my History of the Morgan Conspiracy. I have laboured much and gained little in exchange. Yet perhaps my style which is admitted to be a powerful one may have been formed by these exercises.

In the evening, Thomas Frothingham came up to ask us to join his mother to see a Juggler, Blitz, who was amusing the public with tricks. I have not seen one for many years, but it seemed to me he had very few new ones. The time for exhibitions of that kind has gone by with me. Besides, I felt quite unwell. Some obstruction in my system began to make itself felt until nature acting against it relieved me and I threw it up, partially. My night was however bad. There was a magnificent Aurora Borealis just as I went to bed, more splendid than I have 267ever before seen or can describe. But I shall remember it without a description.