Sunday, December 31, 1826

1826

December

Sunday 31

7 10/60

very fine         Fahrenheit   47°              at       8 10/60       a.m.

rather frosty.                       50 1/2          –        12               at noon

                                             48               –        10 5/60       p.m.

In my room at 8 10/60 –

My bowels quite right now, and have been ever since I had the sense to loosen my stays – The fact is, I am fatter than I was.  I begin to perceive – my life is too easy – I must have more exercise, and less bed – I am always afraid of getting fat – I know it is so difficult to do so without laying the foundation for ‘divers diseases and death’ – It is by superabundance of nourishment that we compel ourselves to become fat – Nature makes use of it by converting it into fat, till we clog her up that she can do so no longer, and then it must gradually derange the machine in one way or other, till at last the parts can play no longer, and we die of overfeeding –

From 8 20/60 to 8 3/4, wrote the latter 1/2 page 2, my letter to Mrs. Lynn, and about 1/3 page 3, and thus finished my letter –

A kind letter, beginning, ‘My dear Mrs. Lynn (dated last night ‘Saturday evening, 30 December’)

‘I was going to begin with, It seems odd that I should trouble you by writing ……but my eye glances on your concluding sentence, ‘I shall always have pleasure to hear from you’; and it is enough –

It is not my intention to weary you, or to intrude upon your thoughts in any way that can be irksome– We are very sincerely anxious for your daughter’s recovery, – Very sincerely anxious to have good accounts of you both, – And, beyond this, have only to add, that, be the will of Providence what it may, we trust you will neither be found unprepared, nor unresigned, and that you will not fail to remember that , if there be any comfort, – any consolation which you can possibly derive from us, it will be gladly offered with all the cordiality of real interest in your welfare’ –

Rejoice that she has staid where she is –

Mention the loss of our silver spoons –

The peace of Europe seems to rest on a better foundation than ever ‘There may be a few complaints of Mr. Canning’s worse than haughty speech,’ but England and Mr. Canning, too, are hailed by the vast majority as the sheet anchor of all that is great and liberal; and Charles the 6th does not, in his heart, respect or trust us less, because we wrap the mantle of our importance round us –

My aunt still continues ‘well of herself,’ ‘but suffers more in her limbs, than she did 10 days ago – Of course, we attribute this to the weather – We have had a great deal of rain, though it has chiefly fallen in the night – We have as yet no appearance of winter but the leafless trees – A few morning rather frosty, but the air, in general, soft and mild, on bad days being damp, and hazy with small rain – Fahrenheit was at 47° at 8 this morning north aspect’ (I had forgotten I had dated yesterday.  Fahrenheit was only 46° yesterday.) –

‘I hope you have good accounts from Mrs. Sherard –

My aunt joins me in best regards to yourself and Miss Lynn –

Sincerely anxious for her recovery, and for your own enjoyment of better health and happiness, I am, my dear Mrs. Lynn, very truly yours

 A ‘Lister’ –     

To Steph., after copying Mariana’s account of herself (burning heat in her stomach succeeded by sickness which keeps her ‘awake for hours together’ in the night – Tongue swelled and as if scalded – Appetite good ‘in imagination’ but the moment she begins to eat, she is satisfied)

Add, “Steph! I need not say, that this account, preceded by none any better, makes me uneasy; nor shall I be otherwise, till I have heard from you – I do not ask for a long letter – It is quite unnecessary – You have better things to do – But you must really find time to tell me, I trust, that you and yours are going on well, and what you think of Mariana –

She came to spend a few weeks with us here principally, as you know, to learn the better to forget much that had recently happened at Lawton – I fear, the success was not abundant – the following passage in her last letter struck me exceedingly, though I did not notice it to her in any way – I had complained of a sentence respecting myself, which seemed unlike her usual manner – She says in excuse, ‘a feverish impulse now and then got the better of me ….. My heart has been at times so heavily sorrowful, that, had I not had pen, ink, and paper to carry off a little of its burthen, the load would verily, I believe, have been too much to bear – I always felt relieved after writing to you’ –

One subject is, however, as far as possible, prohibited – I have begged, and entreated, that, on this subject, I may neither be informed, nor consulted – I neither can, nor will interfere again to reason, or advise – I only ask to be left in ignorance, satisfied that , come what may, Mariana will find all she ought to find, and all she wants, in you – I am certainly anxious that things should bear a smooth surface to the world – God grant they may!  But keep a watchful eye upon your sister’s health – Do not let the burthen bear it down ; – Do not let it sink too low to rise again –

I told her, I should send you a copy of the account she gave of herself, and beg you to prescribe; yet though I begged her to always apply to you in every case, I studiously avoided giving her reason to imagine, I should say a syllable to you respecting the state of her mind – So long as her health does not materially suffer, I am contented – But on this point, I am painfully anxious at present – ……’

You will be kindly interested to hear a much better account of my aunt , than 2 or 3 months ago, I should have expected it possible to give – The climate has certainly had a good effect upon her – We have not called in any physician – She will not hear of it – Says her bowels are well – Nothing beyond this can be accomplished; and she will have no medical man, till fruit can no longer do instead of medicine – We have grapes, figs nearly as good as fresh in small boxes, pomegranates, excellent apples and pears, and oranges, and all kinds of nuts one ever heard of – Dates capital – Preserved fruits good beyond compare – In short, all sorts of confections as good and beautiful as art can make them’….

Paris not so full as usual – ‘La commerce ne vas pas bien’ – Reports of robberies frighten some of the country families from coming –

Mention our loss of tablespoons

‘I begin to think we shall not move farther south’ – The journey would not suit my aunt – Paris the best town on the continent for a fixed residence – Excellent markets – ‘To the full as good butcher’s meat as anywhere in England, at 7 pence a pound, except for that particular part under the ribs of a sirloin of beef, which is always taken out here, unless by particular order, and sold at double that price – We have English medicines of all kinds, and English everything, down to Windsor soap, and Warren’s blacking –

Depend upon it, we shall have no war – Charles and his ministers have too much sense to send our people and their money north again –

Paris is scarce like itself – Even since I first knew it 7 1/2 years ago – …….

‘The chamber of commerce petitioned M. de Villèle to petition the king to hold fast the blessings of peace; and the king, who I verily believe is sincere, says he has peace as much at heart as anyone can have – We never were quieter – It seems there are Apostolicals, congregationists, ultramontanists, or call them what you will, perhaps too many of them , about court; and the chamber of deputies, after meeting 3 days in numbers too small to do business, is probably a little like a bear-garden now and then – But what of all this ? We shall have no war – There may be a few complaints of Mr. Canning’s worse than haughty speech’; but England and Mr. Canning, too, are hailed by the vast majority as the sheet anchor of all that is great and liberal; and Charles the 10th does not, in his heart, respect, or trust us less, because we wrap the mantle of our importance round us –

Of course, you have heard in England of M. le Comte de Montlosier’s 2 volumes against the ‘Jesuit – and – Congregationist influence – they are well, and strongly written – Too convincing not to be proscribed – But who is in fault?

However, I do not trouble my head much about politics – As a stranger and sojourner in the land, it is enough to wish it well; and this I do with all my heart’ –

Mention the weather – the comfort of the Tuileries Gardens were one can read (ditto in the Luxembourg and Palais Royal gardens) the papers at 1 sol each –

My aunt bids me give her best remembrances – As to walking, she is much as when we left Parkgate – Her extremities swell a little towards night, and are more swelled when she gets up – She says, her face, too, and eyes are swelled, on getting up in a morning – The cutaneous complaint on the top of her head, is more spreading and disagreeable, and shews itself in more frequent patches over the body – Her nerves are weak, but her spirits good –

Dr. Lefevre, an English physician with a French name , says, he has known several such cases, and, from what he hears of my aunt, she may live this dozen years, and that Paris is the very place for her – Her appetite is certainly very good; and she eats as much as I should fancy good for her – Yet I cannot help fearing, it is not unlikely she should be dropsical by and by’ –

Will write to the Duffins when I have heard from Steph, ‘that I may take that opportunity of thanking you for their letter’ –

From 8 3/4 to 10 1/2 wrote the whole of the above of today – Folded and directed my letters addressed to Steph, under the seal, ‘wafer the answer, if you please; and do not make a point of choosing your thickest paper’ –

Breakfast at 10 40/60 – Took my aunt my letter to Mrs. Lynn to read, and sent off this ‘À Màdame Madame Lynn, Rue Royale No. 17, Tours’, and my letter to ‘H. S. Belcombe, Esquire M. D., Minster Yard, York, Angleterre’, at 11 1/4 –

While at breakfast this morning, musing over writing to Miss Yorke! Perhaps I shall write – At this moment I almost think I shall –

At 11 20/60, begin to finish dressing – Which took me till very near 12 – Then wrote out a little of my literary Index –

From 12 20/60 to 1 20/60, read aloud the morning service and Sermon 8, Bishop Sandford – then talked 1/2 hour to my aunt, and went out at 2 – Walked to the barriere de l’Etoile –through it and along the outer boulevard to the barriere du Roule, back through the barriere de l’Etoile, and returned along the Passy side –

Looked at an unfurnished, nice troisième of 12 pièces, in the 1st large house in the row, the next house of this row to the barriere – 2000/. a year – Musing about it – Rather too far –

In returning, went up the rue des Champs Elysées and rue de la Madeleine looking to see what apartments there might be to let – A few affiches, but nothing tempting –

Turned down the rue de Surène to the Place de la Madeleine – Walked leisurely along the new buildings there thinking I would try the nearest house. 

1st went in at a handsome porte cochère – The apartment au premier rather too small – One lodging room too little – Another just the same au troisième – Could have one room more – Saw the propriétaire – A gentlemanly sort of man, lived au troisième and keeping in his livery servant and cabriolet – 1600/. a year – With the additional room 2000/. – Asked if he had any objection to furnish for us – No! –

Went into his salon while he considered about it – His wife a nice looking young person – He has a house in the country where he always goes in May, and could spare us furniture very well – He calculated – Could not say quite exactly – Would have me make a proposition – Said I was about an apartment, a premier, large as his with the additional room, well furnished – They only asked 400/. a month – I had offered 350/. – Perhaps they would take it – Thought they would, but not quite certain –

Suppose I said 250/. a month for his apartment – Furnished with everything but plate linen and porcelain – 2 caves and remise – And one or 2 servants rooms upstairs – He said he had refused several locataires because he wished to have quiet people as he had daughters – The house all let, but the premier I had seen and the troisième – Let to his friends – Not an English person in the house – I would take it for a year certain – Afterwards from 6 months to 6 months – Should probably stay in Paris as long as my aunt lived – Here on account of her health – She could not bear the climate of our country house in England – ætatis 62 –

Saw the cellars, coachhouse, everything – Really very comfortable – West aspect towards the Elise de la Madeleine – Capital air, and plenty of free space –

Monsieur seems anxious to do all he can to agree – Said I would consult my friends – Promised to give him an answer at 12 on Tuesday – At this moment (5 25/60 p.m.) I cannot see how we can do better – Good situation – Just across the boulevard – Very nearly opposite the rue Neuve de Luxembourg where there is a stand of fiacres, everything convenient –

Got home at 4 3/4 – Wrote the last 25 1/2 lines and had just done at 5 1/2 – If we had taken the apartment at 2000/. per annum, he would have paid all taxes, and asked 100/. again extra for éclairâge and the porter (4/. a month for éclairâge) –

Making some little calculations – If we can get the apartment for 3000/. per annum including porter, éclairage et everything, i.e. would be 3000/. ÷ 52 = 57 francs 69 12/52 cents per week –

George came at 5 50/60 to say dinner was ready – Dinner at 6 precisely – Came to the drawing room at 8, – Having told my aunt all about the apartment – She is exceedingly pleased at the idea of our having to pay so much less rent and likes my account of the apartment – Made out the washing bills –  Wrote the last 4 lines all which took me till 9 –

George has just brought me in the card of ‘Monsieur and Madame Charles Droz’ and ‘Mademoiselle Julie Droz’ –

Came to my room at 10 5/60 – Very fine day –

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/10/0038, SH:7/ML/E/10/0039, and SH:7/ML/E/10/0040