Monday, March 15, 1830

1830

March

Monday 15

6 1/2

1 40/..

Twenty minutes on the pot and did nothing.

Out at 8 – Fahrenheit 44° at 7 1/2 a.m.  Very fine morning – sun and a little wind –

Walked 1 40/.. hour in the bois de Boulogne – my usual walk as far as the Allée or route d’Angoulême – turned down there to Longchamp – There, in and out to Boulogne – Then by the route Granvillieu, ditto de la Reine Marguerite to the allée de Madrid and forte Saint James, and there straight to the route de Neuilly and then by the route d’Érables (the outside wall of the bois close (left) covered with a sort of large tile worth observing – Might be made and used perhaps with advantage at home?) in 10 minutes to the porte Maillot – Then home in 20 minutes more at 10 1/2 –

Breakfast at 10 3/4 in 20 minutes – At my desk at 11 5/.. – Began to read a little of Mérat’s Botany – but drowsy and dozing in my chair three quarters hour till twelve –

At 12 10/60, Mr. Charles Stuart called and also Mr. Menries de la part de Miss Pickford, whom George, not taking for a gentleman, kept waiting in the dining room, saying a man about Miss Pickford’s books wanted to speak to me, and had a note for me –

As soon as my hair was done (in about 5 minutes) supposing from the 2 or 3 pencil lines on a loose scrap of paper that Mr. Menries was a gentleman, had him into my study apologized for having kept him waiting.  Said I was sorry I was just then engaged, and obliged to wish him good morning, but if he would take his chance of finding me at home in an evening, I should be glad to see him – Very civil to him – but really could not make out that he could be a gentleman – Said if he would leave his address . . . . He answered he was going to move, and did not know what it would be – I almost asked what he was doing here – He said come to study a little  – Miss Pickford ought to have explained something about what to send by him –

Then about 12 20/.., went into the salon to Mr. Charles Stuart – he goes tomorrow evening by the malle poste – talk about what to send by him –Silver earrings for Miss Hobart and a china night lampe for Lady Stuart – No room for the lamp unless it can be packed in his hat – a very gently sensible, nice young man – Staid 1 1/2 hour –

Then dressed and went out at 2 10/60 to the Palais Royal above 2 hours there – Long while about choosing lamp for Lady [Stuart], and long looking all over for something for Miss Hobart.  Do not like the silver earrings – Doubted some time, and went twice to Rustan’s about an enamel souvenir à porte feuille at 30/., but then thought it paltry – The enamel not good enough, so at last, after 2 hours trouble and tourment, came away without anything –

Then drove to Treuttel and Würtz, and paid for the Conversations on Botany that came on Saturday – Did not order anything more –

Brought home my lamp for Lady Stuart – Home at 5 3/4 – Changed my stays in a hurry.  Dinner at 6 1/4 – Read the whole of the paper, very little aloud – came to my room at 7 3/4 – M. Normandin ordered for that hour – Waited till 8 1/2, then sent George to seek another coiffeur –

On coming home to dinner, found letter per post from the embassy from Miss Hobart – 1/2 sheet full – Nothing particular – My last note quite to her fancy – Wished she had Cuvier lecture on the Mohametans etc. etc. – Had never taken any notice of my mention of Aix la Chapelle – Mr. Charles Stuart said this morning he should not say anything in favour of it – His uncle (Lord Stuart) quite against it – Too long a journey –

M. Normandin arrived at 8 3/4 just as the other hairdresser arrived.  They agreed between themselves and I paid nothing additional – Hair dressed in 35 minutes  –

Sent the carriage to the de Noés at 9 10/.. to be there at 9 1/2 – The Comte de Noé and his 2nd daughter came –

Off with  them at 9 50/.. to Madame Catalani’s, rue de Clichy No. 49s – Near an hour before Madame  de Noé and Mademoiselle and M. Louis de Noé arrived – the Comte de Noé not with us at all after a minute or 2 at first –

The Poores did not come – Nobody I had ever seen before or remembered to have seen – Chiefly English – a very mediocre set –

3 small rooms (and a sort of gallery or passage, where Madame Catalani received us) – Beautifully lighted, beautifully dorées, but uncomfortably small and crowded – Mediocre refreshments – Not a ball to suit me – But talked latterly to Mademoiselle de Noé – Asked her about my lamp, etc.  To send for her at 12 tomorrow to help me to choose something for Miss Hobart –

Home at 12 40/.. Wrote the last 8 lines – Very fine day – Fahrenheit 46 1/2 now at 1 20/.. tonight –

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/13/0012