The Harry Watkins Diary, Volume 11 [July 22, 1853–June 12, 1854]

23 October 1853

Sund (Sunday) 23d Quite cool—walking A.M. removedenied out by invitation Birney Marshall and myself accepted an invitation to dinner by the proprietor of a German restaurant. There were six courses presented, four of which were composed of hearts—baked heartremoves, fried heartremoves—hashed heart and vinegared heart. I was not very hungry upon taking my seat at the table but, as I remarked to Birney, I never eat [sic ate] so hearty a dinner before. This Marshall is another evidence of what talent misapplied, or rather, not applied at all, will result in. Possessing a brilliant education,—removea classical scholar, well read in everything—and every acquirement necessary to place a man in an eminent and enviable position, he has allowed himself to be blindly drawn into a vortex of [sic]

of [sic of] dissipation, which has somewhat impaired his faculties and lost him the countenance of his best friends. It is not too late yet for him to redeem himself, though it is doubtful if anything but death will ever reform him, especially as he has become entangled with an unworthy woman, for there is nothing in the world that can so shape a man for good or evil as woman. I pity Marshall, for his heart is in the right place although his mind is not strong enough to overcome his weak points. His brother, Humphrey Marshall, is the U.S. (United States) Minister to China, I removeohave not seen him, but was told that in point of talent he removeis wasexpand_less inferior to Birney