Thursday, March 7, 1839 (Partial Entry)

1839

March

Thursday 7

7 40/..

12 3/4

Much snow on the ground.  Snowing hard and wind whistling at 7 40/.., and ever since till now, 8 35/.., at which hour, Fahrenheit 33 1/2° inside and 29 1/2° outside –

Breakfast at 9 and sat reading alternately, Ann and I, from page 21 to 77, Volume 2, Murray’s Summer in the Pyrenees – His account of passing the Campbieil to Gèdre and his ascent of Mr. Perdu – I had read the first 21 pages of this volume before breakfast –

Came upstairs at 10 10/.. – Had  Riley, the little tailor from the new bank, to measure George Wood for stable suit – To be done next week – Making 24/ or 25/. stuff (beaverteen) at 1/8 per yard –

Then had Booth.

Brought me back the Nelson-papers I gave into his charge yesterday – Nelson very much dissatisfied.  Would have his father over and remeasure today – Wanted Booth to meet them – Booth thought this unnecessary unless I particularly wished him to go – No! I think he did enough by going yesterday –

Nelson said Mr. Harper’s settlement and prices would not pay the men’s wages – It was like robbing on the highways, etc. etc. Nelson going to have a trial at York with Mr. Carr respecting the new part he built for him at Godley – Wants £50 more than he ought to have, and Mr. Carr resists –

Mentioned to Booth taking down cutting away a recess from the housekeeper’s room and maids sleeping room above so as to leave the upper kitchen gable clear – Booth agreed with me in thinking £5 or £6 would do the job; and then the upper kitchen window and the whole gable might be repaired –

Mentioned my idea of a plinthing all along the front of the house 5 or 6 inches above the flagging – Booth much approved this –

Booth 11 or 12 times to Butterworth end – But the roof turned out so bad, and the job so exceeded what he expected (cost above £100) that he charged only £3 for all his trouble – which, in fact, as he had a horse every time did little more than pay his expenses –

Told him he ought in future on these occasions to charge 10/. a day for his time 5/. for his horse and corn 1/6 and his own dinner 2/1 = 18/6 a day –

It had struck 12 when he went away – Then wrote the above of today – Then had Ann till 1 10/.. with her Sunday Schools’ accounts – and wrote her copy of note to Miss Wilkinson. Poor Ann ! I believe she is now heartily glad to get rid of the business –

Then on a 6th 1/2 sheet making long extract respecting Egyptian Greek and Roman carriage from page 350 – 356 – till 2 10/.. , having had Ann again in the mean time for a few minutes – to shew her note written–

Shall send back tonight Volume 1, Wilkinson, received Wednesday 27 February – Dedicated to the duke of Northumberland.

Saturday 2 March, returned Thursday 7 February

Saturday 23 and returned Sunday 24 March

‘Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, including their private life, government laws, arts, manufactures, religion, and early history; derived from a comparison of the Paintings, Sculptures, and Monuments still existing, with the accounts of Ancient authors.

Illustrated by drawings of those subjects By J. G. Wilkinson, F.R.S. M.R.S.L etc., author of a general view of Egypt and topography of Thebes etc. In 3 volumes,

‘Volume 1, London, John Murray, Albemarle Street 1837.’

‘London Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street Square.’ Octavo.

Volume 1, pages 406. + xxxii.

Volume II, pages 446. +xxxiv.

Volume III

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/22/0135