F., E., and K.are, I think, rather the smartest, though Mr.M.has written rather the best of all.

At the next meeting, each of us is to produce a sonnet on a subject which we draw by lot.

I have written mine and tried to be droll.

K.has written hers and is serious.
"I am sadly tried by this state of things.

I cannot hear from Cambridge (the Nautical Almanac office), and am out of work; it is cloudy most of the time, and I cannot observe; and I had fixed upon just this time for taking a journey.