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.

Again severely cold. The winter will not break quite yet. I finished Mr. Beckford’s book which is pleasant trifling. Continued Goethe in Hayward’s German English. Attended divine service all day. Heard Mr. Frothingham. Luke 13. 12 “And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” Afternoon Genesis 3. 19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken.”

This was one of the days in which it is so absolutely impossible for me to fix my attention. I was busy in worlds of imagination, thinking of what I might and what I ought to do. Political affairs seem more and more to close before me and I turn to literature. What could I undertake. D’Israeli says what I have myself thought of many times that there is no life of Lord Bacon. What a field. Could I do anything in it? I fear my ability. But as any thing is better than idleness I will turn it over in my mind, and look up the sources of my information.

Read a Sermon of Dr. Barrow 1. Timothy 2. 12 “I exhort therefore that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings and for all that are in authority.” This is a very curious production for the exceeding zealous political doctrine which it inculcates. It was upon the subject of the happy return of Charles the 2d. It teaches the necessity of praying for the King, and the crime of resistance to his authority derived from God and not from the people. Dr. Barrow has been a great favorite with the zealous Churchmen ever since. But his doctrine of resistance failed in his Church the moment forbearance might have been a virtue. To be the National Church and supported by the Sovereign is no doubt 72very agreeable and may call for vehement exhortations to submission, but to be in danger from a Catholic king is only the story of the Justice and his Ox. It entirely alters the case. Such are the infallible principles of man. Evening, young Mr. Wadsworth came in for an hour taking leave, returning home. Read d’Israeli and Faust.