"After writing the above and still continuing upstairs employed on a letter to Sarah, when shower after shower of tremendous rain came on, threatning to deluge every beauty I had been describing, and now have spoiled Flora’s favorites that were out in shew, for the present season most completely, especially the Fringe tree. A wet evening, and rain also in the night."

 

"In the evening I read a little in Hayley’s life. I don’t repent me . . ."

 

"I was employed in working Butter, and making Cheesecake, and Gooseberry pie in the morning, and in the afternoon up in the Library with no interruption but Poll. Who would sit out far on the Glycene whence I was afraid she would fall. I finished a long letter to Sarah, and by the time it was done, received for my Guests George Fisher and little Bolivar, a manly fine little fellow, I brought them up into the Library, talked to them of Books, shewd them things that I thought would interest them, and endeavoured to impart some idea of the true pleasure which is received by the Mind from the love of elegant literature, and the consciousness that we are advancing in knowledge.- I would rather be instrumental, tho in a small degree, in forming such a taste in an ingenious youth than receive the most flattering applause from the display of talents (if I had them to display). They drank tea with me, and had some of my Cheesecake, and I hope won’t think I am a Blue Stocking.”