ourselves in the Boston Mail Stage.*--The sleighing was very good—and we glided as far as Marenner’s at Rye by 5 in the afternoon.—This was to be our resting place ‘till morning, and a consultation was held to determine a method for spending the long evening.—I went with part of the company to the Church, and heard part of the service. When we return’d marenner inform’d us that the Crab shell was come.—It was strung left-handed, so that none of us could handle it but the owner, and we were obliged to hear the old Negro murder some tunes in cold blood.—In order that they might not all be hard in cold blood a dance was propos’d, in which Roosevelt and the pistol Englishman acquitted themselves very well. We two old fellows were obliged to fall in and shuffle.
   25th. The dancing, or the cider, or some other cause, prevented my sleeping more than an hour or so, last night. I was talking and whistling, between

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*The stages running between Boston and New York carried the mails, and left here every Wednesday and Friday. The time occupied in reaching New Haven alone was twenty-six hours, and Hartford, forty-two hours; in a word; the whole trip was performed, from No. 50 Cortlandt Street to Boston city, in seventy-seven hours. Doubtless the route had the aspect of a wilderness, and the roads, in consequence, were rough and hilly.

sleeping and waking, so that my fellow lodgers could not have rested much better.
   We resumed our seats about 5 this morning, and arrived early in Stamford. Went into the kitchen immediately, and found my Grand-mother and Phyllis making & baking pies.—My Aunt and Mr. Davenport were soon rous’d, and gave us a hearty welcome.—After breakfast we took a walk to the landing, but could find no boat ready to sail.
   Din’d, in company with several, at my Aunt’s, and at 3 took leave of them and station’d ourselves at the Post-Office to wait for the stage. The stage came along, but, alas, there was no room for us.—Determin’d to get home by some means, we set off on foot, and at 5 reach’ Horse-neck. At a tavern, where we stopp’d for a drink, we heard of a boat ready to sail in the morning.—This was joyful news & we ate a hearty supper on the strength of it.—We were shown the head of the lane which led to the place, Indian Harbour, and, after following it near two miles, found the sloop taking in her lading. The cabin was fill’d with men and women, or rather imitations of men & women—for their conversation was of the lowest kind. We found out a berth, and hope to get a little sleep.—
   26th. I had an excellent nap notwithstanding the