6th.--Got up at seven; have not slept last night. What is the reason of it? Drank some tea just before going to bed. Hope I shall sleep to-night. Got to work before nine, finished the hair. Arranged the lay figure for the figure in the yellow brocade hood, began painting it; did little before four. At seven went with Lucy to a meeting of the Shareholders of the Free Exhibition. We both refused to be on the committee. Martin in consequence is afraid they will turn him off,--poor Martin, hon. sec.![22] We have written to him to say that, if they do, we will have nothing more to do with them. Marshall Claxton and his party want to make Dibdin secretary;[23] what a set of muffs! What will be the upshot of it I don’t know and don’t care.--Went to bed at twelve (five hours’ work). 12th.--Got up at seven, and to work by nine--painted at the green gown till quarter past three.... Went to see Mark Anthony about a Daguerreotype: think of having some struck off for the figures in the picture, to save time. Came back, and set to work at a drawing of the head of Spenser: work from nine till twelve (eight and a-half hours’ work).... 16th.--Got up quarter to seven, and to work by quarter past eight. Worked at the study of yellow sleeve till half-past ten. Called on Thomas: came back to dine by five. He is hard at work, knocking metaphysical art on the head, and bringing each thing sentimental to a positive state. Lucy called on me; did not get to work again till nine. Worked at the head of Byron two and a half hours (seven and a half hours’ work). 17th.--Got up at quarter past seven, and to work by nine. Cogitated on what I was to do till half-past ten. Drew at the Cardinal and the two ladies till two. Set to work at seven: painted the first bit on the canvas: worked till I laid-in the head and neck of Lord Byron (ten hours’ work).... 22nd.--Got up at half-past seven, felt ill. Went out on business; wasted my time, and took a walk till twelve. Came back, and worked a very little--about one and a-half hours--wasted my time, and dined. Martin has just dropped a note in my letter-box, which seems to say that they have ejected him from the place of secretary to the Free Exhibition: if so, we have done with it, and there is no necessity for me to get this work finished: it has rather cooled my working-ardour. Worked a little in the evening, about two hours....