At three in the morning I was roused, and got into the carriage in company with, a merchant of Portsmouth, and a Sea captain of Newbury-Port; lately arrived from South Carolina. Nothing very interesting occurred in the course of our Journey. We dined at Ipswich and reach'd Newbury-Port, between 2 and 3 in the afternoon. After taking possession of my room, at Mrs. Leath-286ers's; I went to Mr. Parsons's office, where I found Thomson, and Townsend. I soon went to see my friend Little, whom I found at Dr. Swetts',1 I pass'd an hour there, and then went, with Little, and deliver'd the chief of the letters with which I was charged. Little came home with me to my lodgings and pass'd part of the evening with me. As I was up so early in the morning, and was somewhat fatigued with my Journey, I retired early to bed.

I arose in the morning quite refresh'd, and immediately after breakfast went and took my station in the office. I began upon the first volume of Robertson's history of Charles the V. which Mr. Parsons recommended as containing an account of the feudal institutions, from which were derived many of the laws which are now established in different parts of Europe.

I have already read the book; but thought it would be best to peruse it again.

I was no where this day, except at the office and my lodgings.

Saturday evening: rather tedious.

I did not attend meeting this day for several reasons. At home the whole day; it was extremely long and tedious. I amused myself with reading in the first volume of Blair's lectures: I have already perused the work; but I think it deserves a second reading.

Retir'd early to bed, merely from ennui.

Attended at the office the whole day. Continued Robertson. Thomson engaged this morning to take the charge of one of the town schools, for a year. It will interfere very much with his attendance at the office. His father, who is very rigid in his religious opinions, and probably entertains an unfavourable idea of the profession of the law, is very averse to his son's engaging in it; and takes every opportunity he can, to discourage his son 287from the study; and it is supposed he took this method among others to draw off his attention from this pursuit: but he will certainly fail in the attempt, and I doubt whether Thomson will keep the school, more than half the year through. In the afternoon we walk'd to Mr. Atkins's,1 and found Mr. John Tracy with him: we pass'd part of the evening at Mr. Tracy's house: I there met with a french gentleman with whom I conversed about half an hour. Return'd home between 8 and 9 in the evening.