Dark with rain making the Streets exceedingly disagreeable. I read enough of Kotzebue’s Story to find that his heroine was seduced and immediately put the book in its case for the purpose of taking up Schiller’s Wallenstein. Office, Mr. Walsh came in and talked about French affairs. I wrote my Diary and a good deal upon the College matters not taking my usual walk on account of the weather.

The House of Representatives again went into an election of Senator and chose Governor Davis by a much increased vote. The Stories that were circulated reinforced by a rumor that my father is hostile to Mr. Webster’s pretensions have had their effect in driving the timid 79brethren into the net. Well, so be it, as my father says. I have no doubt it is designed for the best. My father may do the Country better service in the House.

Read Ovid, and in the Afternoon continued the work of assorting papers which is drawing to a conclusion. Read also de Grimm. Evening, the town much excited by the arrival of the news of the Presidents message having arrived in France and of it’s reception by the press. The tone of the Papers is angry but evidently a little uneasy and alarmed. Collision certainly seems probable but I do not think it will take place. France must understand us to be in earnest and then perhaps we may go on. I read part of the Article Bacon in the Biographia Brittanica1 and Wallenstein which is difficult.

Morning cloudy. I went to the Office after reading a Scene or two in the first part of Schiller’s Wallenstein. Time taken up in Diary and writing Article No. 4 of my Political Speculation which I now continue that the Senatorial election is substantially decided. After I had finished it I called upon Mr. Hallett and had some conversation with him upon the general aspect of affairs. He consulted me upon the expediency of further measures. Who should be nominated for election as Governor. I explained to him the arrangement as it had been laid down to me and the motives which I ascribed to each individual actor. He was not informed of them, and could hardly believe the statements respecting Messrs. Webster and E. Everett although he adduced himself reports confirmatory of them, which he had received from other quarters. This added to the difficulty of the question. Mr. E. Everett must be the candidate of the Antimasons. I admitted this. But the next point was whether he was to be allowed to succeed in his miserable manoeuvre of getting the Whig nomination first by Mr. Webster’s influence and the Antimasonic afterwards by my fathers and his own. I recommended Mr. Hallett’s suggestion of a prior nomination. This would put him upon the horns of a dilemma which in my belief, his conduct deserves. He is a double hearted man if there is one on the face of the earth. His brother Alexander is not so bad. He has tried the game at his brothers suggestion but has made so wretched a hand of it, that he seems of late to have gone back and risked the consequences. Neither of these gentlemen are at all beyond the reach of legitimate reprisals.

Home losing my walk and Ovid. Afternoon papers, and Finished the volume of Grimm which I had. This is more lazy and less profitable reading than d’Israeli and yet I like it. The criticism of Rousseau is very good. Evening Abby had some friends, Miss Julia Gorham and her betrothed Mr. Richard Robbins, Miss Dehons and brother, Miss Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham and son, and P.C.B.Jr. Supper, but on the whole the thing was dull.