Morning fine. I went to the Office and began to make up the Arrears of my Diary which are again considerable, but I was not destined to do much with them today. Mr. Hallett came in and began to talk of matters here. I thought it a very good opportunity to have something of an explanation with him. I told him that my position was now such as to make it necessary not to be connected with the movements of the democratic party so far as to render me unable to resist any hostile action on their part towards my father. And I wished to know if he foresaw at all the possibility of being obliged by the course of Mr. Van Buren to aid in a project already agitated as I heard, of opposing my father in his district should he be a candidate for re-election. He said not, that he had no idea of any such thing, that my father would not embarrass him unless he should aid the Whigs at the next State Election. I said I did not expect that much, particularly as Mr. Webster had concluded to remain in public life, but that at present at least I wished to be free from all engagements.

A. H. Everett came in and the conversation turned upon the affairs here which are in a very bad state. Tomorrow is the day for the trial for the County organization in Suffolk, between the party holding Office and the Radicals. And Mr. Hallett has plunged into the contest. He seemed to be confident of victory and read us some resolutions which he proposed to offer. I thought well of them but doubted whether the abdication of the nominations to Office on the part of the County Committee would be acceptable to either party. It being in fact a struggle for power and nothing else. Mr. Hallett said he had assurances from the Radicals. The business is a wretched one and I am glad to have nothing to do with it.

Home late, so that I lost my Greek. Afternoon, Burnet whom I continued to read very constantly. He is tiresome notwithstanding. Evening at home. Read to my wife part of Moore’s Byron, and afterwards finished the first volume of Montbarey.

Cloudy dull weather. I went to the Office and was engaged as usual, succeeded in bringing up Diary somewhat. I forgot to mention yesterday that the petition of the Quincy Canal Directors was returned to me signed and that I took it up to the Senate and gave it to Quincy to present, who did so and had it referred to the Committee on Railways and Canals, thus I discharged that duty.

Mr. Walsh came in for a little while. The public has been very much agitated within a day or two by the notice of an extraordinary failure at New York in connexion with several large ones in New Orleans.1 The pressure for money continues and indeed there begins to be an indication that the state of plethora is past. What will follow remains as yet a mystery. I fancy that we shall see very hard times.

I. H. Adams called upon me for some money in advance, he has received orders to join a survey on the Charleston Railway, and is going. I am glad of something for him at last. Failed in getting tickets for the Theatre again. I suspect my letter has had the wrong effect. Homer.

Afternoon, Burnet. I have finished the second volume of Forster and in the absence of the third, read Plutarch in the edition of Reiske which I got from Quincy.2 Evening, Mr. Brooks, and Mr. and Mrs. Frothingham passed a couple of hours. The former much elated at a purchase for E. Everett of a house in Summer Street belonging to Mr. Cabot.3 Afterwards, Whitney’s History of Quincy.4

Easterly dull drizzle. Office where I did not do much. Mr. Walsh came in and gave me some account of the meeting at Faneuil Hall last evening. It seems Mr. Hallett was entirely put down. He rallied but 210about three hundred whereas the Custom House carried six hundred and more. All his propositions were voted down and in short instead of a victory it was a defeat. I was somewhat amused at this result. Mr. Walsh himself appeared rather disgusted with the radicals whom before then he rather favoured. The truth is, their materials are fifth rate, and Mr. Hallett in using them looks to himself as a manager of instruments.

A. H. Everett afterwards came in and we talked it all over. He seems not sorry at this result. On the whole, he seems as uneasy under the attempted guidance of Mr. Hallett as I do. He resumed the subject of a Newspaper which I had broached to him, as T. K. Davis and I had talked it over. He seemed to favour the idea much. But I told him I doubted D’s courage. He said the best way would be to leave all matters for my father’s return and then consult.

Home. Homer. I read about forty lines a day. At this rate how long shall I be through the Iliad? Afternoon, Burnet and Plutarch. A great deal of wisdom in this Essay, I propose to translate. Evening at the play, the Belle’s Stratagem,1 a piece I never saw before. Letitia Hardy, Miss Tree and very well done, the other parts very indifferently supported. The piece itself has little merit. Home after the first Act of the Ransom. Read over the play and was struck with it’s poverty.