This then is the state of the case—that that faculty or quality or ingredient or component part of the human mind which is called reason—is not brought into operation by the act of _adonisationizing_ the legs with pantaloons, but on the contrary nature & natural feeling are the sole agents in the deed—& the discrepancy which exists between the government of the rules of experience & that of instinct is apparent to every man when he puts on his pantaloons. Gen. Van Rensalaer at table—called the Patroon of Albany, owns an estate which extends 20 miles[59] on Hudson river including the city of Albany—a rich, stern & reputed charitable man—very plain in dress & sober in diet. I should call him a country Justice & perhaps a militia officer. * * * * * _Sept. 14._ [At New Haven] returned from an excellent ball—went with the Lymans of course—liked Miss Woolsey as well as ever & Miss Munson—George Jacobs—excellent fellow was with us. & a Mr. Jackson from Middletown—a man that Miss Talmadge liked—had great fun of course—Mr. Johnston, brother of Betsy’s—But the pleasure of Miss Shipman’s sociability & politeness & dancing & looking at & praising her niece Miss Jones—the sweetest girl in the room, were the substance of my enjoyment. _Sept. 15_ Mr. Benedict of Woodbury & his lady here—she being the sister of Jane Tomlinson, the wit of New Haven. loaded Mr. B. off with nectarines. _Sept. 16._ [picture of Hector & Andromache, Plate XXXIII.] Not the parting of Hector & Andromache but of M. & myself on Thursday morning. The sword is not quite as crooked as it should be, & the handkerchief at M’s face is not sufficiently particularized—But it’s a glorious drawing—you have done nobly with your own face particularly the nose. But why does she turn away from you?—to conceal her grief—as maiden diffidence dictated. _Sept. 17_ (It being Sunday wore pumps & white stockings to meeting.) _Sept. 18_ tore my Angola pantaloons! They will be obliged to be mended with drab—which will not quite suit their complexion. Children of the brain are as dear as living offspring let them be never so homely—& moreover I am acquiring quite a friendship for my law books since they are my only associates except this my favorite crony & patient confident. Somebody said there was a letter in the Post Office directed to some person in the Estate of Conn.