Friday, July 24, 1829

1829 July

Friday 24

(Got up at) 5 50/60  / (Went to bed at) 11 1/2

 

At my desk at 6 50/60.  Crossed page 1 and 1/3 of page 2 of my letter written last night to Mariana.  Very kind letter though all the world might read it. 

‘You congratulate me on getting on so well with the de Noés etc. ‘You will have all you want by and by, so be of good cheer, and don’t let me see your name in the Gazette, of which I have some fears.’  I am dwelling upon this sentence. Well!  We shall see – I will be of good cheer, and hope to make, as they say, all ends meet.  It seems we have neither of us much time to spare for writing, though perhaps we still contrive to find a comfortable sufficiency for thought.  On this score, you need not complain – I certainly have not thought less of you of late, than formerly.’

Mention the Constables (of Wassand) knowing Colonel Barlow’s family.  He may find this out and ‘say a word or 2 two in praise of Jane, who is really a nice girl.’ Mrs. Barlow has got her passport for Italy – to go in September or perhaps sooner – it depends on her friends Mr. and Miss De Lacondamine, whose party she is to join.’ . . .

‘See Becher himself by all means, if you can . . . . . at all rates, you may hunt out some of the people in his institution, who, for a moderate compensation, would mount you a set of books, and give you a lesson or 2 two, and thus you might shine without the borrowed light of a schoolmaster from too near home.’ Congratulate them all on Eli’s approaching marriage . . .

‘I am not surprised at Mr. Miller’s thinking Mrs. Milne so fascinating. He is too little a man of the world to think otherwise.’ Then inquired after Duncan and the other boys. 

‘By the way, if I am gazetted I will take care, and provide first for the two hundred pounds – my expenses are certainly not less, nor are they likely to be smaller – must make up for it?  

The journey is not yet fixed; we are to talk it over tomorrow.  ‘Tis all uncertain yet.  I wish you could join us – not that I would have you in my pocket; in that position you would be far too uncomfortably heavy, and  unseemly looking – No!  No!  I must have you presentable.  I only wish you could find some opportunity of improving yourself in French; for as Charles does not speak it, you will find the want of it whenever you come abroad. 

In what I have written this morning, recommend Charles’s going from Harrogate to Vichy here in France, the baths that Mrs. Linn so wished my aunt to go to. Several genteel English there.  The Hamiltons just gone there.  Think these baths would do Charles good. Do tell him so, and tell the squire too, with my best regards, then spend next winter here.  Let William Lawton come over for the Christmas holidays with Sir Henry Vavasour’s son who is at Eton. 

Say I am in the midst of guidebooks and maps before going to the Jardin des Plantes.  Not to name the thing at all to any one, but ‘the present proposition is, –   from here to Strasburgh, thence to Stuttgard, thence to Frankfurt and Mainz, ‘and thence down the Rhine to Rotterdam, where we should part company – they for England per steam, and I, via Brussels, back to Paris.’  Should call on the Simpsons and Miss Duffin at Brussels.  The chances seem equal for and against our going. 

If we do go, write just that we shall try and persuade Miss MacLean to meet us at Rotterdam and return with me.  But I sometimes almost give up the thought of her coming at all. She is not staggered by the death of Miss Hudson.  Her last accounts of herself good – ‘Lord Harewood  is now, I hear, among the sticklers for Mister Long, and says he will persuade Yorkshire of his, Mister Long’s, merits; and Lord Ingestre (Lord Talbot’s son) is publishing a pamphlet in his praise!’ Mention Miss MacLean’s address (Miss MacLean of Coll, Honorable Lady Stuart’s, Richmond Park, Surrey) and tell Mariana to write and say what she wishes to be done with her watch. 

Cameron and McDonald get on well together.  Cameron is merely my maid; is having lessons in hair dressing.  ‘I hope she will improve for she is desired to do so.’

‘Miss Hobart and I go to Rambouillet on Saturday . . . . . to return on S[un]day.  She is really a  nice, ladylike girl.’

Say in the crossing this morning ‘you must not run away with the idea that I am what is called ‘in the world.’ If it be a world, it is the literary world; for I consider myself to have no visiting acquaintances here as yet.

And tell Mariana to pay Parsons for the Russia leather dressing case that waited me at Hammersleys in London, if she can.  Mention my having let Colman have it for one pound and got another of the same kind but more convenient, furnished and altogether seven or eight guineas. 

Mentioned the Publique Séance of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres to be held at the Institute on the 31st – Should ‘get tickets from some of the members; and perhaps the Stuarts will go.  You would smile to see me as grave as a judge at the different lectures I attend – I have a place kept for me at the professors table; and everybody is most civil and attentive.  ‘Tis droll enough to see me stuck up there en savante.  But I hope I shall pick up something that may amuse and interest me hereafter’ . . . . .

Read over my letter and wrote the above of today, all which took me till 8 20/60.  Then looking over the five volumes Lady Stuart sent me yesterday ‘Itineraire Complet du Royaumes de France divise en cinq regions’ 5^th edition chez H. Langlois rue de Seine No. 12 Faubourg Saint-Germain, Paris, 1824.

Breakfast at 9 20/60.  Sent off my letter at 10 to ‘Mrs. Lawton, No. 3 York Place, Harrogate, Yorkshire, Angleterre.’  Read over or looked over Galignani’s Messenger.

Mrs. Barlow came about 10 1/2; brought me 20 twenty francs worth of little money. At first very glum, but gave her a good scold for her folly.  She cried a bit, but was better. Would pother me to say she was my most intimate friend etc. etc. 

My aunt very poorly this morning – her legs more swelled than ever last night.  Could not bear to look at them, and she had a bad night.  Cried this morning on getting into the carriage, and said she would go out no more – was almost done for, but I cheered her up and she rallied before we got to the Jardin du Roi (had left Mrs. Barlow in my room) in thirty-five minutes at 12 10/60.

My aunt took a little drive during the lecture.  Over at 1 1/4.  We drove about seeking Langlois père for the Itineraire Complet du Royaume de France and at last found him, Rue de Bussy No.  16 près celle de Siene Saint-Germain.  Found a later edition than Lady Stuart’s, and after some bargaining, got it at 18 francs instead of 20 francs. Five separate parts or volumes.  Then inquired of Mr. March, No. 227 Rue Saint Honoré, about the steam packets.  Could give no further information than one gets from Galignani’s paper.

Got to the embassy at about 2 3/4, and sent the carriage back with my aunt.  About an hour with Lady Stuart, and then 1/2 hour upstairs with Hobart in her room  She had had bad account from Miss MacLean.  Much talk with Lady Stuart about the journey.  Said it would not make more than 6 six postes difference if we went by Frankfurt or by Brussels and Aix la Chapelle to Cologne, and then we should go up and down the fine scenery of the Rhine.  Said my aunt was very poorly this morning – I only hoped I should not be disappointed of going.  It seems as if Lady Stuart would not have much heart to go the journey if I could not go.  Offered me a place in her carriage to Fontainebleau when she goes. 

Left the embassy at 4 1/4, then to Mrs. Barlow’s.  Took her to our coachmaker’s.  A bolt broken – would take 4 hours doing.  Always a bolt or something breaking.  Then to the Passage du Caire freunde galerie, No. 94 Calat,  successor to Bouchée, and bought parasol, 15 francs, and ordered percaline umbrella at 11 francs with bargaining.

Got home at 6.  Mrs. Barlow staid.  Dinner at 6 1/2.  Came to my room at 8.  Mrs. Barlow with me.  Asleep on the sofa in my study till 9, then went in to coffee.  Mrs. Barlow sitting by

me.  My aunt rather better this evening.  Mrs. Barlow staid near 1/2 hour with me in my room and went away at 10 1/2.  She is getting moderately right again.

Very hot day – F 72° in my cool bedroom at 11 p.m.

           

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/12/0061 and SH:7/ML/E/12/0062