Saturday, June 14th

The fine night gave place to a lovely day—calm and warm. Wind from N.E. once more. Henry and I worked all page 194day at the calf-house, and would have finished it only for the arrival of visitors from the Steadfast, consisting of the Captain, the Doctor & a passenger, Bowler's son; they were also accompanied by Peter Fawcett and his wife, hot from Saintfield, and ready to go into harness for Mr Lee and live on his land. He brought me a little present from Townley—an almanac for the New Year—the most thoughtful present that I have been sent. I was only yesterday wishing for an English one, and here came the very one I had been in the habit of using in London. All the carpentry is finished on the boat, but she still requires caulking, and so will not be ready to take us to church in the morning. Caughey and Willy engaged all day clearing the soft stuff out of the yard; it was a complete bog before, but now they have dug it down to the hard clay and it will never be so bad again.