Monday, November 22, 1830

1830 November

Monday 22

(Got up at) 6 1/2 /  (Went to bed at) 12 3/4

Incurred a cross last night thinking of Mariana.

Out at 9 25/..  Walked to Boulogne and back by La Muette, and home at 10 35/..  An hour in the bois.

Letter, 3 full half sheets, from Lady Gordon (34 Hertford Street London).  Speaking of the duke of Wellington’s resignation and all the ministers going out, ‘I rejoice at their downfall.  If it was not that my brother-in-law, Mr. Frankland Lewis, and, of course, Lord Stuart falls with them, it would be without alloy.  But those 2 cases grieve me sorely – and they are both too good and too useful in very different ways to fall with such a sett! The duke had many redeeming merits.  But as he truly said of himself, ‘It was madness his attempting to be prime minister of the country.’  But a cleaner handed more unjobbing minister never existed. He has done his possible to lower the expenses of the country.  Says she has had a great loss in the death of her managing man of business.  She saw my letters to Lady Stuart about Spain, and says she was delighted with them. ‘We must go to Spain together.  I see in you I should find a real honest enthusiast, and when once you’ve been there you will feel as I do – a Spanish corner in your heart that no other country ever takes possession of.’  She read parts of the letters to her son, Sir Alexander, and he was so charmed, he is dying to know you and go with you, and thinks perhaps, for the love of cosmo, you would let him be your preux chevalier.  He wants to go there either in the spring or autumn. Nous verrons. ‘One of the FitzClarences has laid a wager that England has no king in five years!”  She mentions the fries as being like those in Normandy that water will not quench.  Says they are beginning slightly in Wiltshire and the north. 

Read and mused over Lady Gordon’s letter, on the going to Spain or not.  Breakfast over at 11 1/4.  Dressed.  At my desk at 11 3/4.

Letter 4 pages of common-sized letter paper from Miss Hobart with particulars of poor Miss  MacLean’s death, and enclosing nearly 2 pages of letter (the last she ever wrote me) that Miss  MacLean had begun to me on the 27th and wrote partly on the 28th of August, having desired Vere or Bredalbane to finish it. The former very properly sent it as it was, saying ‘I know no way of finishing it; I feel it too sacred to add anything in my handwriting, so I send it as it is.  

My poor friend dated ‘Bridge House’ (I know it was in St. John’s Wood) and the last thing she wrote of was her perpetually thinking of my aunt and myself and our going to England in consequence of the revolution here, and that till our plans were arranged we could no where be so comfortable as where she was – ‘The charge is 3 guineas a week which includes everything but wine.  An excellent table is kept – ‘napkins, finger-glasses, etc. etc. etc.  The Miss Taylors are most amiable accomplished women and there are always 2 or 3 cheerful old ladies who would amuse your aunt.  One guinea a week for her maid.  Lady Stuart, the 1st day she called, said ‘you have got into Paradise.’ And with these words ends what was thus unexpectedly the last letter my poor dear friend was ever to write me.  She is now no more.  She is gone.  So seems to me like a fearful dream.

‘She slept soundly  (Vere’s letter p. 1.) ‘for a couple of hours, a thing she had not done for many days or nights, she then roused and asked Jessy for some gruel, but when she tried to taste it, her head fell back on Jessy’s shoulder  Then there was a struggle for about ten minutes, and all was over.  She had insisted on Albane’s leaving her at 11 o’clock, but she was with her at the last moment, as well as Sir Hector  * * * *   Funeral is to be on Tuesday, and at Marylebone, soon after which Albane will return to Scotland . . . . .

‘It is very unaccountable that she should only a very few months (perhaps weeks) ago have destroyed her will, always intending to make another, but time was denied her.  The only record of her intentions was a slip of paper in a very unsteady hand, with a memorandum of her ‘watch and my picture’ to you, and only two other persons mentioned.’ Vere says she has the watch.  The picture is to be sent up with ‘a heap of your letters which she desired might be returned to you.’

Another page on indifferent subjects and she concludes with ever affectionately yours, V Hobart.

Wrote 4 pages(common-sized, broad black edged English letter paper) in answer to Miss Hobart, of which the following is a copy of the material part:

Accept my thanks for the last of my poor dear Sibella’s writing I can ever see.  That she was latterly so comfortable and that you had made her so, gives me great comfort. In fact, as I gradually recover the shock of the 1st moment, which was greater than I expected, and caught me too unprepared, I am more and more thankful to heaven for the mercy of sparing her a longer period of suffering.  She is happy, and whatever we may be at this moment, she has preceded us but as it were by a span long, and yet a little while, and all the sorrows that beset us now will be no more. 

To you, in all the duties and affections that a mother could have felt or been called upon to fulfill, she was exemplary.  To me, she was the kindest and best of friends, whose loss I have neither hope nor thought can be repaired. She has left me the 2 things I valued most – the one you have; and I should like the other to be sent to you, begging you to keep them till you see me, or hear from me further about them.

‘I need not say that I am now more than ever anxious to call upon you for your promise, to let me have a copy of the picture – perhaps  you will get it done for me?  I should have a great but melancholy pleasure in seeing all three at once.  Tell me, dearest Vere, will you undertake all this for me?’

Mention having written to Breadalbane on Monday.  ‘That Mr. Robertson is an efficient comforter seems natural to me, who have long had the idea that I think I mentioned to you in our tour. 

I rejoice exceedingly that our dear Sibella did destroy her will – at least, if it was, as I suppose, the will she intended to make when I was with her last; as she seemed at that time persuaded, she ought to leave her then medical attendant what would amount, as near as possible, to the price of all his unpaid visits’ . . . . . . . .

‘I grieve over the change of ministers but cannot, will not, yet bring myself to believe that change of premier must be the signal of recall to our friends here. It would be difficult to understand how that could be done in the fair, right-onward spirit of serving our country. I hear nothing but praises of the cool, calm, admirable manner in which Louis the Sixteenth conducted himself during those eventful days when so many heads were turned or lost.’ Very few English in Paris – scared away by the trial of the minister. ‘Things look very black for them – I think there is hardly a hope for Polignac and Peyronnet’

Best regards and thanks to Lady Gordon.  Will write on Friday. 

Vere to send the knives, scissors, and sealing wax, if she can.  The ‘soft souvenirs’ are not exactly fichus – a dress for you, a shawl for Lady Stuart. Alas! you cannot wear yours now – Let it make you think I never forgot you, and I shall be satisfied. Perhaps my memory is better than you imagine.

You have not said one word about yourself. Do tell me whether your cough is better.

Ever affectionately yours, A L’

Then wrote the following little note to Lady Stuart de Rothesay –

‘My dear Lady Stuart,

I know you are always so busy till after the courier is off, it is almost a shame to write even to ask a question that yes or no will answer.  I really feel very anxious to hear what news you have from London.  I shall not stir out tomorrow, for it is the day of my poor friend’s funeral – but should I have any chance of finding you at home, en famille, for 1/2 hour this evening at nine?

I have heard from Vere and Lady Gordon. From what the former says, (for whom I enclose a letter) I should be glad if it were possible to expédier the little parcels.

Ever, my dear Lady Stuart,

Very truly yours, A L – Monday morning 22 November’

At 2 35/.. send off my note to ‘The Lady Stuart de Rothesay’ and in the same envelope my letter to ‘Miss Hobart, Honorable Lady Stuart’s, Whitehall.’

Said my prayers in thankfulness for all the mercies of God which favour me so much.

Message back from Lady Stuart de Rothesay to say she would come chez moi at 9 tonight!

Gave wine out. 6 bottles Beaune, 4 Bordeaux, 6 champagne, and the last 3 bottles there were of servants’ wine.

Paced up and down my room.  Since 2 35/.. had written out end of 29th and all the 30th ultimo.  Dressed at 5 3/4.  Dinner at 6 1/4.  

Afterwards sat in the drawing room cutting open the 4 quarto volumes of Withering’s botany, in vain expecting Lady Stuart.  It must have been George’s blundering as usual.  She had said she would be glad to see me, and he, always mistaking what is said to him in French, had turned it the other way, though he is still positive about it – It is very tiresome.

Coffee at 10, talking to my aunt about going to Shibden.  Came to my room at 11 3/4.  Soft, damp, muggy day.  F 48° at 7 1/4 a.m. and 50° at noon.

 

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/13/0110 and SH:7/ML/E/13/0111