Tuesday, January 28, 1840

1840

January

Tuesday 28

8 50/..

12 40/..

Réaumur -1° at 8 a.m. out of doors and Réaumur 11 1/2° at 8 50/.. at my bedhead, and 11 1/4° on the Console – Breakfast at 10 1/2 –

Had Mrs. Howard till 12 40/.. – In 1812 they (her then husband, Mr. Davis, and herself) had an estate (not far from Arkangelsky? or somewhere at about some such distance from Moscow) of 1000 acres – About 200 acres of wood – 35 peasants who tilled the ground for them and brought the hay here and everything so that their estate which cost 13,000/. paid 10 per cent.  The peasants did all this for the land they had for themselves, which might be perhaps 300 to 400 acres – Mr. Davis had certainly 400 acres in his own hand i.e. farmed on his own account, and he had all the wood (about 200 acres), for the peasants had broussailles brushwood – But Mr. Davis out 17,000/. in building a large good house, one of the best built in the neighbourhood of Moscow, and now inhabited by General –– Yermaloff, who bought the estate on Mr. Davis’s death for 36,000/. and now General Yermaloff would not perhaps take 150,000/. for it –

Arkangelsky belonged to the Galitzins and was sold by Prince Michel to Prince Youssoupof – Prince Michel rich (his wife, our friend, niece to the Governor General’s wife) but spends a great deal (too much ) on ladies – The femme de chambre of his wife is one of them – and he has another who has her service of silver etc. etc. etc. and costs him accordingly – This house here and the next to it and a large pile of offices opposite bought by the General Bartolomous, Mrs. Howard’s landlord, for nothing – for 50,000/., sold by the son of a paysanne who was bought and lived with a rich gentleman who gave her this property etc. and his son sold it in 8 months –

The large beautiful house in this street higher up (right) going to the boulevard belonged to Prince Michel Galitzin, sold for 100,000/. and now the property of a rich merchant – Count Strogonoff sold Pashkoff’s house to government –

Large houses cheap – small ones dear – Prince Michel Galitzen is building the new brick range of houses at the top of the Pont des Maréchaux, which will let high and bring him in a great revenue –

Mrs. Fischer came before 1, very soon after Mrs. Howard left me at 12 40/.. after the long talk – She had brought me our passports made out for Tiflis etc. – Mrs. Fischer was sitting, and as she sat forever, would sit on when Countess Alexandra Panin came soon after 2 – Very civilly got rid of Mrs. Fischer by the excuse of going with Countess Panin to buy this and that at the Gastinoi-Dvor – But did not go, not having taken measure for our portmanteaus – Forgot to pay her for the casserole – Must send to Mr. Marc for money –

When I went into her last night, she was in her shift, being soaped and lathered and then went into the bath, which there was not time to prepare for me, but her maid afterwards washed me all over, head and all, and threw hot and cool water on and at me, and washed even my queer and thighs! But I took it all right, as Grotza was not there –

Read Countess Alexandra Panin Princess Olga Dolgorouky’s last note – It seems she will come this week to give me some bénédiction.  Therefore after Countess Panin went (about 3 or after) would not go out for fear of the possibility of missing Princess Olga Dolgorouky – Went down to the kibitka to see about things wanted – Then ordering about hats etc.

Ann in tears, all low this morning about our buying and throwing away so many things.  It was a carton to be thrown away that brought on the thing.  How terrible! – So instead of packing or suchlike, came and wrote wrote  the last page and so far of this now till 5 5/.. – Writing my journal always does me good –

Fixed to go out at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the kibitka to the Gastinoi Dvor – then at accounts – Dinner after to near 7 – Then had George’s wife 1st time to see how she could  dress hair – mine done 1st very fairly well – Nice little woman enough, called Dominica, and Domna for short –

Then in the evening finished accounts up to the present time and made out memoranda of things to be got tomorrow – Had Grotza – Sorting out books for the journey and reading the 1st volume of Schnitzler till now, 11 35/..

Fine day ?, a little flying snow early in the morning after our breakfast – Réaumur 13 1/3° on my table and 12 1/2° on the console now at 11 35/.. p.m.

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/23/0190