The weather changed last night and it was moderately cold today. I am fretted about my pamphlet which does not as yet appear. Office. The town talk is still of Mr. Fletcher, a nine days wonder. I read a little of Sismondi and had a letter from home.1 Mr. Walsh called upon his departure. He evidently does not like his business. Yet I think it is better and more creditable to him than to be dawdling as he does now.

Home after a cold walk. Herodotus. Afternoon so short as hardly to 365furnish any time. I went down with my Wife to call upon Miss Harriet Welsh after her return from Europe,2 but she was not at home at Mrs. Henshaw’s where she lives. After a short visit, returned home, leaving my Wife at her brother Edward Brooks’. Time taken up looking over the correspondence; difficult to make selections.

At tea T. K. Davis came in and I accompanied him down to the Lecture of the Historical Society delivered by Mr. Felt upon the old Currency of Massachusetts. He had here a fine field for this time, but he skimmed only a small corner of it, and that only in details. From thence to Edward Brooks’ after my wife. Pleasant talk and home.

Colder day. I went to the Office. Again disappointed in my proof sheet which I ought to have finished today. Read a little of Sismondi but wasted my time shockingly. Walk and home. The public news from Washington interesting. Indications of a violent storm approaching. Herodotus.

Afternoon continuing my examination of the correspondence, there is so much material in it that the greatest of all difficulties is in selection. I am not a little embarrassed about the whole business.

In the evening received the proof sheets of the remainder of my pamphlet and passed some time with my Wife in correcting them. I dismissed it from my hands with no small anxiety as being the first of my attempts for which I am personally responsible to the public.1 If there is any thing in it which I do not feel sure of, all will be well, for I am perfectly clear that I have studied to know the truth.

A very sharp morning. The cold this year sets in early. I went to the Office where I was busy for some time in Accounts. Read a little of Sismondi and began a letter to my Mother but had not time to finish it. These are now the shortest days of the year and short indeed they are. Home after wasting an hour at a bookstore looking at books which I do not want.

Finished the seventh book of Herodotus being the last of the two books which are studied at Cambridge and which therefore I wished to 366look over. The latter is easy and I well recollected it but the former presented some as embarrassing Greek as I have read lately.

Afternoon so short that I had little time to devote it to any thing. Selected a few more letters. Evening at home. Read Lockhart to my Wife and afterwards made a remodel of my commencement for my proposed Lecture. But my time is so cut up I must make a new arrangement.