Thursday, August 2, 1821

1821

August

Thursday 2

8 20/60

2 10/60

In speaking at breakfast of the too notorious hotels in London, Harriet mentioned the key as being famous.

Read aloud from page 86 to 100, volume 2, Galiffe, and then M- [Mariana] came (on horseback) from Lawton.  Sat quietly downstairs above an hour – Then came upstairs for an hour.  Trying on the habit shirt she sent me and another she brought for a pattern etc. Harriet partly with us and brought her new London hats and spencer to try on –

M- and I went into the town for 1/2 hour, and about 3 she set off home. Francis followed with the horses, and M- and I walked slowly on to Chesterton (2 miles from Newcastle on the Talk-of-the-hill road) –

Gently hinted at the substance of my conversation with Harriet last night.  Told all the particulars about Lou, expressing my persuasion that Lou had been ill judged and wrong, however little intending or knowing it – Advised π [Mariana] to retire gradually from entanglement with the Petergate party, and to stay only six weeks next spring, for if L [Charles Lawton] died, I could not have her live in York.  She must be near me at Northgate house rent free, or at the Cunnery, or at some place we could make or contrive for her, to all which she agreed.  Now that our interests are bound in one, she loves me and I am satisfied –

M- talked of seeing me on Monday before I set off; but I think this will be better let alone. I silently made up my mind to having taken leave of her, walked back in 40 minutes, and got in at 4 3/4, just as the servant was bringing in dessert – I had begged Harriet not to wait – but save me some minced veal, on which, and peas, I hastily dined and dressed before tea –

π and I had talked over the apparent badness of L’s life, wishing him to continue two or three years –

Steph got home today between 1 and 2 from Stone, having got wet through yesterday in going, and caught a bad cold with sore throat –

In the course of the evening, read aloud to Harriet from page 100 to 155, Volume 2, Galiffe –

Fine day – hot and close walking and I was a good deal heated in returning –

Came upstairs at 11 20/60 –

Steph means to keep himself on spare diet, has had a warm bath and taken Calomel and antimonial powder tonight.  When his sore throats are coming on, he sometimes dissolves in his mouth and swallows a little nitre – In bad cases, a little hartshorn on flannel (the flannel being rubbed over with the finger dipped in oil, and then held to the throat) will produce a blister all round in about 5 minutes and give instant relief –

Steph said he was very fond of the following formula of aperient pills:  1 dram of colocynth, 12 grains of Calomel and 12 grains of antimonial powder divided into 20 pills, 2 or 3 to be taken pro re natâ –These would be good for William Pollard at the Cunnery, whom I mentioned as being very scorbutic, and worn with quack medicines –

M- looked well this morning; She is recovering her beauty, and I admired her exceedingly – She uses a stick every morning.  She practises and does all she can to please me. I do feel wedded to her now, and my mind is settled and satisfied.  The thought quickens my pulse and I feel at this moment that she is and ever has been and ever will be the only real object of my love –

Wrote this journal of today – and wrote out into my account-book my accounts from Friday 20 July up to this day –

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/5/0048