24th. Scour’d a copper-plate. Began Gilfert’s plate. The Negro
paid 7/ for the stamp. Call’d at my Father’s in the forenoon. Grand-mamma
was there, from Brooklyn. Call’d at old Mr. Pierce’s in Chatham St. to
look at his old violin. No sooner had I struck a note that his wife denounc’d
the Music as leading to the Devil. I went again in the evening and brought
it away with me, promising to return it in the morning or pay 5 Dollars
for it. I was so much pleased with the tone of it that I put it in Mr.
Claus’s hands to varnish and repair. Montgomery Hunt & John Ferguson
spent part of the evening at my Father’s. My brother & I gave
them some tunes on the violin.
26th. Spent about 2 hours at the Library. Took out Zimmerman’s
Survey of Europe. Call’d at Scole’s. He found much fault with my engraving
Gilfert’s plate so cheap. I took the brass stamps which I did for him some
time ago to alter them. They were return’d on his hands. Went to the Wharf
opposite the Navy Yard and saw J. Grozart, on board the Brig Neptune. He
has been absent near 2 years, and was at Baltimore, Hamburg, some part
of France, London, Boston, Philadelphia, then to the southward, from whence
they return’d with timber for the frigate. His station was 2d mate.
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I mentioned to Dr. Young my intention of leaving him next month,
and applying for a license. Refus’d his offer of Partnership. After 8 in
the evening I varnish’d a copper-plate.
April 1st. Began to etch Rivington’s 2d plate. I took
the delineation of the Insects to Dr. Mitchill, who agreed to my proposal
of offering it, with a paper of his on the subject, to Swords* for insertion
in the magazine. I accordingly deliver’d it to him. After-noon—A.Herttell
was at my Father’s. I bespoke a pair of Silk-stocking breeches at Sander’s
for 9 Dollars! Evening—Went to Mrs. Rose’s and sat with the family. Supper
being brought in, I sat down with them, but help’d myself but sparingly.
I was oblig’d to drink a glass and a half of wine, the operation of which
I felt in my head during the remainder of the evening.
22d. Receiv’d from Cressin £4.4 and from Birdsall £2.
My Brother & I call’d upon Mr. Scoles, who accompanied us to see the
Panorama, or View of the City of London—an entertainment new & highly
delighting to me. The painting lines the
* James and Thomas Swords were printers who learned their
trade in this city during the Revolution. They became publishers, and continued
so till their deaths. They and Durell may be esteemed as the first who
made publishing a business in this city.
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