A cloudy day with snow towards evening. I went to the Office where I passed my time writing Diary and reading the North American Review. I was much uninterrupted and wrote a short letter to my father.1 70The election for Senator went on today by the action of the House of Representatives. John Davis was again elected though not without losing all his ground for he had but one over the necessary number. What will be the result is yet uncertain although I rather think that the Senate will be overborne by the impulse of the Webster influence. The effect will not be likely to be favorable to this gentleman’s prospects. It will be no great compliment to any body after being thus bandied about. But to my father who has no personal hold upon the affections of the members, it is somewhat flattering that he should be stronger than the man who defeated him on a popular election two years since, for the Jackson votes are given to Mr. Davis, and they make a large part of his vote in the lower House. Let the result be as it may, I am content, only trusting implicitly in the Deity that he wills for our good.

Walk. Mr. C. Geitner stopped me to ask for some repairs and I accompanied him to his house where he lives in strange bachelor style. He has a fancy for collecting silver plate, all of which remains quietly in his trunk untouched. Home. Read Ovid and finished the third book of the Fasti.

Engaged to dine at the House of Mr. Inches. Mr. Brooks also but he declined going. Mr. Inches is a member of the Humane Society who give each other dinners. There were present today, Capt. B. Rich, Dr. Robbins, Dr. Bigelow and Dr. G. Heyward, Governor Davis, Messrs. Lothrop and Parkman, F. C. and J. C. Gray, F. J. Oliver, and R. G. Shaw. The thing was very dull to me, not to speak of the slight awkwardness of meeting Governor Davis, under existing circumstances. This however proved trifling, as I expected. But I have no partiality for this kind of dinner. Home early and quiet.

The weather rather cloudy but cleared off and became cold. I went to the Office and idled away my time a good deal. Mr. Spear from Quincy was my only interruption. I read two or three articles in the North American Review upon various subjects and was on the whole better pleased with the tone and spirit of it’s productions than usual. I did not feel any inclination to writing.

Mr. Hallett has published my third number and it has had it’s effect. Those pieces may or may not have done something towards directing the course of the Antimasonic party.1 Suffice it, the course as laid down in the resolutions given me to examine by Mr. Hallet is the 71one I wish. After the Senatorial election is over I may try my hand for once more. Perhaps Mr. Webster may feel the consequences of his low intrigue even yet.

I took my walk. Ovid. Began the fourth book of the Fasti. It is wonderful that Ovid can sustain himself as well as he does. Afternoon, reading Beckford’s second volume—Portugal in which he appears to have found many charms. They courted him as a rich Englishman. Evening, nothing material. I continued my various readings.