My Wife remains pretty much in the same condition with a kind of low fever hanging upon her. I went to the Office rather early for the purpose of finishing the Mortgage deeds which I had promised. They took me the whole morning and then Mr. Perkins was not ready to execute them so the finishing was put off until tomorrow. Mr. Walsh came in to see me today looking meagre enough. I have not seen him for weeks and suppose he may have been incarcerated, but such is the singular temperament of the man that he talked today about as grandly 403of his prospect as if he had a fortune to depend upon. I confess this rather tries my good disposition.

Home. Sophocles. Dined at Governor Everett’s, a relation of his present from London, and Dr. Frothingham. A handsome dinner but not easy, and why it is difficult to pronounce. I shall not take the trouble to analyze it. The Governor is now marked in his manner to me. This is an index of the popular opinion, and nothing else. Home where I read some of Eckhel and Pinkerton. Evening wrote a letter to my father.1 T. K. Davis came in and sat an hour, nothing of interest.

A fine clear day although the weather keeps very cold for the season. Wife remains much the same her fever slowly declining. I went to the Office where I met the parties to execute the mortgages and we at last got through with them to the general satisfaction. I then went to see the collection of pictures again and was more pleased than ever. There is a picture of Salvator there which gives me some idea of the art which he possessed. I again looked at the Madonna of Guido and doubted whether it was not on the whole the best thing I had ever seen. There were many people there and so I returned home for the sake of dining by invitation with Dr. Frothingham. Nobody there but he feasted me on venison. I believe I must give up this dining business as it interferes with my regulation of my children and my hours of study which are after all my moments of delight. I was occupied today in copying my letter to my father and in the evening, studying Eckhel and Pinkerton.

Morning fine. I found my Wife a little better but recovering very slowly. Office where I was occupied in Accounts and arranging my papers which seem to get prodigiously out of order. My indolence or my occupations must be great for no person has a greater medley of things to attend to.

Called in to see the pictures and found much company. The Madonna gains on one by acquaintance. A seraphic face certainly. But there are now too many people to be at one’s ease or see conveniently.

Home. Sophocles. After which I began in earnest upon the Athenaeum coins, many of which I find curious and valuable. The experi-404ence this will furnish me will be a great aid to my own acquisitions in future. Evening at home pursuing the subject.