Morning clear and pleasant but cold. After breakfast we returned to town with Mr. Brooks in the Carriage. I went to the Office after a visit from Miss Longhurst my quondam Tenant who told me a long story about her misfortunes occasioned by the conduct of a Custom House Officer. To be sure it was bad, but she explained enough of her course in the Spring to satisfy me that it was diamond cut diamond. I had for once an uninterrupted morning at the Office and read Mr. Meisel with some diligence. I begin to feel a little more settled there and as if I could pursue some regular occupation without having my time broken up. A man by name Hayden called and took one of the Houses in Tremont Street.1 Two left.

After dinner I was busy in reading Cicero’s second book de Inventione in which I made good progress and much more understandingly than before. There is a great deal in the connection which never is broken with impunity in reading Latin. Evening, my Wife read a good portion of Corinne and I a few Letters of Gray after which I 347accomplished a considerable part of Todd’s Sketch of Milton’s Life. I believe the events and the character of this Man’s Life are now pretty well impressed upon my Memory. I afterwards read the usual quantity of the Tatler. But I find it very difficult to see the great merit of this species of Essay Writing.