Townsend, and one or two more of my friends dined with me this day. He went in the afternoon to see Mrs. Emery, and found there, a Miss Taylor who came there last evening from Boston: she was going to Exeter, and as Townsend was going to take a ride; he proposed to go in company with her as far as the ferry. This Miss Taylor is handsome, and remarkably sociable; and although she has been in a declining State of health, for more than a year past, and came very lately from Halifax, to Boston merely to recruit her strength, yet by some unaccountable deception she looks in the finest bloom of Health. It seems indeed to be an uncommon felicity attending many young Ladies at this day, that they can enjoy all the benefits of ill health without, being much afflicted, with its cruel pains.

We accompanied the Lady to Amesbury; and after seeing her into the boat took our leave. Returning home we stopp'd and drank tea with Mrs. Atkins. Mrs. Bass and Mr. Atkins had just arrived from Dunstable. I pass'd the evening with Townsend at 417Mrs. Hooper's; but came home quite early, as I was somewhat fatigued by the last night's expedition.

Finished reading in Wood's Institutes; a book which has been rendered almost useless by the publication of Blackstone's commentaries. Dined with Mr. Parsons. Took a long walk in the afternoon, and pass'd the evening with Townsend at Mrs. Hooper's. Pickman went to Salem this morning.

Mr. Allen preach'd; and as usual delivered a good Sermon, in a very bad manner. After meeting; I went up to Mr. J. Tracy's; I found Townsend there, and rode a few miles with him. We return'd and drank tea at Mrs. Atkins's. Townsend's health not permitting him to be out after Sun-set, we came home early, and I was with him all the evening.

Townsend intended to have set away this morning; to go to Medfield; but the weather was so chilly and disagreeable that he thought it would be best to wait another day. Thompson and I dined and pass'd a great part of the day with him. I was again disappointed upon the arrival of the stage, as I have been so often heretofore; by hearing no news from Boston.

I began upon Bacon's pleas and pleadings; a subject which demands great attention.

Townsend left Town this morning, but as the wind soon got easterly, I imagine he did not go far. Mr. Parsons went over to Ipswich where the Supreme Court are this week in Session. In the beginning of the evening the weather cleared up, and I took a long solitary walk. I had turn'd round, and was coming home, when I heard a horse coming upon full galop and somebody called me by name. I stopped and found it was Stacey, who congratulated me upon my father's arrival. He came from Ipswich on purpose to give me the Information. Just as I had pass'd by Mr. Tracy's, one of his Servants gave me a Letter,1 with a re-418quest that I would go down to his House: I went accordingly, and found Mr. Hichborn there; the Letter was from Mr. Thaxter,2 and contained the same joyful tidings that Stacey had brought me. It seems Judge Sullivan left Boston this day at about twelve o'clock; and when he came away Callahan was coming up the Harbour: after passing an hour at Mr. Tracy's I came home, with a light heart; but not wholly without fears that this information like that of a similar nature which has been given me three or four times within a month past, should be founded upon a mistake of one vessel for another.3