Day fine. I passed it much as usual. Read about seventy lines of Homer, and spent some time in examining a book called the Planter’s Guide by Sir Henry Steuart.1 This gentleman has been very successful in forming wood round his place in Scotland by moving trees twenty five and thirty feet high. His book is useful on other accounts to a planter as giving the results of experience of soil, of exposure and of treatment.

Afternoon, assisted and directed Mr. Kirk in sodding the ends of my bank wall which was done as it appeared to me very satisfactorily. The carpenters now weary my patience and as I have nothing left to do while they are there making lumber and litter, I set Kirk to digging and trenching the belt of trees on the South west side of the lot. This will be good as a preparation. Home quite fatigued.

The ladies had some friends to tea,2 Mrs. Miller and Mr. J. Quincy with Mrs. Apthorp. Mr. and Mrs. E. Miller and daughter with Mrs. Nicolson and Miss Mansfield, Mrs. P. Foster, Mrs. Adams, Elizabeth, J: Q. and John H. Foster. The time passed heavily, there being nothing 286to amuse the company with. It is not easy to entertain and for my part on the footing it is now carried on, it is not worth the trouble. I was so fatigued that after a little writing, I was glad to get to bed.