Sunday, March 19, 1837

1837

March

Sunday 19

9 1/4

11 1/4

No kiss. Ann wrong about my not at once giving George the handkerchief she had got and hemmed for George, instead of the one the thieves took.  George was gone to bed.  I told Ann she should give the thing herself.  It was not like me to do it.  What a temper she has, but I will master it or give up altogether by and by – One good thing is that I gradually care less and less about it.

Breakfast at 10 1/4 in 3/4 hour – Fine morning; Fahrenheit 49° in the sun at 9 1/4 a.m. – Afterwards, the sun obscured, and Fahrenheit 43° now at 11 1/2 a.m. –

Very bilious this morning – From 11 1/2 to 1 5/.., did nothing  but write a couple of pages to Isabella Norcliffe and doze on the sofa –

Off to the school for Ann at 2 1/4 – in good time for church – Mr. Wilkinson did all the duty – Preached 17 minutes from Luke xviii, 31, 32, and 33.

An hour at Cliff hill, 3/4 of it by myself – left Ann at the school, and she walked down afterwards – She wished me to have a tête-à-tête, and advise against Mrs. Ann Walker’s evident inclination to keep her footman, Joseph, after his faux pas with the cook – I think I said enough –

Home at 5 3/4.. Wrote the last 5 lines, and wrote down 1/2 page 3 and finished my letter to Isabella Norcliffe dated this evening –

Had fancied ‘poor Mary was better, and your letter, received last night, came too suddenly upon me not to be felt as a shock – Yet you are right – The release must have been a happy one to the poor sufferer, and as earnestly desired by herself, as it must have been by those who loved her best –

Do give my affectionate condolence to Rosamond, and Ellen – Perhaps there is generally a very peculiar feeling of sorrow on the loss of a mother, which we cannot feel on any other occasion – There is an indescribable sacredness in the remembrance of her who has borne us through our first development into being – We cannot look into ourselves – we cannot contemplate the wondrous scheme of living entity, without recurring to the hallowed thought of her who, the chosen instrument of heaven, breathed into us the breath of life.’ –

Not surprised at the request to be buried at Langton – Think I have heard poor Mary express the wish –

Miss Walker’s kind regards and condolence to yourself and Charlotte, and to Mrs. Robinson and Ellen – ‘There are many ‘things we should be interested and glad to hear; and we hope they will come round to us – Your pen is so little up to your kind intentions, that I dare not count upon hearing from yourself – But when you do write, may I hope that you will allow, and remember my succession to the brevet, vacant by the death of my excellent aunt – In England, and for the present, the inadvertence is not of very great importance – Abroad it would be annoying, and, in these very ticklish times, might be worse than disagreeable’ –

Suppose she will be found in York till I hear the contrary – Shall therefore direct to her there and keep my promise in announcing the time of our departure for the continent – ‘My business concerns have already detained us much beyond our inclination and expectation – and how much longer we may be here, is still uncertain –

My love to Charlotte and the Duffins –  and believe me, my dearest  Isabella, always very affectionately and faithfully yours,

A L-’ –

Had just written so far at 6 1/4 – Sent off my letter to ‘Miss Norcliffe, Petergate York’ – Dinner at 6 3/4 – Asleep on the sofa – Coffee about 8 3/4 – Read a little of the newspaper – Fine day – Fahrenheit 34° now at 10 p.m.

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/20/0036