Same fine weather.

Letter from F.L. which I answered.

& from [Chinnery] ―: boxes arrived, but damage down the frames & perhaps pictures. ― I write off to Foord. No letter from J. Cross: ― & I nearly resolve to go to town on Monday. ―

Morning passed ――― nohow. ―

After lunch, C.M.C. & I walked up to the top of Dulcot Hill. (The Bp’s Gardens.) very beautiful. Back & dressed ― & to Mrs. Bells, a most bitterly awful bore! ― That Miss Bell next me very nearly made me leave the table, so atrociously did she gabble gabble. Could there be any more terrible punishment than being tied to that Miss Bell in the next world? Endless fire is a [fool] to it. ―

The male Bell, (tho’ his wife was really pleasing,) was a feeble being; & reminded me of Rosenstern’s dogma ―, “the world is not governed by wisdom ―” (or something of that sort) ―― he being a judge.

[gr.]

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]