Thursday, October 15, 1835

1835

October

Thursday 15

7

11 50/..

No kiss.

Ready in 3/4 hour – Hazy, foggy morning, but fair and F 53 1/2 now at 7 50/.. – Breakfast – Ann off to the school at 8 1/2 and I out at that hour –

Went along the walk to Lower Brea pit, which he was just going to cover over after having walled up anew the mouth of the pit and made a very good job of it – Then to the new road and Adney bridge, the bridge to be finished next week – Then to Whiskum quarry –

Mr. Parker overtook me a little beyond Whiskum cottage out of breath, having been at Shibden in vain, and ran after me to say he was sent by Mr. Stansfield on behalf of Messers Critchley Holt, Joshua and William Keighley, and Samuel Holdsworth about the Spiggs, to know if I would let them get out their iron rails – Mr. Parker understood I had been very ‘short’ with them and very ‘sore’ about the agreement –

I explained and desired Mr. Parker to say I declined having anything to say to the parties – He said there would be a ‘rousing suit.’  Very well, said I, – the sooner they begin, the better – You have only to tell them so –

Mentioned the anonymous letter I had had about the Northgate hotel and that I had desired Mr. Husband to make a model of the hotel and street etc. as all would be – Should be very glad to do the best I could to satisfy and accommodate the town –

Mentioned also about the Godley road – I would help the commissioners or indite them – would drive the drift to take off the water if the commissioners would cart away the stuff and put it where I pointed out – There would be a meeting soon – Mr. Parker would let me know when the time was fixed and attend it, and begged me to write him a note to read to the commissioners –

At the quarry about 10 1/2 – Robert Mann and his 3 men just coming away – The hurry came a little before 11, and 2 one-horse carts –

At 11, came down to the Cascade bridge and set all to prepare the corner of the scale near the water for a great stone to hold up the scale against the walk – Mr. Nelson senior there – Had come to see what we were doing with his jenny and tackling – Thought I was laying out a great deal of money, but then the thing would be very handsome – 

Mentioned the dissatisfaction I had heard of about the Northgate hotel – Mr. Nelson thought people would be satisfied when the building was finished – The getting on with it would depend much on the weather – If a fine winter, not much would remain to be done after next midsummer –

I said it would not pay me – No! Not for some years – But it should let for £500 and pay 5 per cent, for the hotel would cost me £6,000, and the ground was worth £2,000 and the old house was at least worth £1,000.  Yes! said I, you may call it £10,000 –

He said Carr was the man for it – I made no answer – on this Nelson said it would ruin Carr’s house – He would take it unless I had anyone else in view – I merely answered Mr. Carr had said nothing on the subject to me – I see Nelson and workpeople are for Carr –

Sad job of pheying away scale to make room for the great stone – At last, about near 4, got ready for it –

Charles happened to come after finishing repairing and making firm all the railing against the walk – Had him and James and Carter and Mark Hepworth and lastly Joseph Mann and his one man from Lower brea pit to give us a lift (Robert Mann and his 3 men) with the great stone, which we just got set and made up by 5 1/2 – Then too dark to do much –

Left the men and looked about and went along the new road to the intended Lodge – Have determined to put the tower back to the low side –

Came in at 6 20/.. Copied and sent off my letter written last night to ‘Mr. Charles Sharpe, Central National School, Westminster, London, Postage Paid.’  Sorry – my friend and I dared not venture to engage anyone whose mathematical studies were not considerably more advanced –

Dinner at 6 3/4 – Coffee – Above 1/2 hour with my father and Marian – Read the newspaper upstairs – 20 minutes with my aunt till 10 10/.. Very poorly all today –

Ann had letter tonight from Captain Sutherland – Got well home on Saturday and at 2 a.m. on Monday, after 33 hours at home, Mrs. Sutherland brought to bed of a fine boy –

Fine day.  F 56° now at 10 3/4 p.m.

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/18/0112