20-1 Clear, beautiful, cool. Fresh wind in forenoon but very bright and cheery and weather evidently cleared up for a while.

Rev. Dr. McPhail, President of Lafayette College, preached for us in the Capitol in the morning at 10 am and in the evening at 6 pm. This is the first evening service this spring at 6 pm. Sermon in the morning on faith. The faith of Abraham on offering his son Isaac as God had required him. The Dr. has a fine, intelligent-looking face, easy and calm in his manners and speaking-preaching without notes so far as I observed and evidently deeply interested in his subject, as if engaged in earnest conversation gathering ideas as he proceeded. He is about 40 to 43 years of age, dark hard and black whiskers, fine forehead and agreeable delivery. Church through in evening at 7 1/4 pm. Then I walked 3 ½ miles circular and went to the Episcopal Church about 8 to 8 1//4 pm where I have not been since Mr. Cartleman left and their new preacher Mr. Seacask came and indeed where I have not been more than 2 or 3 times in as many years. Mr. S.’s discourse was on Peter’s calling upon the Saviour when on the water "Save Lord, or I perish" His discourse was extemporaneous, earnestly and calmly delivered and interestingly illustrative of the doctrine of faith. Rev. Mr. Felterville of their mission chapel here was also present read the lessons, is a fine looking and prepossessing young man in appearance, manner and expression. Home 9 ½ to bed 10.

21-2 Cloudy, coldish, some storms and rain in afternoon with thunder and lightening.

In court 9 to 11 am.

Paid at Eby and Kunkel for small box of 50 segars $1.25

Paid Robinson’s and Co. for box blacking .08

Paid Lutz’s for box liquorice .12= amt. $1.45

Walked though day 5 to 6 miles chiefly between 6 and 7 ½ pm when Mr. Connor and my children John Calvin and Fanny and self walked 3 ½ miles circular, home 7 ½ to 8. To bed 9.

May 22-3 Cloudy, chilly, rain between 8 and 9am. Clear and cloudy but generally clear till evening then some storm and rain but light here. I spent good part of day at Supreme Court. Walked though day 4 to 5 miles but chiefly between 6 and 7 ½ pm.. When Herman Alricks Esq. and self walked 3 miles circular. Spent evening at home. To bed 9 to10pm.

23-4 Clear, fine, pleasant.

Paid 1 lb. butter .25, fish 18. onions, sundries 10., twist bread .8, amount $1.31

8 3/4 lb. veal 70. of John Casey (cr)

At Sup. Court from 9 1/4 to about 11 am. National Railroad Convention met today at Herr’s Hotel (preliminary) and in afternoon in Hall of House of Representative. Chief Justice Lowry in chair. I was there a half hour or so at Capitol about 5 pm or before. John Weidman Esq. of Lebanon (My old friend, of special standing in 31, 32, 33 &c, and of occasional intercourse since) here this afternoon with two of his children, viz. Sarah Ann aged 13 and James Buchanan aged 15, we took walk around by Front St. , State Street, and State Capitol between 6 and 7 ½ pm after which I walked out in Ridge Road up to 4 miles circular. I was at Sup. Court in forenoon between 9 ½ and 11 ½ am.

Mrs. Eleanor Whitehill died today at 1 pm. Has been very unwell some 3 weeks or more. She has been long very closely and assiduously connected here with church Sunday school operations and benevolent enterprises and especially with our old school organization commenced in early part of 1858. She will be greatly missed and sincerely mourned, but doubtless may judge certainly she has been entered upon a blessed exchange. Weidman’s said children spent evening with Fanny and Calvin until 9 pm. I then went with them to their Hotel (Herr’s) remained till near 10 then home, to bed 10 1/4.

24-5 Clear, fine, pleasant.

Walked between 10 ½ and 12 noon with Weidman and said children (v. yesterday) to Capitol, Sup. Court room, executive chamber and to their hotel where I bid them and their father good bye at 12 ½ pm as they go home on railroad about 1 pm. I met yesterday at said hotel Mr. Seeley whom we met in Gratztown during a visit there in 184 [sic] v. daily news of that date. He has become much lustier, weighing some 230 to 240 whereas then I suppose he did not exceed 150 to 160 lbs. I called to see him at his room 56 Herr’s Hotel at 3 to 4 ½ pm and we had a general talk about things since we met as Gratz.

Received by the hands of my colleague B. F. Etter of Rev. John Winebrenner (v. 15 March and 12 April ‘59) further fee $12.50

Called on Eby and Kunkle and paid segars got 21 inst. Not paid then because change not in pocket. Walked on State St. , son John Calvin, Lyman Gilbert and self walked 3 ½ to 5 miles circular between 6 and 7 ½ pm to bed 9 to 10.

25- 6 Clear, fine, pleasant.

Attended funeral of Mrs. Ellen Whitehall at 3 ½ to 5 ½ pm or 6 pm. The services at the house were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Davis of Middletown and Rev. Dr. DeWitt. The former giving out a hymn which was sung rending parts of 2 chapters in the New Testament and making a very interesting address. The latter a very fervent, feeling, and pleasant prayer. That is a deeply interesting and mournfully pleasing prayer. My heart felt very sad as it has since her death and I have found myself often lead to shed tears of heartfelt sorrow and especially during this afternoon, but it is all that we, the whole town, the church, the Presbyterian church especially, the church of which she was a member, the Sunday school, the social circle of prayer meetings to have . . .

[a note is pasted over the text here] "25^th at 7 3/4 to 10 pm I attended very large enthusiastic meeting of People’s Party in Court House to ratify the nominations of Lincoln and Hamlin for President and Vice President, parted as one of the ___ parts of the meeting Genl. Cameron was the President."

Montgomery Winter and myself walked _____ and also home again. Daughter Fanny and self walked to water basin after tea and home by 7 ½ to bed at 9 1/4.

May 26-7 Cloudy, clear, and cloudy.

Paid 2 lbs. butter 40, fish 37, twist bread 8, onions and sundries 20. Amt. $1.05

Paid Public Ledger to this day .06 = $1.11

Wrote to James Boyd Esq. Norristown in answer to his received 4^th inst. Walked through day 4 to 5 miles, about 3 miles circular, there between 6 and 7 ½ pm, and part of that with Mr. Connor, after which daughter Fanny and self walked up by Capitol Yard and called in Lecture Room of our church for ½ an hour or so about 8 pm to listen to our choir practicing for singing tomorrow. To bed 9 to 10.