Mild for the Season but windy. I read a few of Voltaire’s amusing letters and then attended divine service. Heard Mr. Frothingham all day. Texts. Matthew 2.4. “And when Herod had gathered all the Chief Priests and Scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.” An appropriate recollection of the day and the reasons for holding it precious, not merely by an empty ceremonial without profit but as a sign of faith, of hope and of love, which go to make the Christian disciple. Afternoon Ezekiel 37.3. “And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered O, Lord God, thou knowest.” I recollect well the text of the Discourse because it is drawn from that striking Account of the Valley of dry bones and the prophesy, but the hearing of the discourse over a second time hardly impressed it the more upon me. I wished very much to fix my attention too but it eluded my grasp.

Home. Read Barrow’s concluding Sermon upon Industry in our particular calling as Scholars. Very good. Drawn from the necessity for it to constitute scholars and the benefits which the calling when 295exercised can dispense. Dr. Barrow was at home here and he writes con amore. He was a scholar and an industrious one and expatiates upon the value of the various branches of knowledge with a force and feeling which is pleasant to see.

Evening quietly at home. Gardner Gorham came in and spent a little while. He is a pleasant, rather empty headed young fellow. Afterwards, Diary, which I nearly brought up again.

Cold and slight snow. I went to the Office. Received some letters, one from my father detailing the preceding acts of Congress, and his own position which is somewhat between parties.1 I remained but a short time at the Office, as I thought I would go down and have a little conversation with A. H. Everett upon the information given to me by Mr. Hallett.

I found him at home and after returning to him the letter which he had lent me from my father, I disclosed to him the substance of the Saturday’s conversation. Mr. Hallett had already been with him so that the greater part of it was not new. But I found there was a much greater softening of the details of the conference with E. Everett. I suppose there must have been an object in this, but I was obliged to communicate its substance in order to secure my object. I however did not state it nearly in so positive a manner as I received it. My main design in seeking this conference was to see what Mr. E’s own disposition is. I know his circumstances must be very much straitened, his present support, nothing at all; he has been a little blown upon by the men who rule the Jackson party here and has as yet no certainty of support from any Quarter. In any projected change of course on the part of Mr. Webster and E. Everett the first step would necessarily be an admission of wrong to Alexander and a desire to conciliate both him and the Antimasons. A promise to provide for him would therefore be easily made. The course of the Jackson party might make this alternative the only one. But I found there was feeling in the matter. The evidence of the change was all canvassed, and the urgencies from Pennsylvania. After which his opinion was freely expressed that we should go on. Keep up the fire under which it is evident Mr. Webster’s friends are quailing.

Mr. Everett proposes to go to Washington in a few days and there to see Mr. Van Buren. I hope he will do better, although this is a warning example of the folly of men in embracing a political career 296without money to support them. The horrors of dependence upon the popular breeze. The horrors of poverty in the midst of wealth and of corruption. I pity Mr. Everett, Mr. Webster and all that race of men whose ambition runs away with their principle and prudence. For the rest, Mr. Everett thought less of the evidence upon which I formed my opinion than I did.

Home to read Livy. Afternoon occupied in writing an answer to my father which did not satisfy me. Evening, read to my Wife aloud from that ever interesting old Novel, Gil Blas.2