| Description | [Diary Transcription]
301
1825
May
§+
but, as I never pay compliments at my heart’s expense, nor ever, either to others or myself, make a joke of its regard,
you may believe it real, and may count upon its continuing, in all English sincerity, true to the last — It would delight
me to be at your elbow a little just now, because I think I could cheer, and console you, — I think I could persuade you that, come
what may for the present, the bright side of your case is much longer than the dark one, and that the one is but, as it were,
a little spot upon the other, that merely hides, for the moment, the sunny good that lies behind — I have a presentiment,
that I shall see you happy — Few will congratulate you more affectionately, and none more sincerely — Do not tell me
of shewing you kindness in Paris — I had pity, perhaps even more than your doctor: but pity is neither the 1st, nor the only
sentiment which it is in your power to excite, and by which you will always hold your place in the remembrance of those
who are not ‘fickle as the summer’s wind’ — ... conclude with ‘God grant you better health and speedy happiness!
write when you have time and inclination — nothing will give me greater pleasure than the good tidings I confidently hope you
will have it in your power to send; for I am really and affectionately interested in your welfare, and shall be always, my
dear Louise, really and affectionately your friend Anne Lister’ Bid her write in French and tell me what postage she pays, promising to
write on thinner paper another time — mention the de Boyve’s house being visited as an Hotêl garni — quote Mrs. Barlow’s
words mention her illness and mention that Miss Gauntlett has told us of a very nice respectable French woman who will be ready
to receive a few in July — I have noted this because I never mean to go to the de Boyve’s again, and hope I have not walked in
the Tuileries gardens for the last — hope to chat again there with Mademoiselle de Sans and Mrs. Barlow a few heavyish showers
during the day (vide line of today) very heavy thunder rain in the evening — began about 7 — Barometer 3 1/4 degrees below changeable
Fahrenheit 57° at 9 1/2 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — sat up reading volume 1. Rousseau’s Confessions — I certainly improve a little from
the style of Rousseau, and read with more ease and profitable observation than ever before —
Wednesday 25
6 50/60
11 1/4
LL
Vc
§
§
Gave Hotspur oatcake — great deal of rain fell during last night — fair this morning and pretty fine — from 8 to 9 3/4 wrote the last
28 lines of the last page and so far of this and sent off my letter to ‘Miss MacLean of Coll (51 North Castle Street, Edinburgh’)
and my letter ‘à Mademoiselle Mademoiselle de Sans, Fossés des Carmes no. [number] 11 à Bordeaux France’ — The last
word France written across the left hand bottom corner of the direction — Breakfast at 10 — Came upstairs at 11 10/60 —
read volume 1. Rousseau’s Confessions an hour — went out at 12 1/4 to the footpath — found Jackman there (he had been setting the grate in the upper
kitchen early in the morning) and Frank Oates and John Crossley lowering Lower brea lane — Miss Ann Walker of Crownest
called just before I went out, but I left her to pay her visit wholly to my aunt — came home at 1 20/60, went upstairs immediately, and,
from 1 3/4 to 5 [illegible] wrote 3 ppages and the ends of a letter to M- [Mariana] And wrote the copy of a letter to Mr Radclyffe late rouge croix —
A great deal of my cousin both yesterday and today obliged to wash and change my linen before I could go out
again — went to the new footpath at 5 1/4 and did not get home again till 6 1/2 — dinner at 6 35/60 — In the evening wrote the last 6
lines — Heavyish rain from about 1 20/60 to 2 20/60 — and a heavyish shower about 10 or 11 this morning — a few drops in the
evening — Barometer 2 1/2 degrees below changeable Fahrenheit 55 1/2° at 9 3/4 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — E —
Thursday 26
7
12 1/4
L
L
§
§
Gave Hotspur oat cake — Read over sealed and sent off my letter (written yesterday) to M- [Mariana] (Lawton hall) — [illegible] all the world might see it — Gave
a very favourable account of my interview with Mrs. Henry Stephen Belcombe on Tuesday the 17th instant — said nobody could have behaved better — she spoke handsomely
of them all — and added, she was now, till I saw some stronger reason against it than I knew at present [illegible] brought back
to her former level in my opinion — π [Mariana] will not think my letter very affectionate there is nothing in it the contr
ary but it is quite commonplace — a little before 9, a letter from Mrs. Barlow (Paris) — 3 ppages, the ends, and the 2 first ppages crossed
very small and close writing — containing a copy of Mallet the banker’s letter respecting the French funds — Her aunt and cousins
arrived on the 7th Beset her about Mr. William Bell he too is laying close siege she feels commiseration
for him but her affection for me is more strongly marked than ever she does indeed seem deeply attached to me
I must be serious in recommending her to marry Mr. Bell or make up my mind to have her myself her letter
affected me much her aunt and cousins admire my character she has written to Mr. Hancock in such a way as to
leave him no hope if she had a little more money I should not hesitate a moment but alas it would be a
bad connection for me but my heart is ssomewhat won upon — went out to the workmen at 9 — got back to breakfast at 10 1/2
came upstairs and finished reading Mrs. Barlow’s letter — then went down to breakfast at 11 — upstairs again at 12 — Crossley came and was about an hour cutting my hair — skimmed over the letter again — From about
302
1825
May
[illegible] two till four and a quarter wrote two thirds of the copy of a page very small and close to Mrs Barlow — At 4 1/2 went out
to the workmen, and staid with them so late, I did not get home till 7 10/60 — Dinner at 7 1/4 — In the evening wrote all the above of today —
Jackman began the outside wall the off-garden wall — the outside curved wall to widen the original roadway — from the bridge to the bottom of Lower brea wood — Fine day — Barometer 1/2 degree below
changeable Fahrenheit 51° at 10 p.m. at which hour came up to bed — My mind is engrossed with Mrs Barlow — Sat up reading and musing over what I had written to Mrs Barlow
Friday 27
9
11 40/60
x
Vc
Incurred a cross just before getting up thinking of Mrs Barlow — went down to breakfast at 10 — Came upstairs at 11 — Mended my glove
Miss Walker of Cliff hill, and ditto of Crownest called — not seeing only my aunt left their cards for me — I went out to the workmen (just
after the Walkers came in) at 11 1/2 — got back at 1 1/2 — from 2 to 4 1/4, wrote 3 ppages and the ends and under the seal to Mrs. Norcliffe — went to the workmen
at 4 35/60 — got back at 6 3/4 — Dinner at 7 — another workman came today for the 1st time Joseph Mallinson — In the evening from
8 1/2 to 10 (downstairs) wrote 3 ppages and the ends to IN- [Isabella Norcliffe] came upstairs at 10 10/60 at which hour Barometer 1/4 degree below changeable and
Fahrenheit 51º fine day — Read volume 1. Rousseau’s confessions as usual — While Cordingley curled my hair Then wrote the above of today —
Saturday 28
6 55/60
11
LL
Gave Hotspur oat cake Read over, and sealed, and sent by George my letter to Mrs. Norcliffe (Langton Hall) and to IN- [Isabella Norcliffe] (William Vallance’s Esquire
Sittingbourne Kent) — Told Mrs. Norcliffe I should have answered her letter sooner but waited to hear from Mrs. Barlow her banker’s opinion of
the French funds — sent both Mrs. Norcliffe and IN. [Isabella Norcliffe] a copy of Mrs. Barlow’s copy of Mallet’s note — told them, too, her Parisian news —
Told IN- [Isabella Norcliffe] she could not owe me so much as £4.2.0 [pounds, shillings, pence]; for I had not paid her for the plaid she got me last summer in
Edinburgh — shocked I had not named it before — said to both I had not the same dread of, nor prejudices against the Roman Catholics
as my neighbours — Let them (the Roman Catholics) concede the veto, say nothing about our abbeys, or paying their clergy,
and I would willingly let them have equal privileges with the other dissentients from our established church — I had no fear of
the ‘hideous grandeur of an auto da fé’ in England (vide the article on the bible in no. [number] 22 retrospective review) —
went to the new foot path at 8 50/60 — Mr. Oates, the architect, at Lower brea — planning 2 little wings to be
added on each side of the house — went there — saw him — approved his plan — did not get home to breakfast till 10 3/4 —
breakfast at 11 (1/4 hour upstairs reading volume 1. Rousseau’s confessions) — staid down talking to my uncle about Thomas Pearson and Aspinall’s
coming to him the other day for a road to lead stones along for the Brighouse turnpike from Aspinall’s quarry through my
uncle’s wood and Robin Close, and through the lane thence just walled off last year — I had been talking to Jackman about it —
went upstairs at 1 — Dawdling over 1 thing or other — calculating that the stone in Robin Close (3 acres) at 7/. [shillings] a yard
would come to upwards of £5000 — from 2 to 4 1/2 wrote to Mrs. Barlow Read over what I had written before added much and near
ly finished the subject of Janes being educated in Paris — at 4 40/60 went to the workmen — got back again
at 6 20/60 — Read over what I had written — Dinner at 6 3/4 — In the evening wrote the above of today — Fine day —
morning — 1/2 hour’s mild rain between 1 and 2 — again a few drops about 6 — then fair an hour — then mild rain during the
rest of the evening Barometer 1/2 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 49 1/2° at 9 40/60 p.m. —
Sunday 29
5 50/60
11 5/60
At 7 1/4 off to Robin Close (walked there in 1/2 hour) and met Jackman, to view the road Thomas Pearson senior, their surveyor, wants
for the commissioners of the Brighouse and Denholm gate road — 1 10/60 hour then looking about — they must have the road — it will be
in length about 130 yards through the wood, 60 across the Robin Close, and 187 along that lane walled off from widow Holland’s
field — walked back in 1/2 hour — stopt 5 minutes at Mytholm — got home at 9 1/2 — breakfast at 9 3/4 — staid down stairs talking
read the whole of the morning service — came upstairs at 12 1/2 — wrote the above of today, etc. — From one and a half to [illegible] five adding
a little more to the copy of my letter to Mrs. Barlow went down stairs at 5 10/60 read aloud the evening service and sermon 121. volume 3. my uncle’s collection —
dressed — dinner at 6 1/2 — Did nothing in the evening — beautiful morning fine day a little mild rain however about 11, and again in the evening — Barometer 3/4 degree above changeable
Fahrenheit 49° at 9 55/60 p.m. at which hour came up to bed —
Monday 30
5
11 1/4
Gave Hotspur oatcake — went out again, to speak to George in the stable at 7 1/2 From near eight to nine wrote a little more to Mrs Barlow at 9 1/4
went to the workmen — got back at 10 3/4 — breakfast at 11 — went to the workmen again at 12 1/2 got home again at 1 1/2 — From two to six and a ha
lf wrote the third page and the ends and all along where the direction should be to Mrs Barlow Came down to dinner at 6 3/4 — Did nothing in the evening
Fine morning — gentle rain from about 2 to 6 p.m. — then afterwards a fine evening Barometer 3 1/4 degrees above changeable Fahrenheit 48° at 9 3/4 p.m. at
which hour came up to bed — E..[above] o —
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