| Description | [Diary Transcription]
114
1818
September
home but that they were very unfortunate in missing me it rained almost the whole
way back she said she thought I had better take shelter but said no more when I told
I could not on account of having a great deal to do we shook hands at parting and she
kept my hand some seconds she certainly likes me I observed however while at
the inn that she had dirty nails and that her gown sleeves were not lined and she had no loose
sleeves on is she very tidy but she is pretty and I thought of what I should not
speaking of hand writing I said I could suit mine to my subject and make it either
close or the contrary she said it was convenient and smiled did she think of the poet I
Cal epistle they are to set off for Sheffield tomorrow at five in the morning When I had got
as far as the old church, meaning to come up the old bank, had to turn back to Miss Ibbetson’s then came up
the new bank and got home at 6 1/2, the clock having been stopped 1/4 in the evening as also last
night after supper making a bag of oiled cotton to hold my sponge and toothbrush.
Fine morning though threatening rain,. Showery afternoon. B. 2 degrees above rain. Fahrenheit. 55⁰ at 9 p.m.
Wednesday 16
6 35/60
5
Busy all the day about getting my things ready. Mending and in the afternoon and evening
making a lining for my basket Came up stairs at 10 1/2 counted over my money
etc. etc. Began packing about 12, and had all quite done at 3 1/2 Fine morning 2 or 3 heavy
showers between 4 and 6 Barometer 1 ½ below changeable Fahrenheit. 54⁰ at 9 p.m. Dawdled so long
that I was not in bed till 5
Thursday 17
8 35/60
5
My aunt having determined to go with me as far as York, to put herself under the care of
Mr. Horner the dentist, we set off at 11 and my uncle walked with us to Northgate
tired of sitting at Northgate I went to the White Lion and tho I had an inside place
in the highflier mounted the box with the coachman It began to rain a couple of miles
from Halifax, and came on so heavily that I got inside at the Inn on Clayton heights, met with Mrs.
Graham of Exley who left us at Bradford. Set off from Halifax at 11 40/60, got to
Leeds at 3, where we had a wretched dinner, to Tadcaster at 6 (I on the box from Leeds to
Tadcaster) and reached the Tavern, York, at 7 1/2, stopped, and left my aunt’s luggage at
the George Inn in Coney Street as we passed. Paid my bill at Miss Gledhill’s and took my
aunt to the Belcombes. Mrs. B [Belcombe} and Anne, Mrs Ricketts and her 2 daughters, Mrs. B’s [Belcombe’s} friend
Mrs. Dodsworth, the governess Miss Marienne, and a gentleman a cousin of hers just arrived from abroad
were the party. It happened to be little Louisa’s birth-day, after sitting a little while,
left them to get their tea while I hastened to make 1 or 2 shoppings, to get my hair cut, inquire
if Mr. Horner was at home, lorded about my aunts rooms at the George. Preferred going
alone, and though at that early hour, (about 8), one could not walk along unobserved some men and women
declared I was a man Did all my jobs to my satisfaction and then went to Parsons who, as
he cut me close behind, and curled my hair like the crest of a helmet at the top of my head,
115
1818
September
as they wore it 8 or 10 years ago, ammused me with an account of his month’s visit to Paris
last June. He went in the Cabriolet of the diligence, and, exc. provisions, was franked
from the White Bear, Piccadilly, to Paris, for £3-18-0. He said he found Paris very
expensive that with one thing or another it cost him 22 or 23 francs a day, but he could
manage better another time; for not being able to speak a word of French, he had gone to the
hotel frequented by the Duke of Wellington and all the English, Murice’s one of the most expensive hotels in Paris.
The hotel de Suède near the Italian boulevards, he understood was a very good one
speaking of the shameful badness of the police of York, he said though there was certainly a great
deal of vice in Paris, yet it was kept so entirely out of the way of all those who did
not seek for it, that no one would be annoyed in the streets of Paris at any hour, unless
they chose it, for the bad women were only to be distinguished by looking behind them over on one side
since they durst not speak first. Got back to the B’s [Belcombe’s} at 9. I had tea, and my aunt
went away in 1/2 hour. Thinking of meeting the N’s [Norcliffe’s} rather agitated me and my spirits were
anything but buoyant Anne however soon assured me that no fault was to be found
with the spirits of the party at Langton . Mr. and Mrs. N [Norcliffe} looked as usual Charlotte had
staid all night there with Harriet and Isabella had given them imitations of talma
etc. etc. Anne and I had about 20 minutes tête à tête after the rest went to bed. I alluded
to her kindness to me at Shibden at which allusion she eexpressed no displeasure
I said I was obliged as it were to give up Mariana and must have one of the family
A recent letter from Eli spoke of M-Mariana’s being exceedingly happy. Left Anne a few minutes
before 12 and James went with me to the Black Swan in Coney street where he had secured
me a place in the Whitby mail (which alternatively sets off from this Inn, and the Tavern)
there were several bad women standing about the mail they would have it I was a
man, and one of them gave me a familiar knock on the left breast and would have persisted
in following me but for James Paced about over the front Parlours at the Swan, till
20 minutes past 12 when we drove off. only one inside besides myself, a little
middle aged man in black so tipsy, he never awoke for the 1st 4 or 5 miles, and then balled out
and stopping make a great piece of work to know where the devil they were taking him
to. However he did not at all incommode me but let the windows be up or down
as I chose supposing all the while I was a man. Got to Malton at 3. Found a note
from Mrs. Norcliffe, who had ordered a bed to be ready for me, and said it would be soon enough if I ordered
the chaise at 8 1/2 in the morning. In about an hour, just as I was dropping asleep over the
kitchen fire the chamber maid seemingly in her teens, made her appearance - She showed me
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