The morning was clear and only cool. I went to the Office as usual after a little progress upon my Catalogue. My time was taken up in making up my Accounts, and writing, so that as usual I could devote very little to my German. Mr. Welsh and I settled Accounts today, which finishes the last outstanding balance upon this Estate of my father’s.1 The more I see of all that is to be done upon these Estates, the more I am satisfied that what has heretofore been done has not been managed correctly. There is rarely any occasion with Tenants, for Arrears, if they can pay when they are asked, they will.2 If not, they ought to make arrangements which should satisfy you or move. In my walk, I passed the Estate in Tremont Street and went in to see what was doing. I found that infinitely more had been done than I anticipated and I tremble at the accounts which are in prospect.

Took my usual walk and in the afternoon, read Cicero as usual. I got through his account of Wit, which is difficult enough and hardly pays one for the reading. Great assistance is to be experienced from the Copy by Olivet which contains the Commentaries.3 As Abby had gone out of town, I spent an hour and a half at the Athenaeum. Finished the evening with the first half of the ninth book of Paradise Lost and two Numbers of the Tatler.

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.