| Description | [Diary Transcription]
20
1829
May Saturday 2
9 1/2
2 25/60
X
+
N
N
V
+
Incurred a cross just before getting up thinking of Miss MacLean Breakfast at 10 40/60 — went out at
11 40/60 — walked in 55 minutes (by notre Dame and crossed by the new bridge there) to the rue de Seine gate
of the Jardin des plantes — then in 20 minutes walked along the street at the back of the garden, and all along
the other side (outside) to the great front gate — thence by the boulevards home in 1 10/60 hour — having
had my black cloth boots on and black worsted stockings (well enough in England but not here at this season) found my feet rather blistered — lay on the sofa 3/4 hour dozing
and musing whether my aunt had best return to Shibden or not — she had best remain here; and, as to
apartments, we must have Monsieur Sénés' in the rue neuve St. Augustin, or that no. [number] 8 rue St. Florentine —
among the affiches at the Jardin des plantes observed that the lectures at the Sorbonne commence on Monday next at 1 1/2
p.m. Mondays Wednesdays and Saturdays — on Greek literature etc. I should like to attend them — Sent George to
inquire after Mrs. and Miss Barlow Note back from the former merely mentioning another apartment no. [number] 20 rue de
la Ferme des Mathurins, and enclosing 2 five hundred francs bills, I having said on Thursday that perhaps
I might want money, not liking to cash all my circulars immediately — wrote back a little note,
and sent it at 4, thanking her for the money, and about the apartment saying, we could see it on Monday
when my aunt would go out in the carriage and look about her — and adding I was too busy writing out
my journal to see Mrs. Barlow today, unless she, or she and Jane could come to us this evening — wrote
out journal from Sunday last to the end of page 15 — dressed — dinner at 6 1/4 — read a few ppages bulletin
des sciences no. [number] 1 of this year — Mrs. and Miss Barlow came at 8 1/4, and staid (the last 1/2 hour with me in my room)
till 10 50/60 — then while Cameron did my hair in about 1/2 hour as usual, and afterwards till 12 50/60
read from page 56 to 117 end of no. [number] 1 Bulletin des sciences naturelles of January last — then sat up
reading introduction to Arnott’s Physics till 1 50/60 — admirable — almost unable to leave the book
and go to bed — what is there like gaining knowledge? all else here below is indeed but vanity and
vexation of spirit — I am happy among my books I am not happy without them such follies as
thinking of Miss Hobart and her strange neglect? occur to me and such like trifles disturb me
how unworthy of a mind fitted for better things! || This last mark and ? shall in future as
here stand for notes of interrogation and admiration Fine day — warm enough out
of doors — cold in the house —
[margin text:] vide
Sunday 3
8 1/2
1
+
Before and after breakfast (breakfast at 11 10/60 in 20 minutes) read from page 117. end of no. [number] 1 to 160, that is the 1st. 18 ppages [to] no. [number] 2 Bulletin — Mrs. Barlow
came and sat with me from 12 to 1 talking about apartments etc. might have the apartment 20 rue de la Ferme
furnished at 400 francs a month, though the lady asks 500 francs — From 1 to 1 3/4 read prayers (leaving out the
litany and communion service) with my aunt, and read Sermon 2 bishop Sandford — Staid talking to my aunt till 4 35/60 —
she said she considered her going to Shibden fixed I said that supposing all other difficulties
removed there still remained a difficulty about money matters I should wish her to feel she
had always enough for all she wantedd or wished but this must not appear to my father
and Marian or she could never keep what she had she must always plead poverty had
best receive a hundred every rent day from Mr. Briggs and draw quietly for the rest on the
bank could never say anything openly about our affairs had best contrive to forget
and when questioned say she did not know the account being sent as usual to me and I would give
her a particular mark that none but herself could understand to say how much she might
draw for and to go as she said to Thorparch or Harrogate or where ever she pleased ~ my aunt
21
1829
May
thought that, if at Shibden, she should like to go from home sometimes to Thorparch, Harrogate, or York for teeth —
would have her go by all means — she has several times mentioned, if she could but have the rents of the part of the life estate
my uncle left her — to this I constantly reply, let us make no divisions — let her be 1st taker, and take what
ever she wants — From the account she gives me of George (says he is getting spoilt — fond of liquor), she thinks
she could not manage him at Shibden — well! then, let him leave us on our arrival at Shibden — John
can take care of the carriage — And if my aunt likes she can hire another man but if she has only MacDonald
to propose paying my father eighty pounds a year then she could make three hundreds a year do
and if I leave her here with Miss MacLean while I travel the least she would spend would be five hundreds a year
came to my room at 4 35/60 — just sitting down to my journal when Mrs. Barlow came at 4 3/4, and sat with me
till dinner at 6 1/4 —, and sat a few minutes afterwards while we were at dinner — She said she had
come merely to sit with my aunt but happening to come into my room first there she staid
I had her on my knee and was going to grubble she just muttering we have not time now but some
how she began about constancy and that no wife liked a husband to go astray and I began morali
zing thinking to myself what the deuce has she to do with me as a husband I had better let h
er alone she lays too much claim to my constancy already how is it she does not will not know me be
tter surely I have said enough about hating to be pothered etc. etc. it might be convenient to me
to travel with her but I fear to hamper myself ~ Came to my room and from 8 1/2 to 9 25/60 wrote out
page 16. and the 1st. 17 lines page 17 of my journal — Coffee at 9 1/2 — again talking to my aunt about her going to Shibden
said I really did not think she would be comfortable — she could not have much in common with my father and sister
etc. etc. and she seems better satisfied, and now fixes to stay here —
It seems Cameron is indeed fitter for housemaid than lady’s maid — George and she quite familiar —
MacDonald obliged to give her a good talking to already — my aunt sure she could not manage George and Cameron
together if I was away — my saying then I would part with Cameron — send her home when I went away, seemed
to set my aunt at ease — but MacDonald must have someone to help her — better take Mrs. Barlow’s Ferdinande
as cook — yes! that said my aunt would do very well — Came to my room at 11 1/4 Did my clothes for the wash
Fine day — cold in the house, and, according to Mrs. Barlow, very warm out of doors — while sitting after
dinner repeated flashes (8 or 10) of very vivid lightning and 2 loud peals of thunder and heavy rain —
Monday 4
8 10/60
11 25/60
+
Vc
at my desk at 9 20/60 — 1/2 hour reading Bulletin no. [number] 2 — then from 9 50/60 to 10 10/60 wrote out the first 15 1/2
lines of Thursday last — Dr. Tupper came for 1/4 hour and staid till 10 1/2 — then wrote 3 ppages and the ends to M- [Mariana]
‘as for making a will, it is always satisfactory for those who have anything to leave, to make one —
‘wishes are then clearly expressed and known — But you can judge best on this point’ — Trust to
Mr. Williams — he will see the propriety of something being done about the Insurance — the navigation
shares will, whatever be their present circumstances be worth having — not to fear about her school and
friendly society — the people to pay their subscriptions from 1st January last — glad the settlement business is concluded — ‘I can
‘easily fancy Charles is anxious to get off their coming abroad — Think of this, Mary, and tell me what you
‘really thinkk about it — walk before breakfast — do the best you can — ..... I think perhaps the people will quarrel
‘with you, if you are away all next winter — Mary, try to think of all things — How is Mr. Charles Lawton?
|