File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 8, page 191, June 13, 1857.jpg

Transcription:

sort of patron of Latto, a Scotchman educated for the Church, who writes Burns-and-water songs, sends 'em to Sunday newspapers, and kepts keeps the retail grocery store — a speculation of [William] Leslie's — in this street. They are going to close it shortly, as it only pays expenses, and in consequence of the former owners having represented (so Leslie says) that there was a better trade than Latto inherited, he Leslie, intends to hold possession of the place on lease, not paying for it, or something of the sort. Latto has nothing, Leslie is behind the scenes and holds the property, and confidently calculates that the men can’t litigate to the extent of his purse, and that they will be ruined! He went into details about it, to me, one night, with a fellness of purpose, dreadfully illustrative of what a Mammonite will do, when he fancies his purse has been touched. Withal he is a good son and sends money to his mother and sister — taking it out in talking of it, though. He has extraordinary conceit as to his powers of fascinating women, having, I suppose, received considerable koo-tooing from young ladies who knew his position in life. He is a firm believer in the Herald and gets all his political sentiments from that stinkingst of journals. Such a man is hardly calculated to make the gentlest of husbands, wherefore I fancy little Nina Brooks is well rid of him. His approbativenesses And "young man"nishness led him into the philanderation; his Scotch caution bade him back out, and his love of money and, again, approbativeness plumped