Tuesday, July 14, 1829

1829 July 14th Tuesday

5 20/60  /  12 5/60

A cross last night thinking of Mariana.  

Left for the post my letter written last night to Mr. James Briggs, Horton Street, Halifax, Yorkshire, Angleterre.  Gave George several commissions to do, to order horses at 2 1/4 etc. etc. and to be at the Jardin on my leaving the chemical lecture at 10 20/60.

Breakfast at 6 20/60.  Walked to the boulevard, then per fiacre to the Jardin des Plantes in 34 minutes at 7 34/60.  The door shut.  Could  not go into the gallery, so missed the botanical lecture and walked about.  Sat some time reading lesson 35 Chimie Générale, then went up to the belvidere or temple and stood there 1/2 hour looking about me enjoying the fine view over and around Paris. 

Went into the Amphitheatre at 9 10/60. 35th chemical lecture began at 9 20/60; came away at 10 20/60.   24th lecture on the mollusques from 10 1/2 to 11 3/4, then 18th geological lecture from 12 to 2.  Per fiacre, home at 2 40/60.  Dressed.

Off to the embassy at 3 1/4.  Miss Hobart at the Fosters’; met her coming away.  Sent in my name and inquired after Mrs. Foster.  She is better.  Then waited at the Embassy lodge some time to know whether Lady Stuart would go with me to see Comte de Noé’s painted glass windows.  No!  Too hot.

At 3 50/60, drove off to the Palais Royal and there we stood looking about us, so that after setting down Miss Hobart at the embassy did not get home, having stopt by the way 12 minutes at Miss Barlow’s, till 6.  Changed my dress.  Dinner at 6 1/2.  Came to my room at 8 1/4.  Lay on my sofa 1/4 hour, then settled with George and wrote the above of today.

Miss Hobart and I now very good friends.  To go on Friday to talk to her aunt,  Lady Stuart, about our making a little tour.  Thought Lady Stuart would not like to pay more for her share than fifty pounds, but,  said she, I want to contrive for me to go in this carriage.   I looked and said, well, that is worth all.  Now I shall keep the bag twenty years longer. (She had given me a gray reticule bag in the Palais Roya.l) Now I shall really set about to plan the journey.  She smiled and rather colored.  I believe she really does like me.

At the Palais Royal, said, I begin now to see what amuses you.  Ah, said she, you see it is not very intellectual.  Right.  She is not intellectual. She somehow talks little of Sibella and did not seem moved today when I  talked of her not living long.

Miss Savile not out of danger.  Lady Stuart de Rothesay sat up again with her last night.  No going to the Jardin des Plantes on Friday.  To go on that day at 2 1/2 or nearer 3 to talk to Lady Stuart about our making a little tour together.

Found Mrs. Barlow very odd, endeavoring to be cold and formal.  Had had a letter from her aunt.  All her friends against her and Jane going to Italy by themselves, but will go south as far as she can.  Will be off the end of September.  Cannot augur for her health.  I am not put off till the last.  Will sell her furniture.  

She is behaving very foolishly by her queerness to me.  She poked out her coldish clammy hand today as if shaking hands merely from obligation to do so.  Why all this,  I have nor said nor done anything unkind, and if I do not go often, she knows that I have not time.  Why does not she come here?  But no.  She will not come to see me but she will come soon to see my aunt.  Oh dear, she wearies me.  I shall ever be glad when she is off.

Coffee at 9 1/2.  Came to my room at 10 1/2.  Looking over map of France and planning and calculating journey till 11 20/60, then wrote the last 7 lines.  Fine and very hot day, Fahrenheit 70° now at 11 1/2 p.m.  Hung up over my bedroom chimneypiece.

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/12/0056