Monday, January 8, 1827

1827

January

Monday 8

7 5/60

1

Soft morning Fahrenheit          38                         at                 8                 a.m.

                                                  40                         –                 11 1/2         –

                                                  41                         –                 12 1/4         p.m.

                                                  45 3/4                     –                 6               –

                                                  46                         –                 11 20/60     –

Came to my room at 7 55/60.  From then to 11 1/4, settled with the washerwoman – Read aloud to myself from page 131 to 153, Montlosier’s Dénonciation – Breakfast at 10 10/60 – Read the whole of this morning’s paper and finished dressing –

At 11 40/60, sat down at my desk and wrote all but the 1st 3 lines of yesterday and so far of today – I feel satisfied at having taken this apartment –

From 12 20/60 to 5 40/60 (interrupted for 1/4 hour or 20 minutes between 2 and 3 by M. Sené who came to ask me to go there this evening to hear an amateur lady singer; had him in my salon) making out and writing out last week’s summary and adding up all the separate heads of the summaries of last year (a little foolish error gave me an hour or two’s more trouble than I ought to have had) and settling my accounts – would gladly have been off going to M. Sené’s, but I saw it would be such a disappointment, I consented to go at 8 for and hour or hour and half –

It is a real comfort to me to have managed all these Summaries – When I can once again stick to my accounts, I hope I shall not be very much longer in finishing them to my mind – Oh! that it were possible to get them done before going to our new apartment! –

Wrote the last 6 lines, and had just done at 5 50/60 –

Monsieur and Madame Sené mean to be exceedingly civil – Will evidently do all they can to make the apartment comfortable – Meant to have spoken to the porter’s wife about this morning, but she was not at home – Expected Madame Galvani, but not sorry at her not coming –

Dinner at 6 1/4 – At 7 3/4 came to dress – My better merinos and a clean handkerchief and silk stockings and satin shoes – Took a fiacre and got to M. Sené’s at 8 40/60 – The room quite warm – Coke and wood fire – 2 lamps burning on the chimney piece – Couple of waxlights at the piano –

The 2 girls played – A Madame (the Madame) who was to sing, did sing, 2 single songs and a duet with M. Sené, but had so bad a cold she could scarce get on – Her daughter there, ætatis 14 –

M. Sené sang, besides the duet (from la Dame Blanche), 3 single songs, and after tea Monsieur made 1 of the girls play, and he and Madame the singer and the 2 other girls danced after he had made gunpowder tea and given us 1 cup each – More cream brought in – The water boiling in a little bouillote – The things brought in by a dirty looking man in a frock livery coat and trowsers –

Not a distingue party, but it seems as if the Senés were rich – Madame Sené so perpetually drawls out ‘Oui Madame’ in a never varying tone, it is wearying – Monsieur is always ‘très gai’ amuses the whole party at a ball or concert – I should have been more comfortable at home, but thought it right to go – How fastidious I am about society! I cannot help it – Nothing pleases – satisfies me that is not haut ton – I would rather see no one, than those who do not quite suit me –

Came away at 10 25/60, leaving them all together to talk me over – Staid downstairs at the porter’s lodge talking to the porter’s wife – Told her I had taken an apartment from the 1st of February per annum and should be glad enough if she could let this apartment so that I might save the last month – if not, of course, I should pay as if I remained here – said there was no fault in the apartment but the distance of the kitchen – Should recommend the house to my friends – Said I had once thought of taking the troisième here – same number of room as here au seconde with the commandant’s room, and the same price – The porter’s wife very civil – We shall part very good friends –

Came upstairs at 10 3/4 – Mended my stocking – Wrote the last 18 lines, all which took me till 11 3/4 –

Soft damp day, and evening –

On leaving M. Sené’s, gave the porter’s wife there 5/. as what is called the ‘dernier adieu,’ or earnest, of having taken the apartment – A sort of ‘fastening penny’ is always given to the porter on these occasions – Were it but a sol, you must give it – You must give something – 5/. handsome enough – Mrs. Barlow on entering to her apartment Quai Voltaire gave 10/. – Too much – 5/. enough –

 

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/10/0042 and SH:7/ML/E/10/0043