Friday, March 19, 1830

1830

March

Friday 19

6 3/4

12 5/..

No motion, but one after breakfast. Out at 8 – Fahrenheit 49° at 7 and at 7 3/4 a.m. – incurred a cross last night thinking how nice it would be if I could have some nice girl at my little apartment near the Jardin du roi –

Walked 2 hours – My usual way to Boulogne, then all along the edge of the bois to Auteuil and thence as usual to the La Muette gate – Walked to the Etoile on the route Elysée Charles to make up the 10 minutes wanting of 2 hours, and home at 10 3/4 –

What shall I do with [so] much hair on my head! – though not at all hot this morning (very pleasant, rather hazy at 1st).  My hair too moist to dress –

Breakfast over at 11 20/.. –

Wrote 3 pages and the ends to ‘Miss Norcliffe, Langton hall, Malton, Yorkshire, Angleterre’ and sent it at 2 1/2 –

Wrote a little note to Miss Hobart, and was going to send it at the same time with Madame Galvani’s letter to ‘Lady Glynne, 36 Berkeley Square,’ my own directing, when George brought in letter per post from the Embassy (2 sheets) from Miss MacLean –

Wrote 2 half sheets full in answer – 

Satisfied at her having put off her journey (for some weeks but still talks of her hoping to be here by the 15th of next month) – She must not attempt to come from Boulogne here without stopping.  Had best stop at Amiens, just 1/2 way between Boulogne and Paris; i.e., 15 postes or about 75 miles – ‘I will give till the 1st of May if you like – at all rates, wait for Captain Hunter, but do not let him come without you’ –

Then ask her if Captain Hunter should come 1st to get her to take charge of my books, and have them forwarded by the master of the hotel where he stops at Calais par roulage (taking a receipt for the box from the roulage people) to me here –

Cannot imagine what she was thinking of when she wrote ‘I shall try to manage your commissions, but you know I detest smuggling’ – So do I, and I never ‘did, and trust I never shall, ask anyone to smuggle for me.’ 

Then explain and very civilly rid her of all my commissions but the books, which will give her no trouble (she, too, to forward them per roulage from Calais), and the 2 or 3 papers of white pins of the size given and 2 or 3 papers of black pins of her own choice – Dr. Tupper will bring me all I may want – mention the address of Egleys given in my letter of the 12th and my wish to have the Conversations on Physiology put with the rest of the books –

Sorry for what she says of  Lady Stuart.  ‘I fear she is breaking even faster than I apprehended – but nature may still be stronger than one might fancy possible at 1st sight – All you say of Vere is what I have long expected’ –

Speaking of Miss Woolling (her short notice of her, admirable) ‘West Indian is the part of the story that reads the worst – I wonder what Miss Mackenzie will say to me – ‘Draws exquisitely’ – A sigh at this moment escapes me, and I am willing I had no heart – I am trying to study worldliness, but . . . . . . of all affliction ever taught a student yet, ’tis sure the hardest science to get and forget – Nonsense! Come and teach me better’ . . . . 

Do what she will she ‘will find it utterly impossible to make me swell the catalogue of my faults and follies by being angry with you – I begin to think I am rather better than you fancy – at all rates, I am always very faithfully and affectionately yours AL-’ – 

In answer to ‘I have now to tell you what I know you will not like, but it cannot be helped’ . . . . that she is at last gone to Mr. Long’s (1/2 a page of reasons why she could not avoid it) said merely that ‘whenever you ask my opinion on any subject, and sometimes when you do not, I give it – When you have taken my advice, I am anxious for it to answer – When you have not, I am anxious for your judgment to be proved to have been better than mine – My every thought and feeling towards you may be resolved into anxiety for your welfare’ – 

These last 3 lines written from memory immediately after sending off my letter to the Embassy at 5 40/.. 2 half sheets full in envelope ‘Miss Maclean’, with Madame Galvani’s letter (vide line 8 of today) and with my 1/4 sheet full to Miss Hobart saying I knew Madame Galvani was anxious about the safe arrival of her letter and therefore I had sent it, for safety’s sake, to Miss Hobart – 

Said Madame Galvani in difficulty because she had not scholars enough for her support, had not been able to save a sixpence, and ‘being almost blind was not able to avail herself of many resources she might otherwise turn to account – 

Mentioned Miss MacLean having put off her journey for a few weeks, but that she still hoped to be here by the 15th of next month –

Page 3 first sheet Miss MacLean – ‘Miss Woolling is the lady who wants a companion.  She is a west Indian, in good London society and good income, seems amiable, tall and slender and this is all I know – You shall see her in Paris – Frances MacKenzie I rather think I like the best of her family – though I know her the least.  She draws exquisitely – which you require in your traveling companion’ –

Nothing particular in my letter to Isabella Norcliffe – 

In answer to her question what are my plans for the summer, say I have none – Expect Miss MacLean next month, and know not what she will like or what she will do – I have talked of Rome and Naples for next winter – but all uncertain –

Hope Leopold is not foolish as IN- seems to think, in having accepted the sovereignty of Greece – At all rates, hope he will in a few years set all straight and make a journey through his country practicable to English travelers –

Mention the call on Catalani, and going for an hour to her ball – Rooms elegantly furnished but too small for 400 people – Do not like public balls, but had I intended to go on Thursday, could not for the bad cold I caught at Catalani’s – Her rooms the hottest I have been in this winter – Mentioned her and her family going to Italy soon, and wish to sell and price their hotel here – 

Said I thought IN- rather hard upon Sir Edward – Really very gentlemanly, and I never heard him say a foolish thing –

Little note this morning from Captain Hall by a man who had 2 billets d’admission to dispose of for the monnaie and the musée d’artillerie.  Captain Hall thinking that buying them of the man ‘might be easier than soliciting them’ – Of course, I sent the man away by a civil message saying I did not want them – Not choosing to pay for what I can any day get gratis –

Note, too, from Madame Galvani with her letter to Lady Glynne, so sealed fast to the external envelope, I could not open the packet without breaking the seal to Lady Glynne and somehow quite unconsciously the thing coming all open together I began reading the letter to Lady Glynne instead of the note to me, wondering what it was all about, thanking her for offering to be her guardian angel and drag her from the difficulty of her present situation – Fancied this to be in consequence of what I slightly said yesterday about could not a subscription be made for her – Would not Lady Craven do anything for her, and I, as if carelessly, asked Lady Craven’s address – However, stopt reading as soon as I came to enfans, and, of course, read no more – Sealed the letter with my wafer seal, not choosing Miss Hobart to see that I had sealed the letter; though I had directed it –

Had just written so far at 6 20/.. – Dressed – Dinner at 6 35/.. Read the whole of the paper and supplement (not much aloud) – Did not come to my room till 9 25/.. –

Mrs. Holme called this morning – left her card –

Coffee at 9 40/.. – Came back to my room at 10 40/.., at which hour Fahrenheit 53°.  Fine day – soft, mild night now at 10 40/.. – Read till 11 1/4 from page 56 to 68 i. Magendie on the eye –

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/13/0014 and SH:7/ML/E/13/0015