Here we find Daniel Webster’s second appearance in the journals, the first having come in a fleeting mention from an 1812 Phi Beta Kappa gathering at Harvard.
Apart from content, Gallison’s form is worth comment. He had begun his journals in 1807 as a commonplace-book; even when he expanded their scope to cover more than his education, he made sure that they would be useful for him to read in his old age. A note in the margin of last month’s entry on April 6 served that mission, by referring to a sermon from some months previous. This month produces more evidence of his awareness of this volume’s prospective value. Marginal notes serve as headlines, which make paragraphs easier to skim. On page 103, we also find an extensive deletion, one of many throughout these volumes. This one appears not to have much to do with a change of opinion or desire to write more effectively. Rather, it was likely meant to keep the specifics of private business away from prying eyes in the future.