| Description | [Diary Transcription]
318
1837
November Tuesday 28
8
11 40/..
V
V
V
V
Damp hazy morning Fahrenheit 35 1/2º at 9 — a little while at accounts — breakfast in about 1/2 hour — out
about (before) 10 — with Robert Mann and Benjamin paving at the rocks — David Mann Jack Green
Michael and William at the road embankment tumbled down walling — said I would have no more of the walling
done this winter — so two to right up the causeway for the foot people in the road and 2 to level up
about the line or great sycamore shed this afternoon — came in at 11 1/2 to speak to Mr. Smith Carner
of H-x [Halifax] — come about the Stump X [Cross] Inn — recommended, he said, by Greenwood (Thomas) — told the rent —
inquired about a blue vote — had never interfered — wished to have as little to do as possible with
politics but promised to give me his vote quietly — enough told him to look over the premises
and talk to Greenwood and then let us try to agree if we could — In fact, Smith — seems the most
likely person I have yet had to offer — while with him Edward said a Mr. Joseph Thornton
and another wanted to speak to me — had them in the little south parlour — come about the Stump X [Cross] —
Todton or some such name the name of the young man for whom Thornton wanted the Inn —
the young man had lived with Thornton who keeps the Inn 1/2 way between H-x [Halifax] and Leeds at Low moor — Thornton originally
a coach man — had often driven me — a very nice respectable looking man — said I wished
he had applied for himself — the young man looked very young — but it seems he had money
a very nice wife and one child — mentioned the rent — £120 + £20 additional for the new
building — if I abated anything, must do it for earlier applicants — Thornton pays £80
and has including 18 dw [days work] of land — said I had many applications — if the Inn was unlet,
they would know at Mawson’s and might make a bid or do as they chose — I left
them and came to A- [Ann] — they sent for me again evidently anxious for the place, and would I think (if I had given
encouragement but I did not) have bid the £140, but I said I had just had an applicant
(at the time of their coming) with whom I was likely to agree; and I really thought the rent too
much for the young man — Thornton said he did not think it would be harder than
Thornton’s 1st beginning was — however I again came away — sat with A- [Ann] — then and at luncheon
till after 1 — then out a little while and called in to Mr. Jubb — he congratulated us one having
let the Northgate hotel — it seems to be thought in the town, the people will do well —
Mr. Harper came before 2 — left him to get his luncheon — and afterwards left him with
Booth till about near 4 — I being with David Mann and William — levelling about the great sycamore
then with Harper till 5 1/2 — he said Booth had given a rational plan for a mill that would cost
about £800 perhaps less exclusive of shafting and gearing — asked Harper what he would do if in my
case — build a mill or not all things considered — A- [Ann] against it — I thought of the money
thrown away if no use was made of the wheel and water — Harper said he thought of this too, and
owned he would build a mill — nothing against it unless I thought it would bring too many children
about — but this objection does not seem very appalling — Blythe to be dismissed as clerk of the
works tomorrow — Harper agreed with me, would not level down the stuff in front of the flower
garden wall, too low — will drink tea with Mr. and Mrs. Crossland and settle about the hotel
to draw up instructions for the lease to be signed by Mr. Crossland — A- [Ann] gave Harper the letter from Messrs Taylor of Marsden Foundry
319
1837
November
to Mr. Washington respecting the iron wheel (42 foot diameter 3 foot breast = £446 including fixing)
for oak view mill — to weight about 16 1/2 tons — Harper thought in York £20 per ton, but surely
he said now, £25 per ton on the whole weight including fixing, a good price — Harper to write to Messrs Taylor —
for a sketch and specification — out a little while in the stables — Marynall (A-’s [Ann] McAulay)
terribly vicious and unmanageable — George had another fight with him on leaving home this afternoon (with A- [Ann]) —
dressed — dinner at 7 — tea between 8 and 9 — A- [Ann] read French I read the newspaper and wrote the whole of the above of
today till now 10 20/.. p.m. dampish day with a little gentle rain 2 0r 3 times — Fahrenheit 31º at 10 50/..
tonight at which time came upstairs to bed —
Wednesday 29
8 1/4
12 40/..
V
V
N
fine hardfrosty morning Fahrenheit 32 1/2º at 9 and a small appearance of sun — breakfast at 9 1/4 in about 1/2 hour
out — about — set David Mann at levelling the kitchen court — Robert and Benjamin at the drain mouth
in the Low fishpond — Jack Green and Michael at garden drains or what — Amos and another or 2 putting in
farm stable west window (a round headed double light) young Mallinson and Riley at the farm stable
stalls — spoke to Mann — at 12 — said, if Aquilla Green declined taking the Mytham and Ing etc, Mann might
have them all at £30 a year — sat some time with A- [Ann] — then out again — at the Low fish pond —
out of patience at so much doing always and so little done — came in to Mr. Harper who arrived at
2 1/2 — left him to take luncheon and then left him with Booth — (out) till came in at 4, and
sat talking till after 6 — and then out with a lantern with Harper — looking at the proposed footpath
and under footing terrace wall, till near 7 — had had Robert Mann with us — with him, after Harper
went away a little before 7, till after 7 — Robert thinks that supporting the platform wall 4 foot
broad in the bottom (the line along the Wakefield road 60 yards long — the deepest point 4 yards deep) and to average a wall
3 yards high and 3 foot broad the carting would be worth (60 x 3 = 180/7 = 25 5/7 roods) 15/. per rood
i.e. say 26 x 15 + the labour at 7/. per rood = 22/. per rood — Mr. Harper and I long talk about
the Northgate hotel the mill, etc. and speculation in general — except in trade money (as an
investment only) worth permanently 3 1/2 per cent or what one could get (4 1/2 per cent) or mortgage and so said
Babbage in his calculations — Harper staid with Mr. and Mrs. Crossland from 6 to 11 p.m. before
he could settle about the hotel — they had very near been off — would have the £300 thrown off —
[therefore] to have £200 the 1st and £100 the 2nd year by the term of 5 years — after a long talk it seemed
Harper’s opinion it would be better to paint the casino as originally intended — the painting would be done in
London and put up in about 3 weeks — to be done in June next = £200 — said it would in-
convenience me if Harper did not come again till after the 3rd January next — agreed — he may come on
4th — Mr. Crossland — to take possession of the hotel on the 1st January and the lease to date from the 1st February
next — It seems that Mr. Parker may think Mr. Crossland would have done me a kindness
to take the hotel on my terms — with rent or without! dinner at 7 1/4 — John Oates came
at 8 — with him from then to 9 3/4 then tea — read the paper and came upstairs at 11 5/.. at which hour Fahrenheit 34o
fine day for the time of year — promised John Oates a bit of drain that he wanted — I should leave a barrier of
coal 200 yards thick against the dead water — the coal would he thought sell at 9d or the average of which
I ought to get 1/2 clean — suppose I get 4d per load 4840 yards at 20d = £403.6.8 per acre — I ought
to let the Stump X [Cross] Inn at the present rent £120 for the 1st year and then put the additional £20 for the new building —
that would not be too hard — A- [Ann] had letter tonight from Thomas Greenwood the town commissioners taking away the Greece field water course —
[margin text:] wrote all the above of to today till 12 tonight
note to bring letter from the Philosophical society — General meeting 4 December at 7 p.m. and at 7 a special meeting to receive the opinion of the council on the suggested admission of the public to the museum
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