The Season began again to show itself this morning in a severe degree of Cold. I went to the Office as usual, and from thence to an Auction Room where were to be sold two or three books that I wanted very much.1 It is my rule to buy no books, yet how often I infringe upon it. Today however I really did not repent, for such a work as Middleton’s Life of Cicero is to me almost necessary in my present pursuit and certainly beneficial.2 To keep a work of that kind out of the Athenaeum would be impossible so long as I must want it, and to 401buy a good Copy of it at Auction prices is rare. I also obtained Guthrie’s translation of Cicero’s Offices,3 which is a valuable though not so very desirable an acquisition. Read Enfield at my Office and finished the History of the Ionic School which is a principal branch of Ancient Philosophy. But the Book must be often referred to, in order to fix the knowledge I acquire.

After dinner, reading the rest of the Topica, which is short, in this case a recommendation for it is both dry and difficult. Much of it the same with what is found in the books de Inventione and both taken from Aristotle. I began to review them also, for one reading does but clear the way. Evening, continued reading the book upon Spain, and much pleased with it. After which, I worked upon the Catalogue, until I brought it down to X which is cheering. Also read the usual numbers of the Tatler.