Monday, February 25, 1839

1839

February

Monday 25

7 25/..

12 5/..

Several snow showers early in the morning, so that the ground whitened over at 7 25/ Fahrenheit 38 1/2° inside at 8 25/.. and 39 1/2 outside at 9 5/.., the sun out and upon the thermometer –

Breakfast at 9 10/.. to after, sat reading with Ann, Chapter 4, Keppell Craven’s Abruzzi – Not worth much ? but better than nothing about these places we hope soon to visit –

Looking over before breakfast 2nd bureau drawer for meer levels etc. – After breakfast

looked over Mr. Harper’s papers – Found Samuel Washington’s pencil sketch of meer and levels – sill 4 inches above bywash (vide 20 January 1838, Mr. Bull’s levelling made it 13 3/10 inches above the bywash) –

Had Joseph Mann a few minutes between 11 and 12 – 3 to 4 packs of ground clay will be wanted tomorrow and 6 flue bricks and about 20 fire ditto for the new boilerhouse and 20 throughs and about a rood of outsides; the pit being full of water (the colliery not in working order on new year’s day when the Manns sign could not get down till 24 January). Mr. Lewis Alexander said the Manns were no more bound than he was – Advised them not to go near Mr. Freeman or his attorney Mr. Higham anymore – Thought the Manns would hear no more of the business –

Sent off John Booth a minute or 2 after 12 with my note to ‘Messers Parker and Adam, Solicitors, Halifax’ in answer to Mr. Parker’s note received last night – Begged him to inform Messers Norris and Rudd that having paid the amount of Mr. Bull’s bill into Mr. Parker’s hands some time ago and having instructed him to pay the bill so soon as Mr. Bull should have communicated to him the difference of level between the sill and the bywash, I considered the delay of payment to be occasioned not by me, but by Mr. Bull’s tardiness in giving the information above named –

Then dawdling over 1 thing or other – Had Ann a few minutes till 1 – gave her to take down into her room Schreiber’s Rhine – She had this morning before got my large case map of Italy – and yesterday my large Carte du Rhine – Her face troubles her – and is worse in point of disagreeable feeling than last winter – She has made up her mind to winter from home in Italy probably next winter, dans tous les cas –

Wrote the above of today till 1 10/.. – Then with Robert the joiner – Had Joseph Mann – He came for job-cart – Must go for fire bricks etc. this afternoon – Sent off Sam for them –

Out with Ann at 2 1/2 – We walked to Listerwick and back – A few drops of hail –

And in front of the house 1 1/4 hour till 3 3/4 – Ann’s feet warmed and she the better for the exercise –

Left her at 3 3/4 and I went to Sunwood quarry – Mr. Lee and his man quarrying there, the 1st time of my finding them there and 1st time of seeing Mr. Lee – Then to Lane Ends quarry on to the baring – Robert Mann +3 (Jack Green William Lord, and Ben) there baring – Some time talking to Robert – 2 men to be baring tomorrow and Robert and one to finish upper conery walling behind the garden house – Some time in the farm yard and about there – Joseph Mann brought home for me 4 or 5 6 foot 1/2 inch boards I found left at the back Lodge gate –

Came in at 6 1/2 – Dressed – Dinner at 6 3/4 – Ann read French – Tea – Ann read aloud chapter 5, Keppel Craven’s Abruzzi, Volume 1 – Wrote the last 9 1/2 lines till now 10 p.m. –

Wild, cold day – Occasionally flying showers of sleet and hail – Then read to myself Chapter 5, Keppel Craven, Volume 1, interesting account of Claudius’s Emissary to let off the waters of the Fucine lake till went up to bed at 10 3/4 – Fahrenheit 40 1/2° inside at 10 55/.. and 32° outside at 11 1/4 p.m.

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/22/0130