Tuesday, September 13, 1831 Travel Journal

1831

September

Tuesday 13

..

12 20/..

Awoke up at Daventry at 5 3/4 – Thickish fog then and, of course, very damp outside, but fine morning (very fine night) and Fahrenheit 61° now at 6 5/.. – (to London 72). 

Now at 6 40/… just before entering at Towcester

White Horse to breakfast at 8 20/.. – 1/2 hour washing and making comfortable – then breakfast in 1/2 hour and off at 9 20/.. Good bread and butter and very good dry toast –

The watch stopt 1/4 hour I think at Dunchurch ? (at 4) and did not put it forwards.  It is now right by London, so have been here 1/4 hour more than stated, which I now cease to allow for watch too late –

On counting money just after leaving Towcester, taking in the loss of 8/9 makes me right – How odd that I should lose anything – It must have been somehow in paying postboys? George’s being inefficient in paying for me is a sad pother – I hope the courier I get will do better –

Fine morning – Fine open woldy wine country about Dunstable – Good air – Could live hereabouts well enough – anywhere from Dunstable to St. Albans – St. Albans very nice town just 20 miles from Lawton, nice distance both at Dunstable and St. Albans.

Pay 16 pence a mile, though stuck up in large letters, posting at 15 pence, and even at the very Inn where I changed at St. Albans (the Bull) under the patronage of Earl of Verulam, still pay 16 pence.  Perhaps it is because the carriage is so heavy – I say nothing – Have given to paying postboys 3 pence a mile – It won’t do – so give 4 pence, but keep them up to 8 miles an hour, which without a word, they have latterly exceeded – Had I a light carriage, I would only pay 3 pence a mile and 15 pence ditto for horses –

Pass under Highgate Arch 4 20/.. Kentish Town at 4 1/2 – at Warren’s at 4 55/.. –

The Lawtons there – Mariana out – Could have taken me in – At Hawkins’s at 5 5/.., 26 Dover Street – Little note from Mariana –

Note also from Lady Gordon saying she had called twice, should be at home all the evening and must see me – Going to Brighton tomorrow – Why would I not go that way to France –

Ordered tea – Waited for Cameron and was just going to dress when Lady Gordon and Sir Alexander came about 5 1/2 and staid an hour – All her affairs over, she will not be at liberty till next March.  Begged me not to do anything particular without telling her.  She mentioned Florence for the next winter but one.  Her jointure is fifteen hundred a year, debt on her concern nineteen thousand in England and eleven in Spain.  Sir Alexander gentlemanly.

The moment they were gone, wrote a note to ask Mariana to come to me, and sent the carriage for her (which I had had, meaning to go to Lady Stuart) at 6 1/2 th[e]n ’twas – She arrived at 7 1/2 from the dinner table and staid till 11 – 

Tiresome long stories about the John Lawtons and the offer she had in the mail from Bawtrey, and altogether far less agreeable than Lady Gordon and speaking very loud.  I had no opportunity of saying very much.  Complained of my solitude to[o] independent and at large and solitary and uncontrolled to be happy.  She offered me Lou. Declined.  Could not introduce her.  Less independent than I used to be, and obliged to live more in sight.  She thought then I had not improved my happiness by my new acquaintances, but I would not allow this.  Charles worse to manage than ever.  Thinks something will happen by and by –

Very fine day – Came to my room at 11 –

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/TR/11/0004 and  SH:7/ML/TR/11/0005