16th.
The gentlemen left us this morning for Portsmouth. The weather very cold. At home all day.
Began the book of Epodes in Horace
in the Evening. Between 1. and 2 in the morning before I retired. <9> 10 in the
Evening, is the professed bed hour, here: but there are Circumstances, which 19 times out of
20 delay it, till after 11. and it is a disagreeable reflection to me, that from an useless,
attention, and fear for me, so far from producing its desired effect makes me lose, at least
one hour every day; besides the additional vexation of seeing myself suspected; all these
things are however only for a time, and I am thankful, that, it is verging so fast towards
its end.