Friday, July 8, 1831

 

 

1831 July

Friday 8

(Got up at) 9 50/..  /  (Went to bed at) 12 55/..

Grubbled Tib last night, but she seemed almost insensible.  

Isabel[la] and I talked last night of Mrs. Duffin – her pumping etc. etc. She had got nothing out of me.  Mrs. Milne and Mrs. Norcliffe said I liked fine people.  [I] said I was often blamed when not much deserving, and perhaps might be moreso still.  This led to my affairs.  Mentioned being making my will, and told her for the first time in my life the real story about Marian and her not having the property. Said my aunt, of course, knew all about it, and I should tell Mariana.  Mentioned the wish my uncle had expressed, which was as binding as a house full of entails, and that it was a point of conscience with him that as my grandfather’s older brother had been disinherited, his descendants should now come in eventually for the property. But I thought myself at liberty to provide for life for anyone of my own generation if I should marry. Tib caught at this.  Told of my having raved of Mrs. Anne, and this satisfied her.  Named Marian’s rejection of the three hundred a year, and that in my present will, I should not mention my father or sister, and mentioned my promise to Marian never to interfere with her and to be out of her way on anything happening to my father if I could, with any sort of decency, all which Tib really took very well, wishing me to say something on the subject to her mother, which I said was my intention. 

Told Tib this morning about Mariana’s giving the two hundred to William, which had gone to help his brothers off to India, of which Tib had no idea.  Swore her to secrecy on my own affairs  and bade her not name about the two hundred, but she said she must tell Charlotte.

Down at breakfast at 11.  Sat longish at the breakfast table.  Mr. Gregory Williams said to be very stingy – if rents are not lowered, has £15,000 a year; if he has no children, the estate (all but what came by his father) goes to a cousin, and if this cousin dies sine prole, to a person he does not know. He is 6 weeks older than Isabella, therefore, as she was born 9 November, 1785, he is now about 45 3/4.

Sat in the sitting room with Mrs. Norcliffe tête-à-tête, talking about the Minster Screen. Owned my being for the removal, but ever open to conviction, which Mrs. Norcliffe attempted really skillfully enough, and might perhaps succeed were we on the spot together.

Came to my room about 3 or soon after, meaning to answer the letter, 2 half sheets full, franked by J.E. Baillie, that I had had before breakfast from Lady Gordon.  Very kind letter, apologizing for telling me all her troubles.  She wants to sell her house in London and would go abroad directly but for her mother, her affairs so bad.  Must get rid of the Spanish wine business at great loss.  The concern in better repute than ever, but borne down by debt she used to reverses. Sorry for her children and for Cosmo, who will be on her hands after the waste of two years in Cadiz.  She will lose twelve hundred a year, and never had enough before.  I am not to name it to Vere save in general, merely that she has money plagues.

Had just written the whole of yesterday and to line 20 of today when Mrs. Norcliffe came to my room to shew me a letter from Mrs. Merritt to Mr. William Vernon about the Minster, and sat talking about that etc. till the 1/2 hour rang.   Got to my own private concerns. Said a good deal about Marian and the impossibility of my being at Shibden (in the style of what I said last night to Tib, but nothing about the property) and should have gone farther which I [had]intended to do before leaving her, when she got onto the subject of Mrs. Duffin and her bad judgement and all the trouble and the story about Miss Greenup.

Dinner at 5 1/2.  Coffee and sat with Tib afterwards, while all the rest went out into the hayfield. Looking over Scotch and Welsh views published at 1/. each from steel plates and very good.  Mrs. Norcliffe and Charlotte and the 2 Daltons played cribbage.

Came to my room soon after 11. Charlotte came with me, and staid some time talking to us – Tib came a little before 12.  I gently defended the Duke of Wellington against Charlotte and Tib.   Very fine day – Fahrenheit 69° at 5 minutes before one tonight.

 

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/14/0085 and SH:7/ML/E/14/0086