Wednesday, February 27, 1833

1833

February

Wednesday 27

6 1/2

11 55/..

Fine morning. F 48 1/2 ° at 6 3/4 inside (no fire) and 37° outside at 7 1/2 – Read from page 278 to 296, Latrobe – Breakfast at 8 25/.. with my father and out at 9 5/.. with John. 

Planted near the rustic chair 4 arbutuses that came yesterday with the 50 hollies and 100 oaks from Throp’s – then planted 30 hollies among the beeches in Trough of Bolland wood before dinner –

Mr. Carr came to me between 12 and 1 – Said he had seen Mr. Mitchell but complained of the manner in which he spoke to him, telling him not to ask roaming price etc. but begged me not to mention this, so he had thought it handsome to see me himself – Thanked him, quite satisfied he had done all that was handsome – There would be some advantages to him in my being the purchaser, but could not think of giving the price he had asked – He said he could get nearly as much for 2 lots and leave himself the buildings and 6 daywork – I said he would certainly be right to do it – It would put money in my pocket – If a mill was built so near me, I should quietly leave the place and make the best I could of the property – My mind was made up – 

It then seemed he would take a shilling a yard for the land and throw the buildings in  – I asked the lowest price he would take – Could get no direct answer.  He asked Mitchell’s valuation.  I declined telling this but said another person had valued the farm and buildings at £2,000 – without making any offer I said would you take £2500? – Oh! said he if that is your price, I cannot – I had asked what rent he would give – could get no direct answer – I said I should have 3 per cent for my money – He thought two – I said I certainly would not purchase and make less than 2 1/2 per cent – 

He told a long story of the persons wanting to purchase of upper lot for a mill – How anxious they were about it, etc. etc., and it was to be settled this afternoon – I merely said afterwards that I had put the matter into Mr. Mitchell’s hands, that I would tell him I had seen Mr. Carr, and that he (Mitchell) had better see him again on the subject and then we parted –

Then came home – near an hour in the drawing room with my aunt and Marian telling them what had passed with Carr, that I was determined not to give more than £2500, that I would sooner leave the place and make the most of it – and spoke as if I calculated on being obliged to do so – In fact, my having Godley is uncertain, and I shall be satisfied either way –

Went out at 2.  Called Pickels and had him all the afternoon helping (made holes) John to plant the hundred oaks in Trough of Bolland wood just above the new road, and afterwards to get in, plant in the Calf Croft pit hill, (made the hole) large mountain ash from Trough of Bolland  wood, and afterwards Pickels himself planted 2 young mountain ashes and one large small oak at the top corner of the wheat field –

Came in at 6 25/.. – Dinner at 6 55/.. – 

Afterwards made notes from and read from page 296 to 388, end of The Alpenstock; or Sketches of Swiss Scenery and Manners, 1825-1826, by Charles Joseph Latrobe, the engravings printed by T. Whittingham, Tooks Court, Chancery Lane. Published by R. B. Seeley and W. Burnside; and sold by J. B. Seeley and sons, Fleet Street, London 1829’ 1 volume octavo, pages 388. This writer recalls several things to my mind that had almost slipt out of it, and is well enough worth skimming over, but he spent his time too much in a little space – his Travels in Switzerland not general enough considering the time he had –

Came into the little room at 9 3/4 – All gone soon after 10, and then till near 11 wrote the above of today –

Came to my room at 11 1/4 at which hour Fahrenheit 48° fine day --

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/16/0023