June 24, 1826.
my dearest wife,—It is all over, all well over, and I am very much contented and light-hearted.
Yesterday, however, was a real flurry, as I thought it would be. I began the general report day before yesterday, in the afternoon.
It was plainly to be about thirty pages long; the two other committees who were to furnish materials for a large part of it had behaved very shabbily, neglected their duty, and done nothing but collect documents, which they had neither examined nor digested.
In short, the whole work came upon me. At the same time the
French examination was going on, which it was my particular duty, from the first, to superintend and share.
Everything, therefore, came at once.
That afternoon and night I wrote about ten pages, and examined two sections in
French.
Yesterday I examined two other sections, dined abroad, examined the
Hospital, and wrote twenty pages.
This morning before breakfast I finished it [the report]. At eleven o'clock the examination was finished, and the report read, and signed by all the Board.
At twelve we had a little address to the Cadets by
Kane, which was very neat and appropriate.
I declined delivering it, having enough else to do; and I am glad I did, for it was done remarkably well by
Kane, whom, by the by, I am very glad I have learnt to know.
