"September 16.—Many happy returns of the day, dear Gussy! The other day I took a pair of scales, and put into the one vessel the price you would have to pay for the postage of a congratulatory letter to be received by you on your birthday, and into the other a pleasure which a surprise might afford you; the postage outweighed its rival; so I wrote no letter. If my directions have been attended to, you will, no doubt, have received a far more satisfactory outward and visible sign of my good wishes.
Sept. 18.
"September 18.—The same to you, Papa!... Can the river offer its fountain a drink?
Pebble I.
Sept. 19.
I lucubrate,
when I consider, &c. &c.,
whereas, &c. &c.,
and even then, &c. &c.,