| Description | Page from the journal of Ann Walker, Jun 1834-Feb 1835
[Diary Transcription]
[page 48]
Emperor of Austria was so struck with Maison de Tolosan, that he said on seeing it, that “the merchants of Lyons were better lodged than Princes of Germany – Place de bellecour one of finest areas in Europe – bronze statue of Louis 14th by Lemot Lyonnais sculptor Population 146,900.
August 11th. Up at 7 – breakfasted & at ten walked to remains of Amphitheatre in garden of Deaf & Dumb asylum – then to the [word crossed out] Roman baths, which are buried in quartier des Minimes, there are five arches in a row each [bay?] a perfect square [doodle of arches and the staircase] centre one opposite staircase then walked up by Chemin de Foy – & went by Chemin des Aqueducts passed new fort that is being built, & [ink smudge] to Town again – found another shawl but not so good in place of one bought on saturday, eat cold poulet, & wine, then walked to shop could not find another, so bought a cashemire black & large border for Mrs. L- [Lister] tried at 2 other shops for satin noire, unsuccessful, back to Hotel by Place de la Cour, ordered horses & off at 4.30 dearest displeased at secret – country a little mountainous in distance, delayed at Brignais, ¾ hour in getting horses – so late that instead of fulfilling our intention of coming to St. Etienne stopped at Rive-de-Gier at Hotel St. Jacques – good supper, & bed at 10.30 good
[page 49]
beds & clean Linen – dearest in low spirits or very grave -
August 12th Up at 7.15 later than dearest never spoke all time of dressing – scarcely – wanted to go out without me – waited for me, silent & grave – walked to coal pit – dearest conversation with me – very kind, too kind & too grave to make me happy – walked home to Inn after an hour’s absence, dearest made tea for me, very grave, ended by explanation, all made up – & dearest quite as fond & kind to me as ever – off at 11.33 – for St. Chamond, at St. Etienne 3.15 a tire is [gap] covered with dust – had soup – then off at four to Ecole des Minerales – thence to Coal pit Co[mpagnie] de [ink smudge] côte Chiolliere [Thiolliere] Mr. Vachier, ingenier [ingénieur] de mine. went about third of way down mine then returned, dearest went to bottom – distance [gap] pump for pumping off water done by steam, & very curious – waited for dearest an hour walked to top of hill, & by burning coal – back at Hotel de l’Europe at 7.30 dinner, man agreed to take us next day for 10 francs & our paying for horses’ food -
August 13th very indifferent night. went to dearest 5.30 so poorly did not go with her to Fierminy [Firminy], got up at 7.25 very tired with dressing breakfast 13 to 9 – tea & Grapes, kept one bunch for dearest, then drew design of secretary & drawers, very sick, lay down – George ill – read l’Histoire, dearest had two basins of broth, dearest returned at 1.10 seen coal pit, which was is exactly like a stone quarry in England, & coal got in the the same manner
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