Morning cloudy with occasional rain. I went to the Office as usual and occupied myself in a variety of ways. First in my Accounts which have latterly created some trouble, then in my Journal, and afterwards in my German which does not progress at all. I want some book to begin and translate, and I feel at this moment unwilling to afford one, my means being much shortened by the investment made some time since. Called for a few minutes to see Mr. Brooks and told him that I should not send for the Trees if it rained tomorrow, otherwise, I had made all the arrangements.1 Mr. Hayden called to pay me his rent for one of the Tenements. He did not give a very favourable account of the other Tenant’s ability to pay, so that these are not 369likely to be so soon off my hands. But he wants the front house, himself. I could not take my usual walk this morning.

Afternoon, read and finished Cicero’s Second Book de Oratore, the latter part of which becomes interesting again. The doctrine of Artificial Memory is there very distinctly laid down and seems to have been used much more fully than it is in our day. Evening, Corinne with my Wife, after which I turned over the pages of Dodsley’s Collection2 without finding much of interest. Finished the Ninth Book of Paradise Lost, and reviewed the first half, and read two Numbers of the Tatler.