Warm and hazy. Morning to town. Afternoon devoted to reading and evening at the Mansion.

My duties were all of the drudging kind today connected with the management of my father’s real estate and my own. I was very glad to get out of town and only felt worried at the amount of this kind of occupation which seems to be preparing for me during this Autumn.

The ride was dusty and unpleasant so that I enjoyed the more my sitting down after the lapse of a week to Lucretius 2d book. 1. 623–825. A few of Bayle’s letters afterwards.

My father appeared seriously unwell. He sinks from want of intellectual stimulus. Such is the formation of unnatural habits.