| Description | [Diary Transcription]
229
1827
December Saturday 8
8 5/60
12 1/2
X
N
§§
Incurred a cross last night thinking of π [Mariana] merely to see if it would do me good ~ Bowels only tolerable — made my coffee better this morning than yesterday — breakfast from 9 1/2 to 10 — then read the paper — wrote
a little note to Mrs. Barlow to say the day was so unpromising perhaps I should not stir out, and to beg her to ask Madame
Galvani how I should get the address of Count Peruzzi who is not chargé d’affaires de Toscane — some time talking to my aunt
her throat bad this morning — can hardly swallow — her face swelled, especially her lips — she thinks there is both wind and
water — Perhaps she may be beginning to be dropsical — all the rest of the day (save dressing about 4)
writing rough draft of letter to Mr. Briggs (a long letter about 1 thing or other), and looking over my accounts — what balance I have and
ought to have this Xmas [Christmas] (at present £7. too much), — examining the pew rents etc. etc. not quite so much indigestion pain
today — at 3 different times today, as well as yesterday, jumped up and danced about the room for 5 minutes together, and this I think, has
done me good — stood this morning while I read the paper, and stood as much as I could — I am now persuaded that is neither
this nor that that I take that disagrees with me, nor was it the closeness or cold or dampness of my bedroom, nor is it the air of Paris —
tis want of exercise that has been the evil — dinner at 6 20/60 — sat talking after dinner till 8 40/60 — then came to my room
for 3/4 hour and sat with my aunt from 9 25/60 to 10 1/4 reading aloud and translating to her some receipts from Beauvilliers — finish morning till
about 10 afterwards damp and always more or less rainy day — Somehow I can never get to bed soon — always take up
something or other — Danced five minutes then from 10 1/2 to 11 1/2 took up my Travelling day book — made the summary of it of weeks 23, 24, 25, and 26 of
last 1/2 year —
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 44 1/2° at 10 1/2 p.m.
Sunday 9
7 10/60
11 55/60
L
§
§
§
§§
§
§
Bowels bad as ever No motion at all went out at 9 35/60 — walked through the barriere de l’Etoile as far as the bois de
Boulogne gates on the Neuilly road — very dirty, and damp and hazy (thick fog) but determined to try exercise before breakfast — got
back at 10 20/60 — Letter from M- [Mariana] (Lawton) 3 ppages the ends and under the seal — dated 1st 20 November, and lastly Monday 3 December — had
been at Birmingham and waited to tell me of the arrival of her things — pleased with them all — altogether good account of
herself — IN- [Isabella Norcliffe] wrote but did not go to her — had said Paris did not agree with me — M- [Mariana] wishes us to go to Versailles or
somewhere near — satisfied to have me within reach again — Will not miss Miss Pattison so much as she fancied ~ It seems
as if there was some chance of their coming here — Miss Pattison wishing to pass through on her way to her friend Miss Prevost
at Geneva, and begs M- [Mariana] to make inquiries as to expense etc. etc. of me — M- [Mariana] recommends me to try the shower bath, and
drink nothing but distilled water — she has found very great benefit from both, particularly the latter — astonished at the smallness
of the sum she owes IN- [Isabella Norcliffe] — Duty on 2 dresses 18 shillings /.d carriage 6/. portering 1/. box (for the trinkets) 1/. Insurance
on 2 boxes 5/. and booking 4d. = 1.11.4 — ‘In Yorkshire (vide bottom of page 3.) they think you are swallowed up by Mrs. Barlow, who,
‘it is said holds you in leading strings — How such a remark would have annoyed me some time back — but, I trust, and depend
‘upon you .... and am happy’ — made my coffee — breakfast at 11 — Then a little motion long about it but should
have done nothing but for the walking then dressed my hair went out for the first time with my front over my curl papers then
wrote the above of today — went in to prayers at 12 25/60 — my aunt read her part very well — prayers and sermon 15 bishop
Sandford over in an hour — staid talking to my aunt till 2 1/4 — mentioned Miss Pattison’s going through to Geneva — that there seemed
some chance of the Lawtons coming, that perhaps I might go to England and return with them — put off going to Rome till next autumn, or
the spring following — Till 3 35/60 sat or rather stood musing what to do about 1 thing or other — danced about for 5 minutes Then had a really
pretty good motion as if to convince me more of the want of exercise no hard straining sat on the pot
on my chair for about ten minutes — then danced 7 1/2 minutes and walked about my room till 4 — went out at 4 5/60 — direct
to Mrs. Barlow sat with her at Jane — at 5 1/2 said I would dine with them — having prepared my aunt for my doing so — Mrs. Barlow sent
off her servant with a line from me — At five minutes before six went with Mrs Barlow into her room both lay down on the bed
right middle finger up directly and gave a pretty good one then lay dozing and afterwards talking till af
ter seven — Dinner at 7 1/4 — Had before said I had heard from the steward — thought I should be obliged to go to England by and by — could not
go to Rome this spring — Mrs. Barlow will go to England also, and try to get part of her pension in reversion for Jane — Though I had not been there
since Monday we had no dumps indeed I staid in the drawing room with Jane and lay on the sofa with my legs across
Mrs Barlows knees — got home at 9 55/60 — my aunt’s throat rather troublesome — came to my room at 10 5/60 — did my things for the wash wrote the last 7
lines — Thick, damp morning — continued so all the day, with small rain towards night —
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 43° at 8 a.m.
230
1827
December Monday 10
6 55/60
11 50/60
L
§§
§
+
§§
Very little motion one two and a half inch bit not thick went out at 8 1/4 — through the barrier straight along the route
royale almost to the Bois de Boulogne gates — got back at 10 1/4 — made my coffee — breakfast at 10 1/2 — read about 1/2 the paper —
from 11 1/2 to 1 1/4 (35 minutes in copying it) wrote, copied, read aloud to my aunt and sent off my letter (2 ppages large sheet) to ‘Mr.
James Briggs, Ward’s end, H-x [Halifax], Yorkshire, Angleterre port payé’ — then paid my aunt last week’s account and stood talking till 2 1/2 —
said I had determined to go to England — suddenly, ‘like a thief in the night’ — perhaps about the end of February — my aunt had always thought of Northgate
being an Inn would not and what if we did lay out £2,000 — 1 thing led to another — would do nothing decidedly till I went
to England — would then say not a word to any one but consult Lacey of Manchester — view the ground and see what could be done —
would be satisfied to lay out 2,000 if we could then make £200 per annum of the place — would build immediately fronting the 2 streets —
said I would plan the rounded corner [drawing of Northgate plan] the entrance in the round — i.e. a handsome peristyle at a, b the bar, c d e f
ranges of rooms on each side a long passage — the present buildings might be made useful till one had money to
complete the plan — from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 wrote the above of today — danced about for 5 minutes etc. And immediately ten minutes
on the pot and did as much more and a little bit as in the morning — at 3 1/2 Madame Galvani came and staid with me till 6 10/60 — nothing
but conversation — She seems to have an offer of more pupils — bade her do what she liked with my hour — give me up
for the moment if I suited her, for, though I liked to have her, I was at present too much occupied to give much attention to French
I might too, be suddenly called off to England — should like to half live with her next summer, and then give my mind to it and, make what
progress I could — we are the best friends in the world — For Italian female character she bids me read Corinne — the Rocher
de Cancale celebrated for fish and game — Madame Séné the daughter of a sellier here — very low in point of society —
a physician here would think himself dishonoured by the intimacy of a notaire — the avocats do not associate either with
notaires or avoués, which last is, I suppose, something equivaleent to an attorney — wrote the last 10 lines dinner at
6 25/60 — sat talking about Northgate — came to my room at 8 35/60 — then wrote out last week’s housekeeping account Ten minutes on the pot and did about an inch long ~ and calculating
this and that till 10 3/4 — fine day — hazyish — but mild and sunny, and warm, that I could not bear to keep in the fire in my room —
took a glass of brandy and water (1 brandy and 7 water) which I have not done for many nights —
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 52° at 7 1/2 a.m.
Fahrenheit 50 1/2° at 10 3/4 p.m.
Tuesday 11
7
11 40/60
§§
§§
§
§
Bowels as yesterday — went out at 8 1/2 — to Mrs. Barlow’s, 1/2 hour there, then went with her servant, Ferdinande, to her chantier, l’
arcade, rue de la Madeleine — could not do better there than at my own — so went back and bought 5 voies, and saw it
cordé — got home at 10 1/2 — made my coffee — Mrs. Barlow came in about 1/4 hour — breakfasted — sat talking to her — wrote out
prescriptions to get made up — dressed my hair — changed my dress — wrote the above of today — went out with Mrs. Barlow
at 1 1/2 — we went to Laffitte’s — then to Madame Core to order hat — then to Moussu’s — left Dr. Tupper’s prescriptions (calomel
pills opening draught and 4 tonouc draughts to be made up (same as 28 May and 2 June last, vide private Day book of those dates) —
then through the gardens to Perrelet’s — left my Ivory tables to be mended — asked Madame Perrelet about oatmeal — Saturday the great market
à la halle au bled, but oatmeal gruau brought du midi de la France by the conductors of diligences — allowed to
bring it as a perquisite — inquired for it of the concierge at the diligence bureau — 10 to 12 sols a lb. — the beautifully
white bread here called pain gruau made of oatmeal, of the flour of oats — could scarcely believe it — but so she
assured me — returned through the gardens — called for the medicine — went to Ste. Beuve’s (quincailler) for boite à café —
saw nice braisière (or daubière — the same thing) of copper at 30/. — very good for baking, or boiling — saw
exactly the same sort and size of cafetière at 2/50 [illegible] Madame Galvani or rather her servant got me at 3/50. — of 1 tasse 2/50 — for every additional
tasse of size add 15 sols to the price — left Mrs. Barlow at the corner of Place de la Madelaine and got home at 5 1/2 — doing 1 thing
or other dinner at 6 10/60 — went into the drawing room at 7 50/60 — lay on the sofa talking to my aunt — I cool a little about building
an Inn at Northgate — say ‘tis a serious thing to borrow money — come to my room at 8 50/60 — settle the accounts of today — Very fine
mild day — wrote the last 12 lines all which took me till 10 1/4 — Just before geting into bed took the 2 pills (vide line 6
of today) —
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 48° at 8 a.m.
46° at 10 1/4 p.m.
|