| Description | [Diary Transcription]
154
1827
April
§§
§§
Vc
§§
§§
§§
I just finished (at 1 50/60) reading M-’s [Mariana] letter 3 ppages and the ends, and a thermometrical journal under the seal — See page two at
last π’s [Mariana] eyes open she sees that Willoughby Crewe ‘is giving his thoughts and regard in a very profitless quarter’
that is to herself read page two he told her ‘he had often thought to himself that the only blot in my character
‘was [illegible] having married Charles it was a blot I replied but what can people do who have no money and wan
‘t a comfortable home very true he said but Charles is so much older than you are and his life I do not think a good one
‘no perhaps not but I hope I shall be able to find another home if I lose this he never uttered ...........
read page two of this letter ~ somehow I felt sickish on reading all this she does not like my going to
Switzerland with Mrs. Barlow but will not decide for me one way or other thinks Mrs. Barlow foolish ‘I am satisfied about you
‘depend on this and set your heart in every way at ease about me’ this ssentence comforts me my head
aches I feel nervous oh that π [Mariana] and I were together ~. M- [Mariana] has had one of the worst bilious attacks she ever had in
her life, but was better at the end of her letter — would prefer a house in London and will try to persuade Charles to prefer
one there also, and this, too, is what I should like — Louisa Bailey has had a paralytic attack but is recovering or
recovered — I am very anxious about M- [Mariana] — How will all things end? — wrote the last 13 lines which took me till 2 5/60
then finished dressing — Bishop Luscombe came at 1 50/60 — I could not go in till 2 20/60 — he will come to administer the sacrament
at 1 on Saturday — will preach tomorrow afternoon at the oratoire at 3 — I will go to hear him — gentlemanly sort of rather elderly clergyman —
Madame Galvani came at about 2 35/60 — this hurried the bishop away — came in to Madame Galvani at 2 3/4 — she staid till 4 —
Mrs. Barlow with my aunt — came in to tell me so — said I should be ready in 1/2 hour — told Madame Galvani what Monsieur Sené said about the
bugs — massive mahogany too hard for them to make holes in — but if plaqué (mahogany laid over some other wood) the bugs would get in
better — they get into the wood underneath the sacking — the eggs float about in the air — none in my room because a north
aspect’ — the windows towards the hot sun should be kept closed and the light excluded — there is a sort of plaster which engenders
them, that is which is so porous that the eggs get in, and are hatched by the heat — always choose a bedroom towards the
north — my aunt’s bed should be examined — one can tell if there are bugs by the little holes made by them in the wood—
the wood should be well washed with lie à l’eau de lessive (a lie made by boiling wood ashes in water — the
same they here wash clothes in), then well done over with a brush dipped in eau de térébenthine (turpentine), the
only thing that will kill the bugs — put a bug into turpentine it will swell and swell, and then die — asked if they
would get into our imperials — no never into leather — could not bear the smell of it — then that said I is the reason why
people take leather sheets to Italy — yes! — speaking of the ‘Bordeaux-Medoc (Pouillac)’ Madame Galvani said it was
from the village of Pouillac i.e. esteemed the best quality of Médoc — wrote the last 14 1/2 lines which (with talking a minute or 2
to Mrs. Barlow) took me till 4 40/60 — went out with Mrs. Barlow at 5 1/4 — walked through the barrière de l’Etoile along the
Elysée Charles very nearly to the Bois de Boulogne — got home at 7 1/4 — Mrs. Barlow came up with me for Jane who was
to stay with the Senés till 6 (to see the Longchamp carriages) and then come to my aunt — Mrs. Barlow and Jane refused to stay dinner
because they were going to drink tea at Dr. Lefevrés — Dinner at 7 1/2 — left the dining room at 9 52/60 — settled with George
and my accounts — then at 9 20/60 went to wish my aunt good night, and came back to my room at 10 1/2 —
Friday 13
6 35/60
11 55/60
L
my bowels as yesterday — at my desk at 7 35/60 — wrote a little note to Mrs. Barlow saying I had forgotten when I talked yesterday
of being with her at 4 1/2 today, that I had told bishop Luscombe I would go to the Oratoire to hear him preach — asked if Mrs. and Miss Barlow
would go with me and I would call for them soon after 2 — at 7 50/60 began to write to M- [Mariana] — from 7 50/60 to 10 1/2 wrote 3 ppages and one
end small close to M- [Mariana] reading over my letter took 1/4 hour — then wafered (ill done, the paper a little giving way round the wafer)
directed to ‘Mrs. Lawton Lawton hall Lawton Cheshire Angleterre (port payé)’, and sent off my letter at 10 50/60 — then breakfast—
and read part 1/2 of the paper which took me till 11 3/4 — finished dressing — went into the drawing room at 12 20/60 — from 12 25/60
to 1 25/60 read prayers (leaving out the litany) and read bishop Sandford’s sermon on the Lord’s supper — staid talking to my aunt — Mrs. Barlow came
at 1 40/60 to go with me to the Oratoire took MacDonald and George and off at 2 20/60 — got there (all long the rue Saint Honoré) at 2 50/60
the French service not quite over — our service began at 3 5/60 — a very young man read the prayers and bishop Luscombe
preached very well 34 minutes from John XIX.30. I think verse 30 — and ‘he bowed and said it is finished’ — Immediately
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 50° at 7 1/2 a.m.
62° at 1 50/60
55 1/2° at 9 10/60
fine morning
very fine day
coolish. The trees in
full leaf in the Tuileries
gardens —
155
1827
April
Vc
§
§§
§
§§
§
§
§
§
§
after service Mrs. Barlow and I went to Miss Gauntlet rue and hotel on Bouloy [du Bouloi] — looking very thin and ill — sat with her an hour —
and came away at 6 1/4 — took a turn in the Tuileries gardens — ordered a French pie (the 1st) at Michel’s for tomorrow and got home at
7 10/60 — Miss Gauntlet to dine with Mrs. Barlow on Monday and with us on Wednesday — Mrs. Barlow told her a Mrs. Brown she was much taken with
here and whom she nursed for charity’s ssake in her confinement was only a mistress and is now on the town in Paris
we quizzed and I have not laughed so much for long ~ The reverend Thistlethwaite (Jane’s uncle in Law) died about a fortnight ago—
speaking of determination of blood to the head, Miss Gauntlet said put the feet in warm water with a little vinegar in it, and
rub the legs downwards from the knees 3 nights together, then stop 2 or 3 weeks, then do so again — to do it too often would relax the
habit too much — she had seen a woman in Italy brought back to her senses by this means in 10 minutes — the climate
of Southern [Italy] too hot for Miss Gauntlet not good for English constitutions — she used to feel such a weakness at the pit of the
pit of the stomach, that she could scarce support herself — It has done her harm rather than good — she feels she is not
the person she was when she first went there 1 1/2 year ago — Dinner at 7 1/4 — Left the dining room at 9 10/60 — prepared my
bedroom, settled with George and my accounts wrote the last 16 lines, and went into the drawing room at 9 50/60 — Read over the
the remaining 1/2 the paper I had not read in the morning — staid talking to my aunt about her complaints — I told M- [Mariana] this morning
much the same as in my last letter that I thought the complaint gradually gaining ground — that even Mrs. Barlow now shortened the period of 12
years she had thought my aunt might live — that if she was not better than now, going to Switzerland was out of the question — In
answer to how should I dispose of my time when I had done my accounts, said I should 1st consider my health, and go into the
country for a few days perhaps to Fontainebleau — should my aunt be well enough to be left, I had not yet made
up my mind between going to Switzerland and to England — many reasons against the latter — the parting at Boulogne had shewn
us both the strength of our regard — I was not so philosophic as the world might deem — I had presentment about next spring
hinting as if on account of my aunt — In the event of anything happening to her should return to England as immediately as possible—
hoped to meet M- [Mariana] to part no more — her confidence was the greatest comfort to me ‘I certainly deserve it’ — Do not see
Mrs. Barlow quite everyday, but about every other day — all vain expectations completely at an end — mention that she says that after
I once leave here, she does not expect to ever see me again — Not sorry Mr. Willoughby Crewe does not come to Paris — Glad
π's- [Mariana] eyes are at last opened have no fear for her but bid her take care for him as his foot might
slip more easily than she thinks ~ Agree, would rather have a house anywhere than in York — one in London
on all accounts advisable — always easily disposable for a few months or longer if not wanted, and more likely to be wanted
than a house in any other town in England — as for that pretty country place near Congleton, hope it is now too late, and that we
can do better — Meaning that we shall soon get together ~ Advise to consult Charles about calling on the William
Buchanans when they settle 11 miles from Lawton if Mr. Charles Lawton objects not to urge it, but should Miss Pattison name the thing
regret not having it in her power to do etc. etc. what Mrs. Alexander Buchanan said should go for nothing — M- [Mariana] having no
business to know it — I told her at Parkgate~
Saturday 14
6 50/60
11 50/60
my bowels pretty well — the 3 oranges last night again, did them good? — at my desk at 7 55/60 — wrote the last 18 1/2
lines of yesterday and the above of today, and then at 8 1/2 began looking over the rough draft of my ledger colliery account and calculating what
they (Messrs Walsh, Hinchcliffe and company) ought to have paid me — from 8 1/2 to 10 20/60 made out the rough draft ledger
account (after having settled the coal account) of Messrs Freeman and John Lister and 3 percent consols. breakfast at 10 1/2 —
from then to 11 40/60 (breakfast over sent away at 11 20/60) and reading paper — at 11 3/4 began to finish dressing — at my desk again at 12 25/60 then copied the
poetic squib against Monsieur. Peyronnet le garde des Sceaux [Keeper of the Seals] and had just done it at one — Mrs. Barlow came at 12 50/60, and staid
with me a minute or 2 — went into the drawing room to my aunt and Mrs. Barlow at 1 — bishop Luscombe was to have been here at that
hour but did not arrive till 1 20/60 sat talking till 2 — asked him to say a word or 2 to the servants to satisfy them
as to not taking the sacrament unworthily — in explanation of eating and drinking their own damnation — this he did
rather awkwardly i.e. he did not do it well — said he would not consider my aunt as a sick person but as one who
could not get to a place of worship, and, as our drawing room was as consecrated as our ambassador’s dining room he
would read the communion service as read in churches — I should think he was about 20 minutes reading it — read well — just before that
I said as there was no regular offering for the poor I begged he would take 20 francs to distribute as he thought best — he would give them to
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 49° at 8 a.m.
59° at 12 25/60 p.m.
58° at 9 1/4 —
fine morning coldish
fine day but coldish.
|