| Description | [Diary Transcription]
32
1826
November
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any truth in what she told me of his ssaying about me he must have thought of it I wonder what he
thought about me this morning he was ssufficiently civil and Madame Droz before Miss Droz came inside she had
taken a fancy to me of which I took no notice at all thinking to myself the fancy was not mutual
Mentioned this apartment of ours as one at 550 per month — they said it was dear — Monsieur Droz mentioned a very handsome
1ere [premiere, first floor] close to them (handsomely furnished) at 400 per month — said I should think of these things after our term here
was out (after March 7) — Monsieur Droz will send his tailor to me for George, or do anything for me of this
sort — all very civil — But somehow I neither much admire him or his ssister I shall go there much
asked them to come here hoped to see them should be glad to see them anytime whether they will ever
come I nor know nor care the Drozs’ apartment on 3ème [3rd floor] — dirty narrowish staircase — but comfortable when one gets there —
received in their bedroom where Madame Droz sits in a morning and has her piano — they do not visit Madame de Boyve
often — would not like to go often — but she is Monsieur Droz’s countrywoman — and they do not wish to quarrel —
from the Drozs’ went to Laffitte’s — who should be there but Miss Pope — took no notice — She by and by came
round to me, and looking at me I could do not less than look as if in doubt whether I knew her or not — she
asked if it was not I — and I inquired how she did very civilly — She had been all over Germany etc. with her own
horses, is just returned — unwell from the fatigue of travelling, and going almost immediately to Brussels — at Madame
de Boyve’s asked after Mrs. Barlow would call upon her but was too unwell — today the 1st she had come out, and
obliged to come — hoped she should see Mrs. Barlow I promised to tell her — hoped she should see me — I thanked her but
neither said anything like yes , nor gave my address — left her there — never offered to shake hands — she would
think my recognition not a very cordial one — from there back to Madame Huchez’s rue Ste Anne no [number] 14) — Left
my merinos that she made to be done up pour le mieux [for the best] as she thought best ~ thence to Madame Contant — paid
her 72/25 on account of Mrs. Lynn’s 2 1/2 ells merinos 55/. - 1 1/2 ell gros de Naples ponceau 15/75
doing up the parcel and taking it to the Diligence 1/50 — got home at 2 3/4 — then wrote all the above of today — got
a £50 and a £25 Hammersleys notes exchanged Exchange 25/45 — several people there — I had rather go earlier —
writing the above took me till 3 50/60 — then looking over my money and settling my accounts took me till 5 1/4 —
I have now in hand after having paid everything and including the seventy-two twenty-five that Mrs. Lynn
owes me two thousand four hundred and three francs ~ then danced a little for exercise — washed my hands — read a
little of Lampière’s Classical dictionary dinner at 6 5/60 — the porter’s wife not coming after dinner, from 8 1/2 to 10 at my accounts of
1825 — and readding up the 1st 3 months — writing and ruling off the sums at the bottom of each — making several erasures —
Fine morning (though thickish) till noon — then thicker — began to rain a little between 2 and 3 — about 4 some heavyish rain —
Afterwards damp evening — went to my room at 10 10/60 —
Sunday 19
7 35/60
11 1/2
My bowels not moved at all have long been not as they should be parting with a few little hard bits
a good enough colour perhaps a little slimy looking latterly yesterday and this morning I had pain in
the anus and fancied myself going to have piles sso resolved to take 2 teaspoonfuls epsom salts as soon
as I could after coming to my salon at 8 1/4 — took the salts at 8 1/2 — made myself some raisin and currant tea, and drank 2 or
small 3 tumblers of it — In about an hour a loose little motion and by and by two more such parting with a few
perhaps three little lumps which rather gave me pain it hurts me to thrust much ~ somehow I fancy
these salts have not done enough — my breakfast not brought till after 11 — then put away the milk and coffee
and kept the rest meaning to take a little bread and butter afterwards — From 11 50/60 to 12 20/60 read aloud to my aunt and the
[margin text:] fire lighted at 8 10/60 a.m.
Fahrenheit 52° at 9 1/2 a.m.
56° — 4 3/4 p.m.
3° — 10 —
33
1826
November
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the morning service omitting the litany — Then came to my salon again — Went to the pot parted with a little
that seemed like rather bloody slime ~ At 1 10/60, ate about a 3rd of the crust of my roll buttered, and
drank a couple of tumblers of my raisin tea — Early in the morning read a little of Lampière’s Classical Dictionary —
walked about the room for exercise — and then till 4 read from page 228. to 337. end of Montlosier’s Memoire —
There is much good — much truth in it, and I have been much interested — at 4 drank my last glass of the
raisin tea (I have drunk 2 teapotfuls) and ate the pulp of the raisins — then wrote the above of today from 4 3/4 to 6 wrote 1 page small and close to M- [Mariana] — washed
my hands — Dinner at 6 1/4 — afterwards from 8 20/60 to 9 20/60 wrote out the index from the 6th instant up to tonight — Damp day —
occasionally raining — the street wet all the day — went to my room at 9 55/60 —
Monday 20
7
11 40/60
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Settled with the washer woman and came to my salon at 8 — made out the summary of last week and made an estimate of our least possible expenses per week without wood — may do for 60/. a week — finished
dressing — breakfast at 10 20/60 — read the whole of Galignani’s Messenger — went out at 11 1/2 — Went to the patissier — bought meat —
Went to No. [Number] 52 rue St Honoré for L’echo de la Halle aux Blés published Sundays and Tuesdays — unluckily it was the wrong
no [number] should have gone to No. [Number] 51 — my labour in vain — but I have had my walk and this will do me good — walked sharply on
account of expecting Madame Galvani — got back (returned round about through the Louvre court and place du Carrousel) at 12 1/2 — wrote
the last 4 lines — set down what I had bought — Madame Galvani came at 12 3/4, and staid till 2 3/4 — conversation all the time —
nothing particular — I improve I think — I feel to get on with rather more facility — her legs still a little swelled — she
has heard from 2 or 3 quarters of its being dropsical, and she herself thinks so — Had her left leg resting on my knee a long
time gently rubbing it in a very proper manner By the way Madame Galvani speaking of getting too old to bear the
fatiguing life she leads, I said why not go to Italy (for Dr. Morgan who attends the Granvilles says her having always had
cold feet here is a proof the circulation is not right — she is not acclimateé, accustomed, broken in to the climate
and if she does not get a remedy the thing will end in dropsy) — Settle at Florence or Rome among the English —
oh! no! her family would think themselves disgraced by her giving lessons — then why did they not support her? — they would if she would
would go and live with them, but not otherwise — then why not live with them? she would go to her brother directly if his wife
was dead, but never so long as she (the wife) lived — well said I you have plenty of friends — depend upon it they will not [let]
you starve — I daresay there are 20 people would give you 5 guineas a year — yes she thought there were —and yet said I would be little
to them individually, and much to you — well she would leave it to me to manage it, and then she should not care about her legs
swelling — no! said I — I am not the person to manage it — why not? It should be lady Dacre — I would willingly do anything I could for her —
write to lady Dacre about it etc. but I was not old enough — It would be matter of compliment to lady Dacre besides, said I,
Miss Harvey is a good friend of yours, and you have known her longer than me — oh! yes! but she would rather I did it —
and seemed quite satisfied when I said I would do anything I could for her — She then told me the story of Mr. Wright’s rela
tion to Mr. Arkwright and the Sitwells who went to her two hours every evening and let her have his carr
iage at her command and on going away told her to her surprise that quelle etait la seule femme qu’i
l l’avoit jamais aimee she was the only woman he had ever loved he was ordered to the baths at Bare
ge and from there wrote and begged her because he thought he should not recover to do him a favour that is accept the enclosed paper securing
to her a life annuity of two hundred a year she had instantly returned him his paper I said
I hoped I was always honourable but had I been at her elbow I did not think I should have advised her
to send back the paper she needed not make use of it without she pleased but if he died it was his will
it was a testament which he having a right to make she had a right to claim under she said Mr. Sit
well had perceived his passion before she did herself he was thirty very little disabled by a fall in
riding by which he broke both his thighs sso could not go about into the world like other young men nor be spoilt by it
he was french bien instruit [well educated] has a handsome face fine countenance she had never told this sstory to anyone but me
wrote the last 27 lines which took me till 3 3/4 —
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 52° at 9 a.m.
fire lighted at 8 —
55° at 11 1/4 —
52° — 10 1/2 p.m.
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