Fine day but showery. My father 72. To town. Dine at the Mansion. Evening also.

I went to town as I proposed to go to Cambridge again tomorrow. My time much taken up in business, but I made out to reach the Athenaeum and to call and see Warren who showed me a new coin or two and a collection of medals, some of which I should like much to have but he wishes to force them all down for the sake of a few. This is always the way in sales of coins, and a bad way it is.

Home. Dine at my father’s. His birth day, the seventy second year complete of a life of industry and honour. May it continue to be fruit-263ful of good works. There were present only the family, Mr. Campbell and Hull and Elizabeth.

Began the second book of the Annals of Tacitus. Ten Sections. Evening at the Mansion. Nothing new.

Warm day. To Boston and Cambridge. Examination and return. Evening company.

I went to Boston early this morning but yet did not reach it in season to be taken up by the carriage as proposed so that I followed on in my own vehicle to Cambridge. Reached it in time for the beginning of the examination of the first division of the Junior class in the Prometheus bound of Aeschylus. This is a piece of which I never read more than the first hundred lines or so and it stands by itself somewhat in its character. The recitations were good and correct but none of them extraordinary. Yet on the whole this class with which I have now been through an entire Greek college course of studies has shown the best of any, although it has rather lost than gained since the Freshman year. Much has been done to improve the studies but much remains to do to make it thorough. Judge Merril and Mr. Hillard were there and we met a large Committee at dinner which had come to examine the library. The party was therefore not so dull as usual although it was not lively.

Home again through Boston. Tacitus, 2d book, from section 10 to 30. Evening at the Mansion.

Warm day. At home all day. Evening at the Mansion.

After a week of so much and such unusual movement with me I was glad to seize the occasion of a quiet day. My time was taken up in finishing the fourth paper upon the Southern Convention, which consumed the whole morning. I have ended it as if promising a longer discussion. But I do not feel inclined to waste my ammunition. The whole of my work is just so much labour thrown away. I must feel a strong sense of duty to self impelling me to exertion when it would be so much more easy to take mine ease. I believe I have had enough of composition for the present.

After dinner Tacitus B. 2, s. 31 to 42 inclusive. Then interrupted by visits from Edward Brooks and his Wife, and Sidney’s Wife who took 264tea and remained until sunset. Afterwards a short visit to the other house.