Wednesday, December 17, 1834

1834

December

Wednesday 17

9 5/..

11 20/..

No kiss. Fine morning – highish wind – Fahrenheit 44° at 9 55/.., at which hour, breakfast –

Had Washington about Grieves’s business – The 2 securities (sureties) he offers not very good – Would have the distress prolonged – but Ann could make nothing of him before my going in to them – I said I would, in her place, have nothing to do with the sureties – Either have all signed over to me, or have a sale – Ann wrote to this effect to Mr. Parker by Washington – She and I sat talking till near 12 – then walked with her on her way to Cliff hill as far as the Hipperholme turnpike –

On returning, went in to my father – 1/2 hour talking to him, when Marian came back from Halifax –

Then told her I had been speaking about the future quantity of pasturage and could get no satisfactory answer and was just beginning on the subject of herself – Then came out that she is not yet engaged, but expects Mr. Abbott at 6 p.m. tomorrow when all will probably be settled –

She has not yet told him of what I said as to my own conduct on the occasion, or that she had no expectation from me – That I was bound by promise to my uncle how to leave the property.  Said I should be uneasy till she had told him this –

She said he had not said much about my going to the navigation meeting, but that he had thought it right to come up and speak to me, as I had called on his mother, but he had observed my manner –

It seems he cannot leave Halifax during the life of his mother and sister, but on their death may go and live in Scotland, where has very intimate friends –

Marian thinks he will never say much about me; for evidently he would rather not hear her speak of me at all –

I said I was really sorry for her – More sorry for him than for her; for her mind was accustomed to the subject; and he would feel it more than she would –

She said she liked him, which I told her I was glad to hear –

She means to propose his clearing Skelfler a few days before the marriage, and settling this estate and all the rest that my father has upon her and their children, he having a life estate in it, but if they have no children, then the estate to be at Marian’s own disposal – This would be £800 a year and she did not wish for more – ‘Very well,’ said I, ‘then he gives £10,000 for the connection!’ – ‘Yes! said she innocently, and I made no further observation –

Off to Halifax about 2 – Down the old bank to Mr. Parker’s office – Not at home – 1/2 hour at Whitley’s, then back to Mr. Parker’s –

Wish the Staups Estate to be paid for on the 8th instead of 7th of January, my rent day being on the 7th – The bills for letting to be out soon, and the letting to take place on Friday the 16th January –

Grieves and his sureties never appeared this morning, so he is to be sold up tomorrow –

Captain Sutherland’s last letter to Mr. Parker particularly kind and friendly

Home (up the old bank) at 4 1/4 – Ann not returned from Cliffhill – Set off for her – Met her at the bottom of the garden – In spite of the rain, walked up and down the gravel walk, telling her all about Marian –

Dinner at 6 5/.. – Lost a backgammon and won two hits – Then with my father, and Marian and had Cordingley in, and long talk about George having tea with other servants in an evening –

1/2 hour with my aunt till 10 5/.. – Then wrote all but the 1st 5 1/2 lines of today –

Fine till about noon – Then small rain and heavier about 2 for the rest of the afternoon – Rainy evening – Fahrenheit 43° at 10 40/.. p.m.

My aunt had note from Mr. Musgrave at 2 with regards, and proposing to come at 1 p.m. on Friday to administer the Sacrament – I answered it – Mrs. Lister much obliged and would be glad to see him – Met him in the town and told him this –

Mr. Wortley still in the town – In spite of dinner parties, attended his committee every night from 8 to 10 –

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/17/0125