Cloudy and cold. Office. Distribution as usual. Evening at home.

The day was cheerless. I was at the Office engaged in making up the arrears of my Diary and in bringing up the small business of the Office 337which has got behind hand. Nothing new of material consequence. Home to read Hecuba.

After dinner, Bancroft. He certainly has taken a great deal of pains in investigating the truth and although I feel some distrust of his conclusions, yet I cannot help admiring his industry. Evening at home, reading Nicholas Nickleby and afterwards on with the Lecture.

Cloudy and chill. Distribution as usual. Evening at home. Mr. Brooks.

Office as usual. Nothing to record. The days follow each other with great uniformity. I did a little in the way of filling up Leases but rather neglected occupation. The December number of Hunt’s Magazine contains my article on the currency which I think pretty good.1 Home to study Hecuba. After dinner continued Bancroft. I do not like to take the trouble of comparison but it ought to be done by somebody.

Evening, I read a little of Frank2 to the children and after they had gone to bed, Nicholas Nickleby to my Wife. This is very well written and shows much genius in the Author. But what is fame in these days when this great sum of labour is spent for the mere gratification of a few careless readers of a monthly periodical? Afterwards, working on my Lecture which goes on slowly.

Chilly but cleared before evening. At home as usual.

I had nothing material to record today. My time passes monotonously enough. Made a call upon old Warren the coin collector who has picked up a great parcel of stuff, but some very curious things in his travels in Canada. Strange to tell, he got three ancient Roman coins in common circulation, which I bought of him. They are not rare and are somewhat worn.

Received a letter from my father giving me the agreeable intelligence of the safe arrival of the family.1 My Wife went to Medford with her father to attend the dedication of the new Meeting house and did not return until evening. Bancroft, and after tea, Frank to the children and Nickleby to my Wife, after which the Lecture.