Snow and sleet and general bad weather. I continued reading the French Author, Mr. de Balzac. He writes a Tale somewhat in the style of the Eastern inventions. His hero is a young desperate just about to drown himself, at which moment he is presented with a Talismen, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should upon it signifying that the owner of it should have every thing he wished but that his life would depend upon the contraction of the skin at each new desire until they became extinct together.

I attended Divine Service all day. Heard Dr. Lowell from Titus 2. 11.12. “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.” Sobriety, justice and piety, Duties to ourselves, to others and to the Deity. This was the substance of the very short discourse which according to custom Dr. Lowell delivered. He is a very good practical preacher calculated to disseminate good principles without ever entering into their 92reasons. Afternoon Mr. Frothingham. Genesis 41. 8. “And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed and in the morning that his spirit was troubled.” He gave a new version of the Words of the Butler which I had never heard and which I hardly believe in.

My walk today for the first time this winter on Sunday was passed. I read a Sermon by Dr. Barrow on foolish talking and jesting. Ephesians 5. 4. “Nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient.” The Dr. is not willing to consider this is a general maxim embracing all sorts of pleasant conversation. He enumerates exceptions which are broad enough to include much of modern conversation, and then specifies the objects, Scandal, obscurity, trivial nonsense, malicious wit &ca. A very good Sermon and equal to the Drs. character.

At tea, we were surprised by the arrival from Canton of my Wife’s youngest brother, Horatio. The vessel he was in went ashore near Nantucket and he and others of the passengers saved themselves in the boat to another ship. The probability is that the vessel is not lost but she is in considerable danger. Mr. Bradlee passed part of the evening here.

My cold instead of growing better seems to get worse. I had today a head ach joined with it which made it infinitely worse to bear, but to the Office where I was occupied mainly in bringing up Accounts of the Quarter.

The news from Washington is that Congress adjourned in an exceedingly disorderly manner.1 Instead of appropriating any sum to put this Country in a state of defence they have failed to pass the usual fortification bill. Of course the two parties who control the Houses respectively put the blame upon each other and the Country suffers. I do not know which side is the most factious, perhaps the Jackson Van Buren party the most so but by a very small intervale.

Mr. Walsh spent some time and I took a long walk so that I read nothing of Ovid. Continued after dinner the Peau de Chagrin. The young man accepts incredulously the skin and begins by a most extravagant and unreasonable wish. It is accomplished gradually by means apparently simple and natural following each other, the result of which is a great contraction of the skin. Finally he falls in love with a young woman and the consequence of his natural desires leads to his 93death. Such is the story very naturally developed. Mr. T. K. Davis was here in the evening and was amusing but I was unable to attend to him from pain. Retired early.