Far colder. ― most horrible. dark. ― black. ― Many letters: some very nice. ― One to say ― good true William Newsom is gone. ― He died yesterday at 11.

Let such as know his whole life say religion is nonsense, if they dare.

― At first I thought I would go down to Leatherhead at once: ― but, afterwards, I thought better to write. Ditto to Ann.

Then I went out to Drummonds, & various other places: & coming home at 4, packed & wrote till 6, when I went to C. Massingberd’s. His two girls were there ― very nice children. Poor C.M. ― He is a true & real man, & his history is very wondrous & sad. ― At 7¼ we dined at the Conservative Club ― very quietly & nicely, & sate talking till past 10 by the fire, about Lewis, ― Robinsons, Sutherlands, [Headfords], [Gorings], Sanders, Jenkinses, Duncans, James’s, Harringtons, Parrys, &c. &c. great world of people. ― I left C.M. with regret, he is a wide minded, soft hearted man. ―

Snow ― in all the streets. ―

Only the 27th Sept.r last, but William & Ellen N. were with me at Hastings!

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