#Shibden Hall 1825

[skgway]

1825 May, Mon. 23

6 20/60

11 5/60

Last night put up my left middle finger it hurt me less than before, but gave not much pleasure, and afterwards seemed to have made pleasure in my usual way out of the question, that I did not incur a cross – Went out to the workmen at 8 – Came back to breakfast at 10 3/4 – Breakfast at 11 – 

Letter 3 pages, the ends, and 1 side crossed from M– [Mariana] (Lawton), and 3 pages and the ends, and 1 side crossed from Miss Maclean (Edinburgh). I ought to have directed my letters to North Saint David street Edinburgh instead of North street David Street, Edinburgh – Both Miss McL– [MacLean] and M– [Mariana] pretty well – The latter takes no notice of not having written, for me to have got her letter on Saturday – Afraid so much standing at the footpath will disagree with me – Miss McL– [MacLean] objects on another account (vide tomorrow – I will then quote the passage) – 

Went back to the workmen at 12 – Got back again at 1 3/4 – From 2 to 4 wrote 2 1/4 pages to Miss McL– [MacLean] Then went back to the workmen at 4 10/60 and got home at 6 1/4 – Dressed – Dinner at 6 35/60 – Very sleepy in the evening – Came up to bed at 9 55/60 – At which hour a few drops of rain and Barometer 3/4 degree above changeable, and Fahrenheit 60º – Very fine day – Very warm – E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [two dots, marking discharge] –

[wrotetheaboveoftoday]

1825 Tues. 4 October

In which Mariana pledges her faithfulness to Anne

5 3/4 11 Went into the stables - from 7 20/60 to 10 3/4 reading over M- [Mariana]’s letter of yesterday and writing the latter 1/2 p. 2, p. 3 and the ends very small and close of my letter, began yesterday, to M- [Mariana] - very affectionate - affectionate rather in the sense than in the words - full of easy confidence and expressive only of satisfaction, yet might be read (if C- [Charles] forced the lock of M- [Mariana]’s writing desk) without doing any harm - concluded with ‘very especially and entirely yours’, the 1st time for this I have concluded with anything but faithfully and affectionately yours - made the change at M- [Mariana]’s request - I wrote faithfully and affectionately when so on the point of being neither, and so many painful recollections were interwoven with this conclusion, M- [Mariana] could not bear it, and begged me to change it

Her pages very strongly affectionate, all that an idolizing wife could write. ‘You may be tired of reading so I really will conclude with the assurance that so long as life shall last I will be your lover your friend and your faithful wife. If I can be anything more teach me what it is and that will I also be with all the truth and power of one who loves for thee and thee only’ … She says before ‘yours, and only yours, let me always be, that is, sso long as it makes you happy to have me so, but one minute beyond this, one moment beyond the time that you can give me yourself in exchange and you shall hear of me no more, yet I will never be another’s. “True as the dial to the sun altho’ it be not shined upon” this I will always be to you and this I have ever been, believe it now if you ever doubted it before’ - Alluding to my having said at Buxton she was still a virgin and having by my finger devirginized her - She will be satisfied with my answer for tho’ every too particular expression is avoided yet she will understand me

Read over my letter to Mrs. N- [Norcliffe] (Langton hall) sealed and sent this and my letter to M- [Mariana] (Lawton) downstairs for George to take to the post at 11 1/2,at which hour went down to breakfast - Mrs. Abbott was coming - Dr. Kenny called to apologize for Mr. Sunderland’s not having been to see my aunt, and during this while Mrs. Abbott came into the breakfast room - the marmalade M- [Mariana] sent excellent - went out at 12 1/2 - peeped into the stables - went to see the men hedging in the field on the right of the hanging hay - went into the fallow (the coalpit field) along the hanging hay, all on can - to the reservoir, etc. brought in 3 or 4 mushrooms at 1 40/60, then went out again walked to Hipperholme lane ends and back and came in at 2 1/2 - it rained small rain or heavier all the while I was out - reput in paper the curls taken out cut my toenails and wrote the above of today - this etc. took me till 3 55/60 -

From 4 1/4 to 6 25/60 wrote 3 pp. and the ends, pretty close, to Miss Henrietta Crompton - common chit-chat - dressed Dinner at 6 50/60 - afterwards read aloud from 41 to 49 Fosbroke’s Archæology - small rain or heavier more or less almost all the time I was out from 12 1/2 to 2 1/2 - fair about 3 p.m. and afterwards fine afternoon and evening - very fine morning till about noon when it began to look duller - Barometer 1/2 degree above changeable F. 59º at 9 1/2 at which hour came up to bed - E..O.. - read from p. 136 to 149 i. Nouvelle Héloïse - Began this morning to take Dr. Scudamore’s pills -

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Thursday 17 December 1835

8 10

11 ½

No kiss a little headache and feel bilious a little bowel complaint also very fine morning F38° at 8 ¼ am and a black bird in full song in the garden - went down to breakfast at 8 ¼ - Mr Jubb here at 9 - my aunt very poorly - not to get up today - Jane and John better and Sarah the kitchenmaid (sent home to H-x yesterday afternoon) better this morning - the nurse for Jane I persuaded Marian to send to Mr Jubb for last night, at liberty, and will come this morning - finished my breakfast after Mr Jubb went away - about 11 note from Mr Musgrave saying he would come tomorrow but if my aunt would be inconvenienced by delay he would come at 3pm today - and another printed note from Mr Musgrave soliciting subscription for the Irish clergy saying in manuscript manuscript  at the bottom of the printing that he had already got £150 - the servant waited and I wrote back in answer to ‘The Reverend Charles Musgrave Vicarage’ ‘Shibden Hall Thursday 17 December 1825 Dear sir if it will not be any very great inconvenience to you to come this afternoon, it will be a satisfaction to me - my aunt is not up, nor likely to be got up today - she may rally a little but my own hopes are not sanguine - Believe me dear sir, very truly yours A. Lister’ then 10 minutes with my aunt while she sat up in bed and took a little brandy and water and parkin - then wrote the following with check enclosed for George to take to the bank - ‘Shiden Hall Thursday 17 December 1835 Gentlemen I shall be much obliged to you to send back by my servant as by check enclosed £50 ten sovereigns the rest in your own notes - I am gentlemen etc A. Lister’ - to ‘the Gentlemen to the Yorkshire District Bank Halifax’ Had just written the above of today at 12 5 - then out till 2 ¾ with Robert Mann and c° who had finished about the pond before dinner and been at the hill-making on this and upper side of the cascade bridge - looked about while they dined - walked down to the bottom of the walk and back - then stood over the men Mark helping them occasionally the Northgate soil carts today the last day till further orders - told Mr Husband last night to stop them - he said they would not be wanted at Northgate till April - came in at 2 ¾ - dressed - Mr Musgrave here soon after 3 - I kept him waiting 10 minutes - sent A- to him in the drawing room where I found also my father and Marian with him - we all went upstairs to my aunt’s room as immediately as possible and Mr Musgrave administered the sacrament to my aunt in bed, and A- and my father and Marian and myself and Oddy and Mary (Rhodes) and George - my aunt lifted herself up in bed - but the fluttering at her chest no better and she could not speak more than a word or two even afterwards when Mr Musgrave wished her goodbye ‘God bless you Madam’ and said he would call again to see her in a day or 2 - he behaved very kindly and properly - I said my father would feel cold and got Marian to take him downstairs immediately that the service was over - I kept A- and we each gave him £ towards the relief of the Irish protestant clergy and I gave him for such charity as he thought best one sovereign for my aunt and one for myself on the sacrament account as usual - he said on going away he would write and inform A- if any (fatal) change took place in Mr. John Edwards - he was here about ¾ hour from the time of his arrival - I sat talking to A- in the blue room then till 5 20 (in my study) wrote the last 18 lines of today - then till 5 55 wrote 2 pages to M- saying what a sick house we have sorry it is a fortnight since my reading her letter etc ‘the kitchen-maid was sent home ill yesterday - the upper house maid confined to her bed - the cook is poorly - my aunt’s maid is not quite well - A-‘s and my temporary one is on foot and that is all, and our footman is sent into saddle room with my farming man to nurse him for fear of the spread of infection in the house (he the footman ill from attending his brother who died of natural small pox) - and what makes all this more distressing, my aunt has not been able to leave her bed today, and I fear there is little prospect of her rallying - we have a house of melancholy - we have just had our vicar, Mr Musgrave administering the sacrament at my aunt’s bedside - I fear she cannot see over Xmas - should this term be beyond her reach how short a while she will have survived poor Mrs Norcliffe! she sinks so gradually, she may linger longer than it seems reasonable to expect - buy my own mind is prepared! - Mary! my heart is very heavy - God bless you! Believe me always very especially and affectionately yours AL.’ sent off by George this evening my letter to ‘Mrs Lawton Lawton Hall, Cheshire’ - dinner at 6 ¼ - went up to my aunt but she seemed asleep (in bed) so crept quietly away - coffee - ¾ hour with my father and Marian - copied a little of Mr. S. Freeman’s upper Place quarry-opening account - ¾ hour with my aunt till 10 40 - mixed her up her aperient powder (Mrs. Barlow’s recommendation in Paris) equal parts carbonate of magnesia cream of tartar and flower of brimstone - she spoke better and chiefly and is certainly better tonight - she may rally again? fine morning till about 11 - afterwards damp and thick and a little drizzling rain from about noon, more or less, the rest of the day - F44° and fair now at 10 50pm.

[iredreamer]

Master-post: Anne Lister content on this blog.

During this past year I’ve been collection info, transcribing journal entries and answering questions about Anne Lister. I thought it was time to properly tag everything...

This is a “master-post” with everything that is currently on this blog about the real Anne Lister.

My tags are mostly organized by topic since a lot of the discussions we’ve had during this time are focused on meanings and interpretations rather than un-edited transcriptions of the journals. Journal entries will also have a chronological tagging system (by year).

Anne Lister & Ann Walker: • courtship (#AL and AW: courtship) • reunion (#AL and AW: reunion) • married life (#AL and AW: married life) • anniversary (#AL and AW: anniversary) • problems (#AL and AW: problems) • backgammon (#AL and AW: backgammon) • travelling (#AL and AW: travelling)

Anne Lister (specific topics): • appearance (#anne lister: appearance) • nature (#anne lister: nature) • family (#anne lister: family) • sexuality (#anne lister: sexuality) • sex life (#anne lister: sex life) • oral sex (#anne lister: oral sex) • STI (#anne lister: STI) • her father paying a female prostitute (#anne lister: her father paying a female prostitute) • Christmas 1834 (#anne lister: christmas 1834) • thermometer (#anne lister: thermometer) • tinderbox (#anne lister: tinderbox) • french (#anne lister: french) • “Fred” (#anne lister: fred) • “Gentleman Jack” (#anne lister: jack) • walker pit (#anne lister: walker pit) • tenants (#anne lister: tenants) • politics (#anne lister: politics) • rank (#anne lister: rank)

Anne’s journal: • code (#anne lister: code) • symbols (#anne lister: symbols) • plain hand (#anne lister: plain hand) • earliest journal (#anne lister: earliest journal)

Anne Lister (terminology): • “having a kiss” (#anne lister: having a kiss) • “queer” (#anne lister: queer) • “incurred a cross” (#anne lister: incurred a cross) • “going to Italy” (#anne lister: going to italy) • “grubbling” (#anne lister: grubbling) • “being near” (#anne lister: being near) • “monsieur” (#anne lister: monsieur) • “dinky” (#anne lister: dinky) • “a little play” (#anne lister: play)

Anne Lister &: • Eliza Raine (#anne lister: eliza raine) • Mariana Lawton (#AL and ML) • Miss Browne (#anne lister: miss browne) • Maria Barlow (#anne lister: maria barlow) • Princess Radziwil (#anne lister: princess radziwil) • Madame Galvani (#anne lister: madame galvani) • The Ladies of Llangollen (#anne lister: llangollen)

Ann Walker (specific topics): • appearance (#ann walker: appearance) • mental health (#ann walker: mental health) • eating disorder (#ann walker: eating disorder) • family (#ann walker: family) • birthday (#ann walker: birthday) • “Adney” (#ann walker: adney) • Ainsworth (#ann walker: ainsworth) • the tribe (#ann walker: the tribe) • Ann Walker’s diary (#ann walker: diary) • after Anne Lister’s death (#ann walker: after AL death)

people (general): • Anne Lister (#real people: anne lister) • Ann Walker (#real people: ann walker) • Marian Lister (#real people: marian lister) • Aunt Anne Lister (#real people: aunt anne lister) • Jeremy Lister (real people: jeremy lister) • Rebecca Lister (real people: rebecca lister) • Mariana Lawton (#real people: mariana lawton) • Dr. Stephen Belcombe (#real people: dr steph belcombe) • Aunt Ann Walker (#real people: aunt ann walker) • Cordingley (#anne lister: cordingley) • Sam Sowden (#real people: sam sowden) • George Pickles (#real people: george pickles) • John Booth (#real people: john booth) • George Playforth (#real people: george playforth)

places: • Shibden (#topic: shibden hall) • Crow Nest (#topic: crow nest) • Lidgate (#topic: lidgate) • Cliff Hill (#topic: cliff hill) • New House (#topic: new house)

journal transcriptions: • all posts [+] (includes every post with a passage from Anne’s journal) • year: 1806-1814 / 1816 / 1817 / 1818 / 1819 / 1820 / 1821 / 1822 / 1823 / 1824 / 1825 / 1826 / 1827 / 1828 / 1829 / 1830 / 1831 / 1832 / 1833 / 1834 / 1835 / 1836 / 1837 / 1838 / 1839 / 1840

full transcriptions: SH:7/ML/E/26/1 (1806-1814) / SH:7/ML/E/26/2 (Aug-Nov 1816) / SH:7/ML/E/26/3 (Nov 1816-Mar 1817) / SH:7/ML/E/1 (21 Mar 1817-25 Jan 1818)

Transcription blog > @listertranscriptions (here you’ll find the unedited transcriptions I’m working on as a volunteer of the Anne Lister Diary Transcription Project)

I loved sharing, researching and talking with all of you about this brilliant woman. Let’s keep doing it!

[lovingannelister]

Draft Letter from Anne Lister to Maria Barlow in Paris May 26, 1825

Miss Lister Of Shibden Hall by Muriel M. Green

[skgway]

1825 June, Wed. 29

7 

12

Called at the Gages – Not at home – Between 11 and 12, Mr. D– [Duffin] walked with me over the bridge – We called and sat a good while with my aunt. Mr. D– [Duffin] very kind and attentive, felt her pulse asked questions etc. en médecin – My aunt better than I expected, tho’, of course, weak from having had a bad night, in consequence, perhaps of the shaking of the journey –

Mr. D– [Duffin] and I then went to the Belcombes’ – All pretty well, except Dr. B– [Belcombe] who seems to have had another relapse – Saw Stephens – Told him my aunt wished to consult him – Just went with him to introduce him (he saw my aunt when in York the xmas [Christmas] before M– [Mariana] was married) left him with my aunt, and Mr. D– [Duffin] and I went to see the improvements in the minster yard – The new Residence, the Dean’s Garden just under the city-wall, etc. – Sauntered about a little, and got home at 3 – 

We then called for a few minutes on Miss Gage (had seen Mrs. Anne in the town) who is not well-confined to the house, and looks aged – I then went to Miss M– [Marsh]’s lodgings to wait for Parsons – Had my hair cut – Dined at the D– [Duffin]’s at 4 – At 5, let off to Mr. Hornor – waited an hour – He had forgotten me – But, at last, drew me my left upper wisdom tooth (it was decaying) remarkably well – By mere accident, on going away, I happened to ask him to see if my other teeth were in good order – To my surprise he said 3 were decaying and wanted stopping with gold but said he could not see to do them then –  Then said I will stay over tomorrow – I had intended going by tonight’s mail – While waiting for Mr. H– [Hornor] reading one of the volumes of the Percy anecdotes – The anecdote of Portia (the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus) struck me – 

It was near 7 when I got to the Belcombes’ – Steph and I tête-à-tête near an hour – He seemed to agree with Mr. D– [Duffin] my aunt was not fit to go abroad in her present state – He should fear she might never return – He thought her in a very precarious way – Dr. K– [Kenny]’s prescriptions (had taken and shewed them to him) merely temporary – Merely palliative – did not agree that climate could effect a cure, or any sort of baths whatever – 

The water being mineralized (and this could be done at home) would make little or no difference – It was the temperature that was the thing – He recommended Buxton – My aunt could have baths there of any temperature – Certainly the national temperature (about 82) would be too cold – My aunt should have 95º – Bath was a long way from home, and if my aunt had no pleasant society there and I could not remain with her, what would she do? She ought to have cheerful society – 

But what I said altered his view of the case, and if Shibden did not agree with her and the effect of change of air and scene was always so magic, she must go from home but medicine should be tried first – And either going abroad or any place in the South was perhaps be of equal benefit, supposing we could gain for her cheerful society and everything comfortable  – It was a case of chronic gout, etc. but he would see her again tomorrow – 

Said the place did not even agree with me. Mentioned the sensation of cold I have for some years felt in my knees and the wearing leather knee caps. Indeed said he that is gout. You must be careful attend to the alvine tube and keep that always right. Said I did do so and that all was right at present said, or insinuated I would not hereafter live much here if it disagreed with me. 

Said I had been ill in Paris attended by Dupuytren for a slight attack in my liver. Lived on nitrated barley water, rubbed in mercury and had warm baths. He thought staying in an hour too long, insinuating he durst not have prescribed so long. But, said I, it cured me altogether knees and all. 

Said that on telling him I was subject to sore throats he asked if my father was quite well when he married. After some explanation I had said I believed he had in earlier life been unwell and had for many many years afterwards had a gleet and Dupuytren seemed to think this might affect the children. Said steph, that is carrying the doctrine of affinities very far. Asked Steph if he thought it could be the case, he said no but that we laughed at the French physicians and they at us. 

Said I had asked him, Dupuytren, I had thought of π [Mariana] if a married man having communication with women having the whites could give them to his wife and that he decidedly said yes. Steph did not contradict, said π [Mariana] was as bad as ever. He agreed that the so constant use of alum was bad. I wished him to speak to her and tell her she ought to be examined. He said he had wished to get rid of it, fearing it must come to this. For he was afraid of some disease of the womb, but Simmons had said he could cure her. 

Got to mention 𝛿 [Charles Lawton], said I was sure he could not have a child. If π [Mariana] had had a family she would have been better. He agreed. We both thought 𝛿 [Charles Lawton] had hurt himself by the quick forcing medicines he had taken and that he was impotent when he married. I could believe π [Mariana]’s account, whom said much to me in the innocence of her heart [what] she would never breathe to any other, and with my reading I could possibly judge pretty fairly. 

At all events they had little or no connection now, nor had they had for some years. He thought she did not care about it and certainly he himself did not want it. Steph seemed rather surprised but said their original quarrel was occasioned in great part by what he had said to him on the subject of taking care of his constitution. For people had said before he married, he went on in such a manner he could never have children – For the moment I wondered if there was an allusion to anything worse than the regularse of women –

Lou coming and interrupting us, I begged her to stay, and Mrs. B– [Belcombe] and Anne came, and they asked me of my journey etc. – Told them the story of my seeing the tread-mill, and the veterinary colonel – and they seemed much amused – 

Dr. B– [Belcombe] very poorly – He has got cold – And salivation has returned upon him – His mouth much ulcerated, and he suffers a great deal, and is very irritable and untractable – Cannot speak – So that I did not see him – 

Drank tea with them, and Steph walked with me (stopt for a few minutes while I called to wish my aunt good night) into Micklegate – Talked a little of his wife – Said how handsomely she had made the amende honorable to me, etc. That she had hinted the cause of all the disagreeables, but I had promised not to mention it – However as I knew he was not the person chiefly meant to be excluded, on the condition of his taking no notice of my having told him, I should say I who knew all parties, thought Mrs. H[enry] S[teph] B– [Belcombe] was probably right. 

For that Mrs. Milne was, he must be aware, by no means averse form flirting or unlikely to forget herself a little in these matters. Steph very wisely said little or nothing. Only that Mrs. Meene and Mrs. Milne hed [had] been very good friends and the latter had done all she could in calling etc. etc. The former would not see her and had behaved very rudely – Excusing Mrs. Milne – But yet probably attended to the few words i said on the subject – 

Got to the D– [Duffin]s’ at 9 1/4 – Steph in a hurry could not come in – We all sat talking till 10 1/2 – When Miss M– [Marsh] and I retired – Miss Ellen D– [Duffin] is, or as yet appears to be, rather quieter in her manners than her sister Maria, and seems an amiable, nice sort of sufficiently well-informed person –

Fine day – Wore the merinos Redingote made me. Huchet made my cashmeer shawl and bonnet and all complimented me on my looks. I wore too one of my soutenirs de robe E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [one dot, marking discharge] – 

[skgway]

1825 June, Sun. 19

7 55/60

11 20/60

Gave Hotspur oat cake – Went into the paddock – Did not come in till 8 25/60 – Went down to breakfast at 9 50/60 – Staid talking to my uncle and aunt – Read aloud the morning service – 

Went upstairs at 12 10/60. Read over all I had before written to Mrs. B[arlow]. Above two hours without being able to get on at all. Could not finish a sentence to my mind. At last dozed a little and then a little before three, dated Sunday afternoon and began and wrote with ease very small and close the fourth page to my sheet of rough copy of what I shall write out and send tomorrow.

Think I shed all I intend to write and did it to my mind. The letter will do very well. I have shed many tears over it. I know not how it is, my own style affects me. Well, may she feel it. Such beautiful sentimentality will probably not be addressed to her by many – 

Writing to Mrs. B– [Barlow]. Come downstairs at 5 10/60 – Read aloud the evening service, and sermon 123 volume 4 my uncle’s collection – Dressed – Dinner at 6 35/60 – 

In the evening wrote (in the drawing room) the above of today – Fine, cool day – Not much sun – Barometer 1/2 degrees below changeable, Fahrenheit 58 1/2º at 10 p.m., at which hour came up to bed –

[skgway]

1825 May, Wed. 11

6 10/60

11 55/60

Slept pretty well last night – Better this morning – At 7 3/4 sat down at my writing [desk and wrote the 3rd page and the ends (very small and close writing) and finished my letter began on Sunday to Mrs. Barlow – Very affectionate, love making, and passionate. But tho she will understand this, I think nobody else could. Talk of going to her again, that she will see me in two years for I think I cannot wait longer. But yet studiously avoid giving anything like a promise of being really hers. 

Tell [her] I think of her perpetually and all sorts of loverlike things, but no promises till I begin to think of and like her better, and begin to doubt a little about 𝛑 [Mariana]. All that sticks in my throat is I cannot do enough for Mrs. B[arlow]. I cannot give her pleasure in any way but with my finger, and this does not suit. If I had a penis an inch or two long, or the clitoris down far enough I could manage. But I fear, not without – 

Read over and sent off my letter to Mrs. Barlow (Quai Voltaire No number 15, Paris) at 12 1/2 – then went down to breakfast –– Went upstairs again at 1 3/4 – Wrote 3 pages and one end to M– [Mariana] and at 4 went out to the workmen at the new footpath – Staid with them till after 6 – 

Walked back along the Turnpike road and came in at 6 20/60 – Dressed – Sat down to dinner at 6 50/60 – In the evening wrote the above of today, and the journal of yesterday – Very fine day –

Barometer not quite 1/2 degree above changeable, Fahrenheit 52º at 9 40/60 p.m., at which hour came upstairs to bed – E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [one dot, marking discharge] – 

Wrote the 2nd end, and crossed the 2 first pages of my letter to M– [Mariana]. Conclude with “Perhaps you have not seen much of Mrs. N[orcliffe] N[orcliffe] – I admired her very much in Paris – Thought her pretty nicely dressed, and pleasing in her manners – ‘cold as marble’ never once occurred to me – Perhaps my own manners are colder than they used to be, and I am less and less observant of this sort of thing in those of others – 

How is your friend Miss Pattison? Surely, by this time, you are comfortably resettled at home – Mrs. Norcliffe, who is good enough to tell me a budget of news every now and then, told me of the hopeful state of Mrs. Cholmbey – God grant your next accounts of yourself may be better! Good night my love! Believe me always, faithfully and affectionately yours – The letter not warm in any part. Mentioned indirectly my medical treatment in Paris and gave the Latin prescription for the injection, with a translation of it into English –

[skgway]

1825 May, Mon. 9

6 50/60

10 ¾

Could not sleep last night. Then began putting up my left middle finger to bring down the clitoris, wishing it come so as to be able to copulate with women. I just felt it, which is more than I ever did before. Afterwards incurred a cross my old way by rubbing the top part of queer – 

Gave Hotspur oat cake – Went out to the workmen at 8 1/4 – Did not get back to breakfast till 11 1/2 – Rain from 12 1/2 to 1, therefore read aloud to myself upstairs, volume 1 Rousseau Confessions, and went to the workmen at 1 – Did not get back again till 2 3/4 – 

Then wrote the latter 3/4 of page 2, and 2 or 3 lines of page 3, of my letter began yesterday to Mrs. Barlow – At 5 3/4 walked down to the workmen – Got back at 6 25/60 – Dressed – Dinner at 6 3/4 – My father and Marian called and sat near an hour in the evening –

Sent George to inquire after Mrs. Rawson of Stoney Rodye – Rather better this morning – My aunt very gouty and rheumatic as we call it – Scarcely able to stir – Has a great deal of pain in her limbs, and all over, but does not seem worse than she has been these last few days – 

A few light showers before my breakfast – Rain between 12 and 1 (vide line 4), a light shower in the afternoon – Then fine, and fine evening – Barometer 1 1/2 degree above changeable, Fahrenheit 52 at 9 10/60 p.m. At which hour went up to bed, having 1st written the above of today –

Frank Oates, who lives at Mrs. Macauley’s lodge at Sledhall, came this morning (saw him when I went out at 1) to agree about lowering Lower Brea lane, and to help us with the footpath – He is to come in the morning – A civil man – Good workman – Recommended by Jackman E [two dots treating venereal complaint] O [one dot, marking discharge] –

[skgway]

1825 June, Sun. 12

8 

11 40/60

Incurred a cross at seven. Gave Hotspur oatcake and staid playing with him a long while – Breakfast at 9 50/60 – Staid downstairs all the morning, read aloud the morning service – Then slept a little and went upstairs at 12 3/4 – 

Oppressed with the heat – Lay down and absolutely slept or slumbered till near 5 – 10 minutes in the garden for a little and came in at 5 1/4, and read the evening service – No sermon – 

Dressed – Dinner at 6 1/2 – Talked all the evening – Wrote the above of today – Very fine, sunny, hot, summery day – Barometer 3 degrees above changeable and Fahrenheit 56º at 9 55/60 p.m. – At which hour came up to bed – E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [one dot, marking discharge] –

[skgway]

1825 May, Tues. 31

5

11 5/60

From seven to ten and quarter wrote out the first page and a few lines of the second of my letters to Mrs. B[arlow] which took me about two and quarter hours, and the rest of the time making some alterations in the original copy – Breakfast at 10 20/60 – 

Went to the workmen at 11 – Walked along Pump lane to Barrowclough lane while the men had their drinking, then staid with them till 1 1/4 – Came home – Staid talking to my uncle and aunt till 2 10/60 – Then (at 2 1/4) went back to the men, and did not get back till 6 50/60 – Desired Jackman to pay off Joseph Mallinson finding he was one of those wire drawers who have struck for wages – Paid him 2/4 a day for the 4 days he had been with us – 

Dinner at 7 – Wishing to write came up to bed at 8 40/60 – From 9 50/60 to 10 50/60 – Wrote about 2/3 of page 2 of my letter to Mrs. B– [Barlow] very small and close – Very fine day – Barometer 4 1/2 degrees above changeable, Fahrenheit 51º at 8 40/60 p.m. E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [two dots, marking discharge] –

[More on ‘wire drawers’]

Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate, so ‘wire drawer’ refers to workers involved in the manufacture of wire.

Parliament repealed the Combination Acts (which prohibited trade unions from attempting to collectively bargain for better terms and conditions at work, and suppressed the right to strike) in 1824 and 1825, but clearly workers were still vulnerable to retaliation, as in Joseph Mallinson’s case working for Anne.

[skgway]

1825 May, Thurs. 12

6

11

Gave Hotspur oat cake – Went out to the workmen at 8 – Got home to breakfast at 10 – Mr. Sunderland came to see my aunt at 10 1/2 – Saw him – Got him to go with me to look at Hotspur – He advises me not to take his fore shoes off entirely, but to let him have very thin plates on –

Went upstairs at 11 1/2 – Sat down and wrote out my account from 9 April up to today –  Went downstairs about 3 to see Mr. Wilkinson of Upper Brea who came to speak to my uncle about the Northowram – 

At 4 went to the workmen – Went to Lower Brea – Mrs. Robinson told me the men were all at a stand when I was not there – Jackman off on Tuesday afternoon – Mark persuaded Mr. Robinson’s man George that to go 6 times a day for stones (tho’ George had always done so before) was too much, and he and Mark would only go 5 times – 

Stood by Jackman this morning while he footed the wall next to Mr. Robinson’s garden hedge, and stood to see him wall it this afternoon – Got home at 6 25/60 – Dressed – Dinner at 6 3/4 – In the evening wrote the above of today – Incessant light rain all the day – Fine growing day, but bad for our job – 

Barometer not quite 1/2 degree below changeable, Fahrenheit 48 1/2 9 40/60 p.m., at which hour came up to bed – Sent down before breakfast my letter to M– [Mariana (Lawton Hall) written yesterday breakfast for George to take to the post-office –

[skgway]

1825 June, Mon. 13

7

10 3/4

Lay awake till after one last night, my left finger up. Tried hard if I could have any pleasure this way but no, and I will attempt it no more. Did not even incur a cross at all, after all I had to do. Heated till I was quite in a state of solution. Unpleasant dreams all the night of thieves being in the house. Breadalbane Maclean looking quite ill and altered etc. 

Awaked by Martha at 5, but lay dozing till 7 – Very hot last night – Gave Hotspur oatcake this morning and staid playing with him above 1/4 hour – Had breakfast brought into my own room at 8 55/60 (the little room downstairs so very hot with even a morsel of fire in it) – 

Went downstairs for a little while then at 9 40/60. Took George in the gig and drove to H–x [Halifax] – Called at the vicarage – Saw Mr. Knight – Asked him about a school for John Booth’s oldest daughter who is lame – Then called at the Saltmarshes’ – Saw them both – Then called at Wellhead, and sat near an hour with Mrs. Waterhouse – Then called and sat a little while with Mrs. William Rawson, and with Mrs. Catherine Rawson – 

Called at Blamire’s (the coach makers) had the gig examined – It wants the back springs screwing up – To send it to be done tomorrow – Got home at 1 10/60 – Staid talking to my uncle and aunt – Went upstairs at 1 3/4 – Changed my dress – Then at 2 (on account of the heat) lay down and dozed till 4 – 

At 4 10/60 went to the workmen – Staid with them till 6 1/4 when they gave up work, and got home at 6 40/60 – Dinner at 6 50/60 – In the evening wrote the last 6 1/2 lines – 

Very fine, hot, summery day – Barometer 4 1/2 degrees above changeable, Fahrenheit 66º at 9 40/60 p.m., at which hour came up to bed – E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [two dots, marking discharge] –

[skgway]

1825 May, Fri. 27

9

11 40/60

Incurred a cross just before getting up thinking of Mrs. B[arlow] – Went down to breakfast at 10 – Came upstairs at 11 – Mended my glove. Miss Walker of Cliff Hill, and ditto of Crownest called – Seeing only my aunt left their cards for me – 

I went out to the workmen (just after the Walkers came in) at 11 1/2 – Got back at 1 1/2 – From 2 to 4 1/4, wrote 3 pages and the ends and under the seal to Mrs. N[orcliffe] – Went to the workmen at 4 35/60 – Got back at 6 3/4 – 

Dinner at 7 – Another workman came today for the 1st time Joseph Mallinson – In the evening from 8 1/2 to 10 (downstairs) wrote 3 pages and the ends to I[sabella] N[orcliffe] – 

Came upstairs at 10 10/60 at which hour Barometer 1/4 degree below changeable and Fahrenheit 51º fine day – Read volume 1 Rousseau confessions as usual – while Cordingley curled my hair. Then wrote the above of today –

[skgway]

1825 May, Wed. 25

6 50/60

11 1/4

Gave Hotspur oat cake – Great deal of rain fell during last night – Fair this morning and pretty fine – From 8 to 9 3/4 wrote the last 28 lines of the last page and so far of this and sent off my letter to “Miss MacLean of Coll (51 North Castle Street, Edinburgh”) and my letter “Mademoiselle de Sans, Fossés des Carmes no. number 11 à Bordeaux France” – The last word France written across the left hand bottom corner of the direction – 

Breakfast at 10 – Came upstairs at 11 10/60 – Read volume 1 Rousseau Confessions an hour – went out at 12 1/4 to the footpath – Found Jackman there (he had been setting the grate in the upper kitchen early in the morning) and Frank Oates and John Crossley Lower Brea lane – 

Miss Ann Walker of Crownest called just before I went out, but I left her to pay her visit wholly to my aunt – Came home at 1 20/60, went upstairs immediately, and, from 1 3/4 to 5 wrote 3 pages and the ends of a letter to M– [Mariana] and wrote the copy of a letter to Mr. Radclyffe late Rouge Croix – A great deal of my cousin both yesterday and today. Obliged to wash and change my linen before I could go out again – 

Went to the new footpath at 5 1/4 and did not get home again till 6 1/2 – Dinner at 6 35/60 – In the evening wrote the last 6 lines – Heavyish rain from about 1 20/60 – and a heavyish shower about 10 or 11 this morning – A few drops in the evening – Barometer 2 1/2 degrees below changeable, Fahrenheit 55 1/2 at 9 3/4 p.m., at which hour came up to bed – E [no dots, treating venereal complaint] –

[skgway]

1825 June, Sat. 11

5 55/60

11 1/2

Gave Hotspur oatcake. Cut my toe nails. Sat down at my writing desk, and from 7 40/60 to 10 1/4 wrote the latter 1/2 page 3, the ends, and crossed all the 3 pages and finished my letter, began this day week, to Miss McL– [MacLean] congratulating her on her brother’s intended marriage . . . . . 

“I feel as if you did not know me thoroughly, not exactly enough to be aware whether a garret share with such an one, would be shared in happiness or not – I shall certainly have mine with someone in those dreary days, when I am left ‘alone, like a sparrow on the house-top’ – But we will talk over these matters when we meet – Should you survive your father, as I hope and trust you will, still you have your sister Breadalbane – For my own part I often think how often you have reminded me of our slight personal acquaintance with each other – Your good opinion I flatter myself, I shall desire to retrieve – Your regard may possibly alter – may possibly be diminished – without your doing me injustice – But no more – ‘Sufficient till the day’ etc. etc. you will know, is 1 of my favorite maxims, – My usual sedative of anxiety by anticipation” –

Say I do not think her fortune so small, “it is as much as have the younger children of many of your county families” – 

After dating this morning, say I had waited to be alone to fix my plans with some certainty – Cannot leave home till July 18, and my aunt is now ordered to Bath, and we set off on the 18th July – Can only stay with her till she is settled – Then return to my uncle – Despair of seeing my friend this year, but still live in hope of doing it another time – 

“Can only hope, for charity’s sake, that your disappointment will not equal one-tenth part of my own” – Will take the first opportunity of going to her, for till we have been domesticated for a few weeks she will never feel to know me with certainty – 

“Trust me I shall not allow you, for one moment longer than can be avoided, to run the risk of too strongly confirming your regard to one who may not deserve it so much as you anticipate – You certainly are not thoroughly enough acquainted with my character to know whether a garret shared by such an one would be a blessing, or the contrary – 

The more I reflect upon myself, the more I am constrained to acknowledge a singularity of sentiment for which I am not quite able to account – I think I could make anyone comfortable who made me so – But say, what would give me comfort, or, – from that is not enough, – what would give me happiness? I wonder if it be possible for you to know me well enough to answer this question at all according to my own ideas on the subject" . . . . . 

speaking of Mrs. Grieves, 

“I am quite sure she is not the one who ought to share my garret – There is indescribably something wanting, without much nor she, nor any other human being could make me happy – I should not have made this observation, had you not told me your friend would suit me better than you would – You were quite wrong, Sibbella; but to know why you were wrong, would argue a deeper knowledge of me, then I think you possess – Mrs. G– [Grieves] is, surely, a person of strong feeling; but that feeling is not like yours” ––––– 

Wrote all the above of this morning which took me till 10 50/60 – Then enclosed the amethyst seal I got cut for my friend by Mellerio (rue de la paix, Paris), a violet flower among a tuft of grass – Motto, “Il faut me chercher” – Sealed and sent my letter directed to “Miss MacLean of Coll, 5 South Saint David Street Edinburgh”, and went down to breakfast at 11 10/60.

Letter from Miss Marsh (York) 3 pages and the ends – She has taken some medicine prescribed by Mr. Duffin, and is better – With respect to her eyes she says,

“the use of strong vinegar and water and using them as little as possible has done wonders, and I trust my sight may be preserved as long as life is granted to me – Mr. Lloyd the widower of poor Marian MacLean was married to Miss Serjeanton (of Camphill near Ripon) Tuesday last – Sir John Johnstone is to be married to Miss Vernon next week” – 

Some indifferent verses on the beauty of her niece Miss Sophia Greenup, made on her 1st appearance in the Nisi prius court of Assize at the castle, on which Marsh observed “tho’ very complimentary, she demands better verses” – 

At 12 10/60 went out to the workmen, and did not get home again till 6 50/60 – For 1 10/60 while the men were at dinner, sat and stood over the brook in the large sycamore overhanging the water – At last, in spite of the heat of the day, felt my situation as if likely to give me cold – Stood over the men till they gave up at 6 5/60, and then 3/4 hour sauntering home by Charles Howarth’s, reading volume 2 Rousseau Confessions – Now and while the men were at dinner read from page 54 to page 88 – 

Speaking to Jackman about the expense of a garden wall, the outside dressed stone, the inside brick, like George Robinsons (just built–not yet finished) Jackman said bricks were 30 /. [shillings] a thousand and 60 bricks would wall (that is would wall the inside full) a yard; suppose then for per rood bricks 16 /. [shillings] stones, and leading, and hewing, 15 /. [shillings] capings and mortar, and footing, and labor of building about 14 /. [shillings] and we calculated that such a wall would cost 45 /. [shillings] a rood, so that to enclose an acre of garden ground with such a wall 3 yards high above the ground might cost about (under) ￡300 – Take the side of the square at 70 yards then 70 x 4 = 280 ÷ 7 (the number of yards in a rood) = 40 x 3 (the number of yards high) = 120 ∴ [therefore] 120 roods at 45 /. [shillings] a rood would cost ￡270. – 

Charles Howarth put up this afternoon the notices respecting our stopping the footpath thro’ our courtyard, and that from Godley to Charles Howarth’s – Dinner at 7 – In the evening my father and Marian came – Afterwards wrote the last 11 1/2 lines – Very fine day – Very hot – Barometer 3 1/4 degrees above changeable, Fahrenheit 65º at 10 p.m., at which hour came up to bed E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [two dots, marking discharge] – Read from page 88 to 95 volume 2 Rousseau Confessions which took me till 11 –