| Description | [Diary Transcription]
158
1827
April
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beef — did so — asked the price of mutton — 14sols a lb. — nice but not so small as Mignaud’s — just before entering the place des Victoires
turned to the right down to the passage Verododat [Véro-Dodat] — through it, and came out into the rue Saint Honoré opposite the oratorie — En passant
went into No. [Number] 82 rue Saint Denise près celle des Lombards – large whole sale confectioners’ shop — only asked me 3/50
a lb. for fine chinois, the same for apricots — the latter not yet egouttés — bought a lb. of the former determining to make this
my shop — for marmalade d’abricots and all such things 2/. a lb. — the little pots I buy said to contain 3 oz. less than a
lb. — 2 francs a lb. = 2 1/2 sols an oz. — at this rate I am [illegible] right to buy of Bertrand — I only give 32 sols for 13 oz. and have the
pot — from the confectioner’s (B. Perrot Pezé), to No. [Number] 1. rue des Lombards — bought 3 lbs. tea, and sent home George — Sauntered down
the rue d’Arcis, and to the Marché au Gibier — a woman asked me 18 sols for fineish skewered pigeons (Bertrand said I ought to
have very good at 1/. but there from 14 sols to 30 sols!), I could have got them easily for 15 sols, but only offered 12 sols – Then strolled
along the quais looking at prints and maps as I passed — the troops reviewed by the King today in the Champ de Mars —
a crowd about the pont royal (de Louis 16, etc.) — through the gardens — just got under the arcade in time (at 4) to
escape a shower — detained there perhaps 20 minutes — the channels in the streets full of water — obliged to cross (from the rue neuve
de Luxembourg) over the little common show in the rue Richepanse — beginning to rain again just before I got home —
came in at 4 1/2 — Monsieur and Madame Sené with my aunt in her bedroom about her bed on account of bugs — they must come from MacDonald’s
bed — Madame Sené now recollects the nurse had this bed once (last year) in a 4me when they were from home, and she complained much
of bugs — the bois de lit is to be taken away and MacDonald to have another — all very civil — talked a while to
my aunt — came to my room at 4 50/60 — wrote the last 20 lines — settled with George, — and went out (to Mrs. Barlow’s to dine)
at 5 35/60 sent George at 5 20/60 to be there to wait till 7 and then come back to my aunt — washed my hands and changed shoes and
stockings at Mrs. Barlow’s — Miss Gauntlet had been there some time — Dinner at 6 1/4 — sent George home in about an hour from then —
peas soup maigre — hind 1/4 lamb, and vol au vent at 4/. asparagus and mashed potatoes — then a Charlotte Russe (a cream enclosed
in a pretty pudding-like mould of savoy biscuits) at 5/. For dessert oranges — biscuits and rout cakes almonds and raisins —
tea about 9 — joking Miss Gauntlet about being a physionomist — she said there was something wicked in the corner of my eye —
I said there was something ditto in the left corner of her left eye — she had heard it remarked before — she said
there was something wicked in the corner of Mrs. Barlow’s eye, but it was more hid there in mine — joked Mrs. Barlow about
Miss Gauntlet’s having given her the name of ‘latent wicked’ — got to talking about Switzerland — had the map out — mentioned
our 1st intention of going by Strasbourg — would do very well — Miss Gauntlet saw Chamouny 16 August — by all
means cross the tête noir, but dangerous too early or late in the season — If not go, return by Lyons — very well
worth seeing — Dijon a pretty little town — the Deux Cloches there one of the best Inns, and reasonable, Miss Gauntlet
has been at on the continent — At Geneva the Crown very good — will get all sorts of information there
but be generally be guided by the Guide book — this always the best — not interested to advise this way or that —
3 days quite enough for Venice — she bought prints of Parni at Florence — Morgan the best and dearest; but the
English turned over his portfolio, and did so much injury without purchasing, he will not let the them do so now —
a Miss Trail Travelled through Italy by herself — had 30 letters of recommendation, and thus went from house to house —
a singular genius for painting — copies all the famous heads, Raphael’s mistress, Titians Flora. etc. etc. in
miniature — has left her family to study painting in Italy — a gentlewoman — now at home – copies
most beautifully — many of her things likely to make a great noise in England when she returns — Sat talking Till 12 —
George had been waiting since 9 1/4 — sent him for a fiacre for Miss Gauntlet got home at 12 1/4 — sat up
looking over my French cookery books — some useful information in the Confiseur Moderne about bottling
wine — o.. ~ Miss Gauntlet strongly recommends all persons travelling to get as many and good letters of introduction
as they can —
159
1827
April Tuesday 17
8 25/60
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On the pot in vain in half hour then lay on the bed twenty minutes got cool had a little motion
and began to wash and dress at nine and a quarter ~ at my desk at 10 — wrote the last 20 lines of yesterday — from 10 20/60
to 11 1/4 read the paper — Mr. Canning prime minister — the lord chancellor Lord Eldon, the duke of Wellington, Mr. Peel and 4 more cabinet ministers
have therefore resigned — the Herald attributes the success of Mr. Canning to the influence of the marchess of
Conyngham whose son is Mr. Canning’s private secretary — wrote the above of this morning — breakfast at 11 1/2 — at my
desk again at 12 10/60 — from then to 1 1/4 settling and writing out my accounts and dawdling over them in one way or other —
finished dressing went out at 2 5/60 — staid talking 20 minutes to my aunt and then went out at 2 25/60 — called at the café next
door on the boulevard — could have 1 tasse strong clear coffee for 13 sols tomorrow after dinner — thence to the pot shop over the
way — bol bleu (finger glass) to be 1/10 , and a plain small liquor glass 0/50 — thence to the great fruiterer’s in the rue du marché
Saint Honoré small poor-looking cauliflowers 0/60 a piece — a smallish cucumber 2/. — thence to Mrs. Barlow’s got there
at 3 5/60 — Madame Galvani there — Miss Gauntlet with Mrs. Barlow in her room — nervous and not well — thought it very kind in me
to ask her to dinner — never expected such a thing — hardly thought she should be well enough to come — meant to have
called on me this morning — sent her excuse by Mrs. Barlow hurried off — too nervous to see me as she had not called — Poor
soul! she has overdone herself — her nerves do indeed seem shaken — waited for Jane to go out after Madame Galvani left her —
Mrs. Barlow and I lay down all my doing I must say and soon right middle finger up which she seemed to enjoy very well ~
In bed both of us above half hour and I lay after Jane came in ~ Mrs. and Miss Barlow and I went out at 5, through the barrière along
the route Elysée Charles to the Bois de Boulogne — Left them at their door, and got home at 7 — Dinner at 7 1/4 — Came to my
room at 9 — wrote the last 11 lines — settled with George and my accounts — went into the drawing room at 9 3/4 — lay on the sofa talking
to my aunt — came to my room at 10 10/60 o. ~1/4 hour eating 3 oranges — then 25 minutes looking at Beauvilliers (cooking) but
could not find in either of the volumes a fricandeau de veau —
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 50° at 9 20/60 a.m.
56° at noon.
50°at 10 10/60 p.m.
fine morning
fine day —
Wednesday 18
7 40/60
3
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my bowels pretty well — finished dressing — at my desk at 9 25/60 — then copied some more verses lent me by Madame Galvani
last Wednesday (Squibs against the Jesuits — for Napoleon, — and against the Bourbons), and sat down to breakfast at 9 55/60 — went out at 11 10/60 after
having been 40 minutes reading the paper — the press law project withdrawn by a special ordonnance of the King dated
the 17th instant — several booksellers illumined last night in consequence — ordered at the traiteur’s rue du faubourgSaint Honoré, a
fricandeau de veau à l’oseille, and a dish of spinach, and a Charlotte Russe (vide Monday) — Went to Michel’s to
inquire for Seville oranges — referred to Ibbotson and Tavernier, 353 (bis) rue Saint Honoré — had none at present — would
have next week — about ten sols a piece — but they made marmalade — ordered a pot at 6 /50 — walked
forwards to No. [Number] 4 rue du Marché Saint Honoré – paid Madame Cor for my hat which came last night — In returning along
the rue Saint Honoré bought some good oranges at 0/25 — came in a little after 12 — dawdling over 1 thing or other — went
out again near one, and took George — bought finger glasses Boulevard de la Madeleine, salad (petite chicorée sauvage)
No. [Number] 7 rue neuve de Luxembourg — got the marmalade, and then sent George for other things — Having for some time past noticed an
advertisement in Galignani by a lady No. [Number] 1, rue neuve du Luxembourg who wished for boarders, and styled herself capable of teaching
French and Italian, and having often I thought I would go and see what sort of concern it was, — went [illegible] — au 3me [troisième] — (above an
entresol, I think) narrow staircase — dark, small rooms, — dirtyish looking — the lady appeared — dirtyish also — a native
of Brussels, but in France (in Paris) since she was a year old — a widow — 2 daughters, — whom she instructed — terms 150 francs
a month for 1 person having 1 little bedroom — for a servant nourrie [nourri] comme une maitresse [such as a wet-nurse with her] [fed like a mistress]100 francs per month — if my friend
(not yet arrived in France) uncertain — might come if she could arrange herself well here) should bring a maid, she might a small room
for her through her own, and also a little place fitted up as a salon all for 300 francs per month —, and she would give her
an hour a day lesson in French or Italian for 50 francs a month — was at liberty from 10 to 1 and from 2 to 5 every day — the lady might
choose her hour — She sat down to write all this and give me references — to Dr. Lefevre’s father who is an English clergyman here, and to
Madame Barlow rue des Champs Elysées — ’Twas Madame Coure of whom I heard from Mrs. Barlow and who was to have taken us at so much
per month (private drawing room and meals in private and man and maid for 800 francs per month) — thought I to myself this would never have done —
we are much better, and à meilleur marché [at a better rate], as we are — she is not the sort of woman to have suited us — seemed not
[margin text:] Fahrenheit 47 1/2° at 8 a.m.
52° at 11 1/4 —
fine morning
fine day — coolish —
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