Morning cloudy with a high Easterly wind and occasional dashes of rain, as if preparing for a higher storm. I went into town, feeling in 107some degree necessitated as well from my promise to the wounded man as from the beginning of the Quarter. My time flew after getting there, for I first was obliged to go as far as the Washington Bank to collect the semi-annual Dividends due there, which distance is something, then to see Mr. Brooks and make application for his free bed. He expressed a willingness to recommend the man provided a proper Certificate from a physician according to the prescribed form could be obtained.

Mr. Higgins called upon me very shortly afterwards and mentioned the fellow’s case. I made him the offer and stated the previous condition, but he said the man appeared to entertain the Irish prejudice about hospitals and having got among his friends desired to stay there. He said he should not have advised me to go on through the rock in my well if he had been there as he finds quite as frequently it lets off the water lying above the rock as that it admits any from below. I am glad of this at any rate, as it releases my mind from the uneasiness of having too hastily judged. I settled with him for his work, considering it as done although the wall is left five feet below the surface. This is done to allow of tight boxing.

I saw Alexander H. Everett today and he after discussing political affairs some time came out at last with a proposition to write the Democratic Address in his District. I told him I would think of it and give an answer tomorrow.

My rides in and out were unpleasant today. Afternoon so short that I was hardly able to do any thing. Drew one part of a form of Lease for Mr. Chadwick and assorted a paper or two. This was all. The darkness set in before I could set down to effective work upon Mr. Everett’s Address. Evening at home. Mr. Price Greenleaf came in and talked for an hour, after which I felt so fatigued, I retired early.

This was the first morning since our return home upon which it might be really said to rain. A heavy North Easter prevailed all night with very heavy rain. Of course I was kept at home all day and was glad of it for it enabled me to do much work which was on hand to be finished. I drew up the Leases both of Carr and of Chadwick and prepared them in all respects for execution. I also arranged a receptacle for the assorted papers of my grandmother where I think they will remain, waiting for the rest. Read Livy, finishing the twenty ninth book. And passed a good deal of time in drawing up a form for an Address 108for Mr. Everett, but it would not do. My pen runs very heavily in the cause. Read a little of President Goguet, but my regular attention to literature will hardly commence before my return to town. In the afternoon, the weather cleared, but too late to do any thing out of doors. The sunset is so soon after dinner as to render the afternoon of little value. In the evening the family played Whist, but I had felt the want of exercise all day and was not quite well. I therefore sat out and looked over Hitchcock’s Report upon the Geology of the State which I consider a book very deficient in method and in thoroughness.1