This would have been called very cold if it had not been preceded by weather so much more so. To the Office. I get there however so late that my stay is now seldom very long. Mr. Walsh came in and conversed. He is poor and full of projects. He now talks of supplying the City with Water, by a contrivance of his. I listen and answer as I am best able.

Called upon Mr. Hallett and delivered to him my paper written yesterday. He does not yet know the result of the Convention at Harrisburgh and is very unwilling to come to the mark of attacking Mr. Webster which must nevertheless be done or the course adopted by us cannot be sustained.

Walk and home where I pursued Persius. I have suffered so much at home by the cold as to make me wish to adopt more precautions and I was therefore busy today in making arrangements to warm my entry. Afternoon read over a Pamphlet written by Mr. W. Slade of Vermont and attacking Mr. Hallett and through him all those who now influence the policy of Massachusetts. He is very easy to be answered and I may answer him, rather from respect for his position than the necessity of the case.1 Politics make strange Jumbles, but the great injunction to remember is to keep cool.

Evening with my Wife to the Theatre. The Barber of Seville. Although I have seen that piece times innumerable, it yet comes over me like a charm at each new representation. They have now got it up in great perfection, adding in much of the music which the want of a Basil had heretofore caused to be left out. Mr. Brough makes a very tolerable one while Mrs. Wood is still good as Rosina and Mr. Johnson 286does respectably as Bartolo. Of Wood himself I can hardly say enough for his acting is as good as his singing. A farce before the Opera called the Marriage Rake. Not much in itself but well done by Mr. and Mrs. Barrett and Mrs. Smith. Home pleased.

The weather moderated and there was snow and hail throughout the day. I went to the Office but did not remain much fixed at any place. Accounts have arrived of a most dreadful fire which occurred in New York on Wednesday the bitter cold night of this week, and devastated the business part of that great city. Such a fire has never before been experienced in this Country. The Insurance Companies are said to have lost all their Capital, and many of the wealthiest Merchants to be nearly ruined.1 What a lesson of the vanity of all earthly goods! What a time to learn that difficult virtue of humility! I hope I may cultivate my talents so as to make me not utterly helpless and upon the world in case of misfortune to myself. I have heretofore hardly regarded this as enough possible.

Time taken up in Accounts. Mr. Walsh came in and talked for a short time. I walked. The town is full of this matter of the fire. Nobody talks of any thing else. Some of the loss falls upon persons here, particularly Insurance Companies and Manufactories. Home where I read Persius rather negligently. It is unpleasant to follow even the best sense through such a very crabbed style. If there were more of the Satires, nobody would read them.

Dined at Mr. Brooks’. Family only. Mr. Everett, Mr. Frothingham, Edward Brooks, Mr. Inches, Joseph Angier of New Bedford and myself. The party was not a very brilliant one. Mr. Everett who 287usually talks to shine seemed to be in a fog, caused perhaps by the accounts from Harrisburgh which are not so favorable as was anticipated. There are few safe topics to discuss in these days of political differences and general quietude. Mr. Angier in mixed society is a very silent man. On the whole I was glad when the party broke up earlier than usual and I found myself at home reading to my Wife from the interesting memoirs of that true French heroine Madame Junot. Afterwards, attempted to write.