The weather is certainly very superior to our’s, being free from the admixture of chilly East winds. We started a little before 7 in the Steamer for Wilmington, which we reached at about 10 and from thence took the cars to Baltimore. Nobody of our acquaintance with us but Madame Caradori Allan and her husband. We reached Baltimore 31at about one and found Gorham Brooks waiting for us at the depot. With him we went to his house. His Wife looks thin and anxious which is traceable to the condition of their younger child, which suffers from an eruption on the skin. Dined and spent the afternoon with him. Evening, Mr. West called to see Mrs. B., a painter of some merit. I walked down to Barnum’s to see T. K. Davis who came in with the Afternoon cars. Retire early quite fatigued.

Day fine. After breakfast called upon T. K. Davis and walked with him to the Catholic College1 where he wanted to see a youth, the son of Mrs. Henry, a fine looking boy enough. Thence back to Mrs. Brooks’ with whom we went to Church.

The service was well performed and affected me as it always does. Dr. Wyatt, the Clergyman preached a Sermon upon the necessity of faith and illustrated it by a variety of positions which were tolerably ingenious. He alluded to the disorganizing tendencies of the country with an exhortation to the practice of the Christian principles as the only effective counteraction. The discourse was not such as we are accustomed to hear, but agreeable to the usual strain of this Church.2 After the service, we accompanied Gorham Brooks to the Water works and reservoir at Jones’ falls and enjoyed a pleasant walk. Dinner quite pleasant, after which another walk and home.

Baltimore is a neat looking place in the upper end and on this visit recommends itself more to my feelings, but you see the hand of slavery in it clearly enough. Indolence is the characteristic, and this indolence leads to negligence internally and externally. So fatigued that I was glad to retire early.

Colder. I left Baltimore at nine, and my Wife who is to remain two days longer. I left it rather willingly because I thought I saw both upon the spirits of Gorham Brooks and of his Wife a burden in the condition 32of their child which made visitors a little fatiguing. The effort to be attentive and civil is rather perplexing and provoking in such cases, I know, and although no attention has in my case been spared, yet I was glad to escape from them.

Met Davis, and by noon we got to Washington. J. P. Kennedy, the newly elected Whig member from Baltimore was in the cars and was cheered on his departure. Politics now run very high.

Found the carriage waiting for me, so I immediately went to my fathers, where I found my mother and the family well. T. B. Johnson came in, who looks far from sick certainly. I started directly to find Davis who had gone to Gadsby’s, but not being successful I walked on to the Capitol; found my father speaking upon the duelling question; the attention of the house very great but I could not stop. Back to Gadsby’s and being more successful this time, we went together to call upon the French Minister who gives a ball tomorrow night, and to find better lodgings for him.

My father did not get home until very late so that we dined by candle light and after it, I had a long conversation with him about Mr. Biddle and the course of his bank. To bed, therefore very late.