On I carted with my little tailor and driver till I came to my daughter's when lo and behold! I found a deserted house, except a couple of servants and a neighbouring tenant in charge.

Now sorely disappointed, yet I could not grumble when I understood they were at the Maitland Races.

To go so far and not see them was impossible - was, in fact, an absurdity, and an abominable want  of affection I would not be guilty of for all my estate, or all the gold in the mines of Golconda.

And thus much I must say, that when not obliged to go by such a conveyance by my palsied condition, never did I travel more safely and snugly than when escorted by my valets, for the time being - than these two sons of Erin.

There is something winning and fascinating about a good natured Irishman that winds and entwines itself about out hearts and he is not a man that does not love one of these hones unsophisticated creatures.

The moon had been up about an hour when I got to the busy and bustling town, and soon I had the pleasure and sweet consolation of embracing my charming and lovely Maria and her prattling babes to my arms. I was repaid for all my trouble, with the additional felicity of seeing my sons and my little Harriet,

"Tall and fair, and increasing good"

On Wednesday I gang'd to the course and took my comfortable seat on a chair on the stand, when, from the pressure of the mobility, I soon dismounted from my elevated site, close to the weighing enclosures.

Thee result of the races having been so ably detailed, I shall not particularize the business and pleasures of the day further than making a few animadversions and suggestions:

All all events the spirit of the Hunter River sportsmen has been decidedly and demonstrably shewn to be an honourable competition with the whole districts of the colony; and every mind must be convinced that the field of honour was fairly won by the gentlemen of the club; and I cannot but fairly award a due meed of praise to the stewards, Mr. Mitchell, Captain Hungerford and Mr. Cory for their manly impartiality during the day as well as the amenity of manners of the Sydney gentlemen. After all these amusements were over I returned after spending an hour with the clever Irish surgeon Mr. Mellon (Mallon);  whom I prophecy will, bye and bye go to the capital and take the lead, after the death of my friend Mr. Bland (whom God protect for many years). I say we all set off for my son in law's residence; daughter, bairns and all.

Ah! methought, sympathy and similarity of condition often inciting me to call I will not pass such a man of talent's door without paying my respects; and I need not have cogitated on the matter as Mrs. Harper hospitably came out, and anticipated all my fire and feeling.

I had never seen him before. Depicture to yourself a young man in the prime of life, completely blind; but oh! the light of his varied features and animated discourse, and what, thought I, Call you this an affliction, when by his genius and taste, he has contrived and planned a mansion surpassing any I have seen on the Hunter.

Just picture nearly three hundred acres stumped and tastefully laid out, with rising terrace and romantic hill, surrounded by valleys of a tortuous aspect, and on the summit of which towers an edifice for elegant splendour and locality of design, in the castellated modern fashion of comfort and grandeur assimilated

'Well I must go, said I to the 'Blind Philosopher', for in no other light could I contemplate the enlightened Mr. Harper, for my patients will be expecting me'

After two days delightful converse deep upon domestic matters and desultory politics, and a promise I should send my eldest son, Francis to commune with him and be useful to himself. I proposed to set off the following morning, being Tuesday, I think, in Mr. Harper's gig to my son in law's habitation.

After the customary farewell adieu! Lock, his overseer, drove me dashingly off with 'Speed like care' from Oswald Mansion.

Now I make it a point always to adopt my conversation with the character of the 'Chield', I am addressing.

Therefore, driving was the order of the day, and I found Lock, so good an agriculturist, both in theory and especially in practice that from what little I knew (and God knows little enough) I thought Mr. Harper, lucky to get a Norfolk Farmer, to till his land and turn his soil

Spending two delicious days with my daughter and her bairns and upon my valet, George, taking the fine foot tailor's face, I bade adieu to the interesting troupe of Mr. Squire's family and set off on  a horse and cart, 'Lock again' to my site (for it is ridiculous to term it a seat at present) and Cotter's side

But I am proud to truly say that a mile in length, I have fenced and cleared land, an avenue that would not disgrace an English Park.

So much for my tenant clearing system, for in a few years, I shall enjoy a descent income and children dear.

After refreshing ourselves at Singleton we reached Home at the close of the day when I sent George on and stopped at a neighbouring settler's called Mr. Brown where I staid all night and reached home the following morning.

Thus have I given a plain unvarnished trip of

"How I Went out and came back again"

What is life, but an interchange of scenes and actions, follies, or wisdom, amongst us all, to strive who shall 'Eat, drink, sleep and die!; for very few of us urge the rein in.

Ere I close my diary, I must allude to a trip I made to Mr. John Blaxland's fine estate on the Wollombi, Having some business to make with that gentleman I went to his minor 'Alpine villa' and certainly enjoyed the most expressible view of his Romantic retreat, for excepting the Rev. R.H. M's Christened Hamlet, it exceeds any sight on those mountains.

Figure to yourself upwards of three hundred acres of land, 'stumpt' and cleared close to the mountains edge, with adjacent and appropriate out buildings and crowned with Cottage neat, which will bye and bye give place to a superb domain.