She mentions John Talmadge having gone with them to a ball—the same who now lives in Warren (1820) I suppose—he has a daughter Francis. At another ball “Leman waited on Elizabeth Garnsey.” “Sweet Ireland” At DERBY Jan. 20 1782. “Just at night Leman came to us Drest & went with us slay & horses across the river & through the snow. at length through a great Deal of tribulation we arrived at Mr. David Deforists, where we had good fires, good Brandy wine & wincom too—our company was not large but we had good Musick which kept those few the busier.” * * * * * “_Sept. 26._ Returned from D. Sheldon’s Sister Rachel came there from Hartford the night after I got there with Noah Webster.” * * * * * “It fell to Sam Sheldon to carve. he took up a rib which was taken out of the Pork, & very impolitely tho very innocently said—that was such a thing as woman was made of. Yea, says Polly Hopkins & (in both cases) it was taken out of much such a creature.” * * * * * My mother appears to have been extremely fond of scribbling in this way. I may have inherited some of her fondness for the quill. Would to heaven I could have inherited her whole disposition—for I believe it to have been one of the sweetest ever bestowed upon a mortal. ANTICIPATION. Why grieve at cruel, wayward fate She yet may have in store Some princely, pow’rful proud estate For thee to lord it o’er. Perhaps e’en now there lies conceal’d Beneath tomorrow’s mystery; Events, which when they are reveal’d, Will place thy name in history. * * * * * _Nov. 28_ Went to Waterbury & tomorrow morning before daylight, shall be obliged to be off in the cold—thro’ the snow on horseback to Litchfield—all for this vexatious law—cursed be the day when I first turned my face towards the fields of litigation.