20th. To-day I had a sight of Palmer, the blind preacher, together with Stuart the Pedestrian. The first, a Deist, and the latter, an Atheist.—I was at Fellow’s library when Stuart came in, leading the other.—A very odd conversation took place between these two champions and Mr. Fellows, in which Stuart display’d the singular turn of his mind in forcible language. The others laugh’d heartily at his idea of praying to the audience instead of the Deity.
   21st. I went to the Assembly room in William Street & view’d the paintings there exposed for sale. I spent part of the afternoon & evening with Miss N.—I proposed a walk, to which she agreed, although she had two blisters behind her ears.—We ascended Bunker Hill* in our way, and from thence took a view of the city.
   23rd. I invited Miss N. to accompany me to the Theatre this evening. Persuaded my Father and Mother to join the party. We procured the 

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* Bayard’s Mount, sometimes called Bunker Hill, was a high hill, overlooking all the surrounding country, and situated near the present Grand and Centre streets. It was on the farm of Nicholas Bayard, which extended along the west side of the Bowery from Canal street south to Bleecker street on the North, and across Broadway to Macdougal street on the West, and comprised more than sixty of our present city blocks.

 front seat of one of the side boxes.—The Comedy was Speculation and the Entertainment, Don Juan, or the Libertine Destroy’d. At 11 “the farce was over,” and I attended my partner home.--
   March 3d. It is lucky for me that I have but little business to attend to, for that circumstance gives me a better opportunity of completing my present hobby-horse.
   Old Mr. Boyd, for whom I had prepared a certain medicine, call’d for it this morning. he jok’d me about marrying his girl (as he calls her). Mr. Holloway came to get his forehead dressed. He has receiv’d a wound with a very singular weapon; viz. another person’s head, which came in contact with his last night, while walking the street.
   4th. This afternoon the public were amused with a balloon sent up by Blanchard.—To the balloon was suspended a Parachute with some live animals, which at a considerable height was disengaged from the balloon and fell to the ground.—The descent was very rapid and must have given the poor dogs and cats little chance for their lives. My Brother and I went to Van Vleck’s, and from the roof of his house had a good view of the fate of the balloon, which after traversing far to the eastward caught fire and fell.--