Morning mild and clear but it clouded up before midday. I awoke with a most excruciating head ach and had been up only a few minutes before it was followed by nausea and vomiting. I have not felt so sick 378for a long time. My father started for Washington at about nine,1 and I felt melancholy at having him go. For this transfer from one place to another, is getting to be a serious thing at his time of life. But so it must be.

I went to the Office as usual and was very busy in several occupations of money concerns that troubled me, being left by my father to be immediately done. The sale of New’s Estate also took place today and I attended it and had it sold to Mr. Grosvenor the highest bidder again for $305.00.2 This over, I found myself so unwell I thought it advisable to go home and barely reached it in time. I was so unwell I found myself able to do little or nothing but lie down and be as quiet as possible. I read a little of Mr. Drake and was not so well pleased as I went on seeing how evidently he is a Bookmaker.3 Finished with two numbers of the Tatler and retired early.

Morning clouds and rain. But the latter stopped soon. My head did not feel perfectly clear yet, and I was apprehensive I should be laid up. But by a long walk I got gradually better by evening. My time was taken up at the Office by a variety of little occupations. Mr. S. Brown called to be paid for his Sale.1 Mr. Peabody my opposite Neighbour2 to learn how to make a Coal Fire, and Messrs. Blake and Chapman at twelve o’clock on a Committee of the Debating Society business. They staid for an hour or so, after which I found it was time for my long walk. The Streets were not over favourable, but what is all that to health.

Afternoon, engaged in the second book de Oratore in which I made great progress, completing beyond the Fiftieth Section. It is all good so far, and continues so until we reach the specimen of poor Jokes. Evening, reading Corinne with my Wife and finished Lady Morgan’s book, which will not tempt me to get the second volume. I cannot endure such nothingness. The remainder of the evening was devoted to pursuing the Catalogue, which I propose now to do constantly until I see some end to it. For it now drags. Read two numbers of the Tatler. It had been my intention to try a little criticism upon these, but such is the vanity of our hopes and resolutions. I take shelter in generalities.