Monday, November 29, 1830

1830 November

Monday 29

(Got up at) 6 3/4  / (Went to bed at) 1 5/..

Wrote and sent before going out, number of invitations for this evening to ‘Monsieur Monsieur de Quatrefages Dufesq, Hotel de la Belgique, rue Saint Thomas du Louvre.’

Out at 8 25/.. Went through the Tuilieries Gardens and Place de Carousel and by the Louvre (loitering as I passed at the book stalls till 10) to Materoy, rue de Chantre, to have strong wine (MacDonald thought the last weak).  Should get Marseilles or Narbonne – the latter would be 120/. la futaille.

Then take a turn on the Terrasse d’Eau, and home at 11.  Breakfast – dressed – at my desk at 12 1/2.  1/2 hour’s nap. 

M. de Favière called for 1/2 hour about 4, or a little after.  He said he had scolded his homme d’affaires (attorney) for the taxe personnelle that I ought to have paid.  Gave me to understand we must talk about it, i.e. that I must pay it next year.  I said no! as civilly as he said yes! and ended with I should be glad to see him some evening, and so we parted.  He had said that he literally gave me for nothing his furniture, which he should have let for 600/. a year, and that it was impossible he could mean to lose by the apartment.  I said he was very lucky to have let the apartment as he had done.  However, we parted very good friends; for I did not then know his shabbyness in sending to the porter to say, he should send for the carriage set (chèvre) and pails and corn-bin, thus unfurnishing the stable, which he never mentioned to me.

Except this interruption, was literally from about one and a half to five (and then in half hour copied it all) altering letter written on Friday and writing a new one to Lady Gordon.  This is strange and very tiresome.  Afraid to commit myself on politics or travelling.

Wrote one 1/2 sheet full (smallish sized, broadish black edged 1/2 sheet note paper) and 3 pages and 2 or 3 lines of another, and sent them off at 5 35/.. in envelope to the Embassy for ‘Lady Duff Gordon, 34 Hertford Street.’ Kept the following copy of this letter, that I might see afterwards what I had written on politics, and more particularly what on the subject of going to Spain:

‘Paris Rue Godot de Mauroy, No. 39 – Monday 29 November 1830

Your letter, my dear Lady Gordon, was most interesting – ‘but tho’ I did not rejoice at the change of ministers, I very sincerely condoled with you on so grave an occasion as the death of your managing man of business.  This is indeed a serious matter; and it will give me real pleasure to hear that you have been able to repair your loss – more especially now that the aspect of politics makes it doubly necessary to have an agent whose cleverness and honesty are equally to be trusted.

I really know not what to think of things just now, and all this movement of Austrian and Russian troops. If we have better chance of peace with the new ministers than with the old, ‘tis well – but I heartily regret the circumstances that made the resignation of our late premier so expedient, and think we shall have him back again by and by.  It will be difficult indeed for our present cabinet not to disappoint public opinion; then comes clamour and all the old over again. To fall with the rest, is hard indeed on Mr. Frankland Lewis, after holding out so long. But why our Ambassadors at foreign courts are to be mere hangers on the ins and outs at home, I do not quite understand.  I see no one good reason for recalling Lord Stuart; and his resigning in times like these would seem to me a dereliction from duty. Rely upon it, our ambassador here, whoever he is, will have no bed of roses for some while to come. 

I wish the trial was over. The gaiety and nonchalance of Polignac are quite extraordinary.  It seems generally thought, both he and the rest will be acquitted.  How the people will take this, depends upon the national guard.

I went yesterday to see the duchess de Berry’s things, all laid out for show before the 9 days sale to begin on Wednesday. The room was hung round with her dresses, and couvre-pieds, and pictures, and filled up with cartons of costumes, and finery, and knickknacks of one sort or other.  There was a black velvet gold-embroidered gown that stood out from the wall almost as if the little person had been there without a head. It was an oddly melancholy sight. Heaven grant the like may never be in England!

The fries are really dreadful.  In fact, affairs at home and affairs abroad make me rather in despair about planning anything long beforehand.  I am at this moment quite uncertain. I may see you in London before the autumn.  At any rate, from all I have heard you say of Sir Alexander, I should like exceedingly to have him of our party to Spain – But have you given up all thought of Italy? I must wait till spring to settle something about my establishment here, and to determine what do do for my poor infirm aunt. Cela d’arrangera, in one way or other, by autumn, and then, if the state of the continent permits, I seriously propose seeing the South of Italy etc. etc. The very little I saw of Spain, gave me a strong desire to see more of that singularly interesting country, interesting, I quite agree with you, after its own especial manner.   I think you, and Sir Alexander and I, would be a very comfortably assorted party and I have no doubt we should all enjoy our wanderings exceedingly – But have you done with all thought of Italy? I really must go to Rome.

I was not aware Lady Stuart had become so Deaf – How miserable this must be for her! Your deafness is nothing – it only makes it necessary to take you on the right side, and when jolted about in a carriage, you are admirable.

I have been so often interrupted, I scarce know what I have written and am sorry to find I have hardly time to add, believe me, my dear Lady Gordon, ever very truly yours,  A Lister’

Dinner at 6 1/4.  Read the paper.  Will there be war between France, Austria, and Russia?

At 8 3/4, M. and Madame Séné and Mademoiselle Julie came and the child. Mademoiselle Augusta laid up at home with a bad cold.  Then came Monsieur de Quatrefages, and at 9 Messers Fièvée and LeClercq, our propriétaires.  Conversation plentily kept up, chiefly on politics. 

The Sénés went away at 10 3/4.  Asked the 3 gentlemen to sit down.  All drew round the fire and staid till 11 3/4, and we had, chiefly de la part de M. Fièvée , a very interesting political conversation.  No war with England, but probably with Austria and Russia.  The people glad of it. Madame de Hagemann, said Monsieur LeClerq, pays 180/. a week. 

Came to my room after standing talking to my aunt 40 minutes, at 12 25/..  Fine day – F 44° at 8 25/.. a.m. and 44° at 12 3/4 tonight, and very fine moonlight night.

 

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/13/0113 and SH:7/ML/E/13/0114