Thursday, February 28, 1839

1839

February

Thursday 28

7 1/4

12 1/2

Fine, but rather hazy and dullish, and Fahrenheit 39° inside at 8 1/4 and Fahrenheit 40° outside at 8 25/.. a.m.  Breakfast at 8 35/.. Had before read a few pages of Murray’s Pyrenees –

With Robert the joiner and about in the house till near 10 then with Edward Waddington in the pipe cellar, who began between 10 and 11 brick walling to support largeish oak beam on which to rest the posts supporting the oak room floor – In doubt at 1st whether to have a stone beam then sought out piece of oak, and set all properly to work, and on coming in tonight found the beam placed –

Some time with Robert Mann and William Lord, who began this morning wheeling stuff from the top terrace onto the embankment close by –

Then down the old bank to Halifax to Mr. Parker’s office at 11 3/4, and there 50 minutes explaining the Bull-business etc. etc. It cannot come on these assizes – Must wait till next autumn – The copy of a writ not yet come – Said I had never refused to pay the bill – It was a point of law whether I was or was not justified in requiring the difference of level between the sill and the bywash –

Told him Mr. Aked was to value Tempest’s house and Standeven’s, supposed by Ann to be worth £12 the 1st and £10 the 2nd per annum.

Mentioned Mr. Stocks’s application for the coal – Mr. Parker said significantly, speaking of Mr. Holmes, he was not rich by any means –

Then to the bank and got fifty pounds – and ordered rushlight at Taylor’s – Then to Roper’s and bought thermometer – Then to Whitley’s, and ordered Lismondi’s Italian Republics, one volume and Antiquities of Rome, those of Greece ordered the last time (all forming volumes of Lardner’s Encyclopædia) –

Returned up the old bank home about (after) 1 – Some time with Robert Mann – Came in just as Ann was setting off to Cliff hill at 2 – A little while with the joiners – Then read a few pages of Murray’s Pyrenees till Mr. Hemingway, the Landymere, came wanting Ann – Brought his Landymere quarry books, debit and credit – I had him near an hour before Ann came and set me at liberty – Left her with him and went out at 4 –

With Robert Mann – Then at Listerwick – Never uttered to any of the masons or to anyone about the flue, gradually lowered down towards the boiler flue, but not doing any good to my purposes – the flue being left level with the present surface of the ground where it was so yesterday – so that it must be banked over –

Some while talking to Joseph Mann – He and Robert Fielding to go tomorrow to look at a drum that works as ours is to work – Back to Robert Mann at 6 – and stood talking till came in at 6 50/.. – He fears another ‘blur’ with the drum – Explained – told him I was much obliged to him for explaining, adding that he told me more than anybody did, and he did very right and I was always much obliged –

Dressed – Dinner at 7 – Ann read French – Tea – Ann read aloud the newspaper – Wrote all the above of today till 11 –

Note tonight from the Philosophical Society, a paper to be read on Monday on the coloured vases of the ancients – Came upstairs at 11, at which hour, Fahrenheit 44° inside.  Fine day –

Told Mr. Parker this morning my thought of his overlooking the balance sheet of my colliery and he perpetually mentioning himself as doing Ann’s business.  

I gradually told him of his making the deed that cut out Ann and gave all to Captain Sutherland, said I had known two similar cases (I inwardly alluded to Miss Duffin and Eliza Raines’ sister) and the feeling was always the same.  I did not blame Ann.  Thought I should have felt the same myself, but should have blown him up, should have told him of it.  

He did his utmost to excuse himself.  He said Ann should blame Miss Sutherland.  No, said I, she is a wife.  It is not she.  It is those who profit and those who helped that get the blame, or rather, that one’s feeling is against.  I said I wondered he had never seen from Ann’s manner that there was a something.  No, she had so withdrawn from all society here, he thought only of that.  I said many had been very foolish to use a very strong term, but which I should only use to him, Mr. Parker, who would not repeat.  I thought Mr. William Priestley little less than rascal, and Mr. Edwards little less than fool.

Desired Mr. P to make a good use of what I had said in never, in any way, alluding to it, but taking it as a lesson to let Mr. Adam do all Ann’s business and sending him on all occasions to  Ann.  

Mentioned my sister, no match to be between her and Mr. Abbott.  I said perhaps both sides had been deceived Mr. P seemed to agree –

Had just  written the last 17 lines at 11 20/.., at which hour Fahrenheit 42 1/2° outside –

With Ann till 12 20/.. Rubbed her back –

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/22/0132