Monday 29th July 1878

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Showery morning. Find it precious hard work to be down by eight o'clock which is the time the breakfast bell rings - have not succeeded in doing it yet. Went out for a short walk with a Mr Sutton, an American gentleman stopping here. He is a great talker and very amusing. Made two attempts to get out, driven in the first time by the rain, succeeded the second. In our walk passed some very nice houses. S told me that a great number of people about here are very well off.

In the afternoon went on with my letter home and wrote to Mr W Field, enclosing my letter of introduction which was addressed to the Post Office, Melbourne. Went out to post it and walk afterwards on the Dandenong Road - a very broad and a very badly kept one. The sides of it look to be inches deep in mud and in the summer would be a very dusty road to go along. They have the main roads of great width to enable the droves of sheep and cattle to be sent along without inconveniencing the other traffic. Passed some fine houses - the trees and plants are, some of them, very fine and some pretty. There are a good many evergreen trees about. Went up there to find where a Mr Manifold lived but could not find his house. Was told afterwards that he was a squatter up country but had a place there - must have passed it. Cold night.

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