Wednesday, October 27, 1830 Travel Journal

1830

October

Wednesday 27

7

2

Dawdling three quarters hour on the pot and cleaning teeth.  

Conning over the post map above an hour – Doubting about Nice and thinking of plans for next year. Almost determined to take my aunt to Shibden.  Have thought of it much these last three or four days, what alterations to make for her.  To pay my father a hundred a year for her and maid at two shillings a day for living and the rest for coals and wine, and always for myself and any other servants, two shillings a day each.  Then what to do with myself the winter after next. Must economize.  Go to Rotterdam by steam, see Treves, and then to Pisa, taking only Cameron?

Begin to dress at 8 55/..  Calculating bills – Breakfast at 10 3/4 –

All out at 12 50/.. – At the garden De M. Chevalier Butigny.  He, the tiresome fou, would accompany us to the castle and to his house.   Got there at 2 1/2 – Good view of the town.  Go to Engelman, rue Cassette ,18 Paris.

Resting and dawdling about chez the ancien Capitaine de Vaisseau till 3 – Then went perhaps 3/4 hour on the way to Mount Fenouilhe and sat and picked flowers – About 1/2 hour making a little sketch of the castle.

In returning, came through the town.  Went into the church, down several steps, largeish good church ? Too dark to see much –

Passed through 2 places and long very narrow streets full of  stirring about people – Curious old town – Bearing everywhere the remains of a tower or some part of its old fortifications, which must have been very extensive.

Home at 6 – It was beautiful among the hills – A garden of principally olive terraces and some vines – Beautiful wild plants – Flowers and shrubs – 5 or 6 beautiful heaths –

Dinner at 6 1/4 – M. le Chevalier de Boutigny came and staid from 8 20/.. for an hour – during which time, had tea –

In our tea, told of the adventure in the mail to Doncaster with Doctor Bell.  Then talked of Vere.  I rather more undisguisedly said I knew Miss MacLean’s prejudice in favour of A B.

Then somehow told of the very worst book I had ever read, Justine.  Lady Stuart asked how I had got it.  Said I would tell her, it was Madame de Rosny, who had it from her husband.

She told of the Duchess Devonshire being quizzed for having got translated Horace Epistle X. The first few lines obliged to be left out –

Ida St. Elme who wrote La Contemporaine, 8 volumes, the Harriet Wilson of France, now living in Egypt – Moreau her hero – But she was attached to and followed Ney – Bad books called faceties, The Sofa is one. Get Berenger and Vidocq – The duchess de Dino very fascinating.  Napier’s epilepsy on the eve of a great battle, Talleyrand just setting off to Paris and Napier  to meet the officers and the army (in Germany?).  Talleyrand only knew of this and one in a tête-à-tête with Mademoiselle Georges and another witnessed by a servant – Before Napier went to Elba –

Story last night Earl of Dudley would hire pines wondered why the Duke of Wellington, in asking Don Miguel, had twenty eight bought perhaps two guineas each, would pay five for all eaten and return the rest.  Odd absent man eighty thousand a year often heard counting the silver in his pocket.

On the subject of travelling, Lady Stuart thought better not lose my time seeking a companion. Such extraordinary caprices people took, I might be disappointed.  Said I thought Mrs. Barlow’s because, wishing to have had me always, had foolishly read me a passage in which Aunt Mary thought it would be a good thing.  Well perhaps Lady Stuart right.  The finding a companion may be chimera.  Will take Cameron and a courier, perhaps order a caleche at Frankfort and buy horses, go there by steam, via Rotterdam, and thence off –

But, said I, how delightful it would be to have a companion.  Oh, said she, but that should be one you have gone on with all your life, and then you might have one and you would be much the most agreeable, and people would be obliged to ask her, and you would have such management to have the invitation given to her and make her believe it was for her sake.  These words struck me, but I did not let it appear, but quietly said, oh, but I should so like to have a person very much more agreeable than myself, then all would be right.  I should feel no jealousies, but be delighted to be left quiet at home.

She said this morning, when in despair at Monsieur de Boutigny’s coming, it is so tiresome, it will spoil our evening,  I said to myself at the moment, can this be at all on my account, and then I thought oh no.  She enjoys a quiet evening with the children, that is all.  Perhaps connected with the line nearer the top.  I may flatter myself she does not think me disagreeable, Perhaps she likes me? If this be the case, I am satisfied not to go to Nice. 

She asked if fat Miss Winn, Sir Watkin’s sister, would suit me.  I must take care to manage my money well, and then perhaps I shall do.

Clouds this morning towards noon as if for rain, but left, and very fine, cool, warm enough pleasant day – Fahrenheit 56° now at 1 1/2 tonight.

 

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/TR/8/0038 and SH:7/ML/TR/8/0039