Monday, July 13, 1829

1829 Monday July 13th

(Got up at) 6 10/60 / (Went to bed at) 11 40/60

From 7 10/60 to 7 55/60, read the first 29 pages Mawe’s Familiar Lessons on Mineralogy and Geology.  From 8 to 9 25/60 wrote out all but the 1st 3 1/2 lines, Lecture 11 Geological.  Breakfast at 9 1/2.

At my desk again at 10 10/60.  Wrote note to ‘Madame Madame la  Comtesse de Noé’ to ask where Comte de Noé’s painted glass windows ‘I wish to shew these windows to a friend, if they are within a moderate drive from here - - - - If Wednesday be fine, will Mademoiselle de Noé go to Enghien les Bains?  I shall be happy to call for her at a 1/4 before 3. We shall be about 1 1/2 hour in going, as much in returning, and perhaps nearly a couple of hours there – I fear it is quite in vain to hope that you could spare so long a time as 4 or 5 hours – I am, my dear Madame. very truly yours A. Lister’ – ‘Dated at the top Monday Morning and at the bottom  Rue Godot de Mauroy Number 39, by way of giving the address.

Then folded up the book Perrelet lent me some 7 or 8 days ago (Cassini’s Voyage to Try Levois Montres Marine) for George to take this morning, my note to Madame de Noé to be left also as he returns with me from the Jardin du Roi.

Dressed.  Walked to the boulevard, then in 1/2 hour to the Jardin du Roi; there at 12 5/60.  The 2 old ladies who sit next to me, told me how interesting the séance was yesterday morning at Pavillon de la Baleine.  M. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire.  Very sincerely objected on my not being there.  Said j’en étais fachée but was très occupée. Lecture over at 1 1/4.  A gentleman near me said he had read in the Journal Figaro of Samedi a critique on M. Geoffroy de Saint-Hilaire, that the owner of the whale was a friend of his, and therefore, and not for the sake of science, he took all the people he could there.  That the Ambassador Anglais had been there. One of the old ladies had got a ‘Notice sur la Baliene’ which I thought to get for Miss Hobart, and took the address in the Passage Choiseul.

Off in a fiacre and alighted at the Passage at 1 3/4.  Could not find what I wanted – references to the Palais Royal – at 2 places there, before going to a very civil person in a reading room in what used to be the Gallerie du Bois and there got the Journal Figaro of Saturday.  But no critique; merely a paragraph announcing that ‘Hier à 2 heures, son Excellence Monsier L’Ambassador d’Angleterre et sa famille ont honoré de leur présence  le pavillon de la baliene.  On dit que dernier dimanche, à 10 heures, Monsieur le professeur Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire doit rassembler au pavillon tous les élèver, pour leur donner une leçon d’ histoire naturelle’.

Looked about me  in the Palais Royal.  It is much improved of late.  Always amused there.  Looked at pendules.  Shall not do better than at Perrelet’s.  Roland (a woman, number 143) asked 430/.  for the same that the man almost next door (nearer to Rue North des Petits Champs) asked 340.  It was a Venus like Perrelet’s at 285 but rather larger? Only the pedestal doré instead of marbre jaune.  A neat pendule dorée with 1 handsome hours figure a Thalia the Muse of Comedy at 420/. 

Walked slowly home and came in at 3.  Had my hair put in paper.  George brought back note from Mademoiselle de Noé.  Much obliged to me but cannot go on Wednesday.  Should not be back in time to dinner and engaged out to dinner on that day.  The painted windows are in the chapel of Sainte Elizabeth near the rue Vendôme.  Cannot recollect the name of the street the church is in, but it is very far from the de Noés.

Wrote the last 19 lines and settled my accounts all which took me till 4 3/4 – then wrote out Lecture 14 (of 29 June) on the mammifères.  Dressed.  Dinner at 6.  George said there was someone so ill at the embassy no carriages allowed to enter the court.

Came to my room at 7 1/2.  Wrote and sent at 8 1/4 the following:  ‘Miss Hobart’ ‘Monday evening 13 July’ ‘‘Hobart, George tells me there is someone so ill at the embassy that no carriages are allowed to enter the court.  Surely it is not you!  I hope it is not Lady Stuart. I hope it is not Lady Stuart de Rothesay.  I hope, in short, that George has made some mistake.  Do leave me one line, if you can.  I thought of writing to Lady Stuart about seeing Comte de Noé’s painted glass windows.  I meant to have told you about the Somnambule, that she promised she would cure Sibella, if she might but have a lock of her hair!  etc. etc. But it may be you who are so ill; and I can think of nothing else.  I fear there is  no letter for me from Sibella. Ever very truly yours, AL’.

Then wrote out 21st, 22nd, 23rd botanical lectures and 25th, 26th, 27th chemical lectures of 23, 25, 27 June respectively.

Then at 9 1/4, very nice note back from Miss Hobart, 2 2/3 pages of a 1/2 sheet note.  It is Miss Savile that is ill.  Doctors Chermside and Morgan in attendance. ‘Yesterday they apprehended a brain fever.  She is very lightheaded, and excessively reduced by the quantity of blood they have taken from her.  Lady Stuart de Rothesay has sat up these 2 nights with her, and will make herself quite ill with attending a very large dinner party unfortunately today at home but she did dine with us.  Sarah is not now in positive danger, the inflammation is very considerably diminished.  Lady Louisa Stuart and Miss Mayo go tomorrow.  If I send a letter by George they will take it.  ‘Of course we cannot think of Lady Stuart de Rothesay joining in our party this moment but if you can come tomorrow I daresay I shall be delighted to go a little drive with you.  Aunt Stuart is not very well, her erysipelas plagues her . . . . . . Your affectionate, V H.

Coffee at 9 3/4.

Read a little Mawe’s Familiar Lessons on Mineralogy.  Wrote to Mister Briggs – Saturday tomorrow. Cannot account for having had no letter as the rent day was on the 1st instead a fortnight since on Wednesday.  The pipe of servants wine which came on Friday bottled today.

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/12/055 and SH:7/ML/E/12/056