Christmas day. Quite mild and pleasant though slightly rainy in the middle of the day and a heavy fog in the evening. I went to Meeting 153and heard Mr. Frothingham preach from Matthew 2. 11. “They presented unto him gifts; gold and frankincense and myrrh.” This discourse I am very sure I heard some years ago because the figurative management of it then struck me. I will look back in my Diary and find it.

Walk with Mr. Walsh and home. Found Mr. T. K. Davis there and they both dined with me. We had quite a pleasant little Christmas dinner and in the afternoon heard Mr. Frothingham again from the Psalms. 100. 3. “Not we ourselves.” A very good and sensible discourse upon the ascribing to ourselves much of action.

Afternoon Barrow. Matthew 1. 20. “For that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost.” The mystery of the incarnation with some reasons why it should have happened. These are more satisfactory than the discussion of the rest of the subject. Evening, paid a visit at Mrs. Brooks’. Nobody there but a Mr. Ingersol and friend of Mrs. B. Jrs. Home early.

A heavy southerly rain very warm until evening when it became cold. I went to the Office and was occupied in Diary and Accounts when Mr. Hallett came in. His object appeared to be to talk of A. H. Everett. He has become very impatient under his unreasonable claims, says that he sets his Note so high, nothing can be done for him. And he proposes to remedy his absence from Washington by moving into town, in such case moving from the District in a way not a whit less objectionable. I told him I regretted having given any advice at all and meant if possible to withdraw it. Mr. Hallett is going to Washington himself, and appeared to come to me for the purpose of getting some recommendation. But I had none to give. I will see him again however before he goes.

Home. Livy. Afternoon, reading Voltaire, article Education in the Encyclopedia or Dictionary collected by him, and something in Bacon besides German. Evening at home, reading to my Wife after which I set to writing, and wrote fluently.

A cold, sharp morning. I went to the Office which I do not however succeed in reaching very early, and had barely sat down to work when Mr. Walsh came in to talk and after him T. K. Davis to fulfil an agreement to go and pay a morning visit to Mr. and Mrs. Seaver. This 154being soon done on account of their absence from home, he proposed a walk which was lengthened out far beyond my measurement. We went to Boston line and I got home later than usual. Finished a book of Livy notwithstanding.

Afternoon, read part of Plutarch’s Essay upon Education to Statesmanship but the old French of Amyot is so quaint as to make it difficult to get the sense.1 Also a little German which I desire very much to keep up. Evening a visiting time due to Mr. and Mrs. Sargent. They have a very pretty house indeed, and seem comfortable. Home early, very cold.