part of my wine over my shoulder or under the table, and by that means contrived to drink but a small quantity. The company became noisy and merry."

 
 

 
 
 

CHAPTER V.

HIS MARRIAGE AND EARLY SORROW.

   After a short trip to Baltimore, of which he gives an amusing account in his diary,* he hired a room at 31 Liberty Street, and began the diligent practice of his profession, laying aside the tools of the engraver for those of the surgeon. His heart yearned for his old work and we find him frequently engraving an ornament for a friend or altering a picture for the publishers. In his diary for July, 1797, we read the following entry:
   "July 18th. The thoughts of Engraving have accupied my mind to day; I could not help looking back to the pleasures of that art, like the Israelites to the flesh-pots of Egypt. --I had even relov'd to indulge myself now and then in engraving on wood, and cut several patterns for tools which I propos'd to have made, but the dread of being 'unstable as water' deterred me, and I laid by the patterns."
   He was very domestic in his character, and in

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    * See Appendix B, under date of May 13th, 1796.