Monday, March 22, 1830

1830

March

Monday 22

6 50/..

1 5/..

Fahrenheit 49° at 7 3/4 a.m.  Dawdled in dressing – Doubting whether to go out or not, Bois de Boulogne –

Out at 8 5/..  Walked my usual walk (to Boulogne, Auteuil, La Muette, and back to Porte Maillot) in 1 40/.. hour and back at 10 1/2 – Breakfast at 10 40/.. in 20 minutes –

At my desk at 11 5/.. – Drowsy and sleeping for about an hour, then reading very attentively from page 195 to 211, Volume 1, Gregory Economy of Nature – On effects of convex and concave mirrors –

A woman from Mademoiselle Paulmier, couturière rue de la Ville l’Evêque, No. 29, brought bill for Miss Hobart amounting to 327 francs, which she seemed, from George’s saying she begged to know when she might call again, to expect me to pay immediately – I said I would write to Miss Hobart, and settle the matter when I had heard from her –

Then wrote the following

‘Paris Monday, 22 March 1830

Dearest Vere,

I was just going out as George brought me the enclosed bill – I desired him to say, I would write to you about it, and settle the matter as soon as I had heard from you – As you have never said a word to me about any such bill, I do not like to pay it without making inquiry –

Ages ago, you said something about 2 bills about 50 francs each – I mentioned them once or twice; but as you never wrote anything more decided or took any more notice of them in any way, they gradually escaped my memory –

Do tell me what you wish – and, after having looked at the enclosed bill, send it back, and, if it be all right, I will pay it immediately  –

I fancy from George’s manner of saying the woman desired to know when she might call again, that she will be glad to be paid soon –

How is dear Lady Stuart? It would delight me to have good accounts – Jan Charles would surely arrive on Thursday night –

In great haste but always affectionately yours,

AL’ –

This filled 2 sides of a 1/4 sheet note – Put it with the bill in an envelope to ‘Miss Hobart, Honorable Lady Stuart’s, Whitehall’ and sent it by George to the Embassy when he went out with  my aunt at 2 1/4 –

Went out at . . . No! changed my mind and did not go – Meant to have gone and inquired about some furniture to be sold, No. 12 rue de la Femme des Mathurins –

Letter this morning directed by Marian from John Booth (Shibden) written by his son, Joseph, giving a good account of all the young trees, transplanted thorn shrubs, etc. and saying what John had planted since my being there – Very fairly spelt, all things considered, and ditto very fairly written – It seems my father and Marian are ‘pretty well’ –

Went after all to inquire about the furniture – Some mistake – Nothing of furniture kind to be sold there – Went with my aunt as far as the place, and then walked back leaving her to take a drive –

Got home at 2 1/2 – From then to 6 (a little drowzyish at 1st, but not at all so latterly), read forward Gregory, Economy of Nature, Volume 1 – Have read during the day from page 195 to 277, all on optics – I really must get a little knowledge on this subject –

On my aunt’s return from her drive, George brought in packet from Miss Hobart, containing 1/2 sheet full from her and letter 3 pages and one end from Miss MacLean –

Nothing particular from the latter – She has bought me all the books I unluckily forgot to name in my letter to Sowerby – I meant her of course to give the order to him that I might save the percentage – Well! I must take better care that such cannot occur in future – She has bought the penknives – Cases of surgical instruments from £ 3.10.0 to £6 – Most excellent at the latter price –

Miss Hobart says Miss MacLean will not leave London till the middle of next month – Not one word about the last – he (Charles Stuart) regrets having seen so little of you and I see he is quite worthy of you.  Oh you naughty woman, must I never have the gratification of quizzing you again? If you take me a la lettre in that way, I never dare do so.  ‘The fan is exquisite, just what I like, but much too good for me – To say it is my best fan is nothing, it must always be my best and dearest, and every zephir it wafts to my overheated brow must convey a thought of Miss Lister’ –

Dinner at 6 10/.. – Came to my room at 7 35/..  – Dressed – Forest came at 8 1/4 – Wore in my head 2 small branchy branches lignum vitæ ? Very, very pretty coiffure –

Coffee – went at 9 25/.. to Lady Vavasour’s – Her last at home – Far too early – Hardly anybody there till near 11 –

Stupidish till Mrs. Ashton came with one of her daughters – Talked a good deal to her – I said something about it was almost unnecessary begging Lady Vavasour now to introduce us – Oh! said Mrs. Ashton, I have lived too much on the continent to mind that – She had begun the conversation by saying she was just going to ask me after some old friends of hers, the Listers of Shropshire – Said I had not the pleasure of knowing them – Was I not of the same family? Said I was of the Yorkshire Listers, and if the Shropshire Listers the Gisborne family, we are all originally and very remotely of the same family –

The Halls not there – In fact, nobody there I knew –

Home at 12 10/.. – Fine day –

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/13/0016