Cloudy day and dark. I finished Don Carlos this morning and on the whole admire it very much. Although I hardly think justice is entirely done to the characters. Alva for instance is represented as a mean, fawning courtier in league with an ambitious priest. Yet Alva 45was a proud grandee of Spain exercising a command of great latitude with the most decided authority. The Queen and Carlos are made to enter into a Conspiracy against the King which ought to take much from the sympathy for their fate. And Posa by failing in all his vast undertakings runs great risk of meriting the cognomen of “tete exaltée” – visionary.

Office, where I was detained until dinner time by the closing of the sales of the New England Insurance Stock, which was done, the money received, deposited to the credit of my father in Bank and a letter of notice written and despatched before going home.1

Afternoon, MS. papers. Letters of J.A. to Edmd. Jenings and his answers. This man’s character and relations with my Grandfather require explanation. I do not see clearly as yet into these matters. Evening. Finished the first volume of d’Israeli. Afterwards began Wielands Oberon.2

It snowed the greater part of the night and this morning the weather had all the appearance of our Easterly winter storms. I remained at home until quite late doubtful whether to go out at all and amusing myself with Wieland. But it seemed likely to stop snowing at noon so that I took advantage of the time to go to the Office and finish the draught of my Quarterly Account to be forwarded tomorrow.1 This it is a relief to get off my mind. My father by his sales is however so rapidly simplifying his measures of pecuniary concern in this Quarter that after next year it does not seem probable there will be much necessity for labour. I did not walk owing to the depth of the snow. Afternoon. Correspondence, J. Adams and Edmund Jenings. After which d’Israeli and Wieland’s Oberon. A charming poem written with all the flow and simplicity so peculiarly adapted to a Fairy Story.

A beautiful day. The sun bright and warm enough to melt much of the snow. I took my walk at noon. Crowds of people out at the shops 46in the very busy occupation of purchasing for New Year’s day. This is a pleasant sight, and a joyful custom. Every year of life as it passes mingles so much of the pain and pleasure of life that it is well to begin it with some agreeable sensations. The elder portion of the Community reflect upon the past, the younger upon the future. The first class remember how the last year has resulted to them in the great business of happiness, the last what is in store of the same thing during the next. For myself I despatched all my business early this morning and then I thought upon the last year.

Within the circle of my own family I have been eminently blessed. Divine Providence has continued to me the favours heretofore bestowed and increased and enlarged them. I have done as little as ever. My twenty seventh year has passed and I have done nothing. So be it. With impaired confidence in the success of my efforts, I propose to continue.

The distress of my father’s family has been great. I have sympathized with them somewhat, but less than I should have done under different circumstances. Had my brother been more useful to himself and those about him, had he listened more to the dictates of prudence he might have been invaluable to his friends. It was not heaven’s will. He plunged my father into pecuniary embarrassment, and himself into moral ruin. I regret his fine qualities, I mourn over the rapid obscuration of the splendid sunshine which attended the morning of his day. But it had taken place. And there remained to our view nothing but a dreary future which a merciful heaven cut off. I shall turn to this subject no more.

The year is gone. And here are those of us who have been suffered to remain. I pursued my usual occupations, all day.