Fine day. At home.

I was at home all day, reading Arthur Lee’s correspondence which is 273interesting and well written. Texier and Meissner’s Alcibiades, which last I got interested in more than was proper. The pictures drawn are rather too sensual. I believe I have had enough of the book and will take up something more useful.

Tacitus, the first twenty sections of the fragment of the eleventh book. The stultification of Claudius and the abominations of Messalina. From the death of Tiberius, this is a jump over the madness of Caligula, which must have afforded fine colours for the pencil of the historian. What is the secret of the power of this writer, that he can put a thought so briefly into bright light? I must try to analyze it for the sake of improving my defects of style.

Fine day. To town. Afternoon at home. Evening visit to Dr. Woodward.

I went to town this morning and my time was taken up for the most part with business at my Office. Read over my Article upon Tucker in which the errors are not corrected so that I feel ashamed of it. An apologetic letter from Hunt.1 I believe I must stop in that quarter.

Home to dinner. Finish the eleventh book of the Annals. The death of Messalina bad enough but there have been many French women near the throne quite as bad. The Wife of Henry the 4th for instance, as described by Brantome.

My father went today on a fishing party with Hingham gentlemen to Cohasset but I excused myself. A short return visit to Dr. Woodward in the evening.

Day fine. At home. Evening at the Mansion.

I passed my time quietly but pretty steadily all day. Read and finished Arthur Lee’s Correspondence and that of his brother William’s with a portion of Mr. Izard’s who seems to have been the least valuable of all the Officers we had abroad. A true Carolinian full of all sorts of whimsies. Texier, and being doubtful of what German I would read, took up Plutarch’s Life of Alcibiades from which I gather all that Meissner puts into his Romance. After dinner, Twenty sections of the twelfth book of Annals of Tacitus, Le Comte and a good deal of Grimm.

The weather is now settled and delightful and I think the view from my portico in the morning is beautiful. Evening at my father’s.