Strange to say what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition.

Now public business takes up so much of my time that I must get time a Sundays or a nights to look after my own matters.

However, music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.

Fight the good fight; and always call to mind that it is not you who are mortal, but this body of ours. For your true being is not discerned by perceiving your physical appearance. But 'what a man's mind is, that is what he is' not that individual human shape that we identify through our senses.

I do still see that my nature is not to be quite conquered, but will esteem pleasure above all things, though yet in the middle of it, it has reluctances after my business, which is neglected by my following my pleasure. However musique and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.

Find myself £43 worse than I was the last month ... chiefly arisen from my layings-out in clothes for myself and wife; viz., for her, about £12, and for myself, £55 or thereabouts.

But Lord! To see the absurd nature of Englishmen that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at everything that looks strange.