#Shibden Hall winter 1828

[awhilesince]

Tuesday, 2 December 1828

5 3/4

11 5/60

Marian came last night about eleven and a half I pretended and only just after a minute or two said goodnight – drew the curtains round the bedfoot and washed this morning as usual – from 6 3/4 to 7 25/60 at Hoppus’s measurer – Marian got up and went into the kitchen chamber to dress soon after seven –

went out at 7 1/2 – Throp came almost immediately, and soon afterwards the 2 wallers – set the former to take up my father’s 6 Spanish nut trees at the bottom of the garden and the 2 latter to open and enlarge the sough that runs into the walk at the top of the upper brook Ing, and spoiled all the walk, and washed away all the ashes the other day – saw the nut trees all planted out on the upper brook Ing slope at the top along the walk, then set the garden to get up a large thorne (had had Nathan stubbing up part of the hedge between the Calf croft and upper brook Ing) and got home at 11 1/2 – breakfast at 11 3/4 – at 8 3/4 had set Mosey (his companion not come) to fell more firs in the Cunnery plantation – He gave me his drawing and explanation of cart-wheels – went out again at 12 1/4 – with Throp and the wallers till 1 1/2, then in the plantation with Mosey felling – felled 2 more sycamores in the clough – then again with the other men – till saw this thorn planted near the walk on the slope, at the top of upper brook Ing – had the little sledge, and 6 men (Throp and the 2 wallers Mosey James and John), to get it away – John back and forwards at Halifax 3 times today – brought a thousand oaks from William Keighley junior and went with Mr Robinson who left here this afternoon – James Smith not employed for me in the morning, but sledging a few stones for soughing in the afternoon – William Green brewing – 

came in at 5 1/2 – dressed – dinner at 6 5/60 – afterwards talking to Marian – I said I had been thinking much of Skelfler – would make her an offer I knew she would despise and refuse – but no matter I should feel satisfied to have made it once, and would make it no more to take all my father’s affairs all his property and allow her £400 a year for life – Marian said no! she would rather go to her grave – I told her she did not know what she was about – and all I had to say was, she had no assistance to expect from me – I should have my hands too full for that  – I did tell her, that I thought she would have nothing to live upon but the rents of my father’s 3 farms here and Hampstead, tho’ I did not exactly say I thought she would not have more than £140 or £150 per annum at the utmost – 

rather frosty this morning – fine day – highish wind towards night – wrote out Index from 9 to 15 October – Came upstairs at 10 1/2 –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0102)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f102&pos=1

[wrotetheaboveoftoday]

1828 Sun. 7 September (3/3)

Third letter of the day, this one to Mariana

Anxious about M- [Mariana]’s health - wish to hear oftener than usual - hope to be off on or about the 20th but of this she shall hear further by and by when I see how we go on - begin tomorrow to take down the hall wall - ‘have written to Miss McL- [MacLean] to take a little more time then till the 6th or 7th of October for meeting her in London’ Isabella can say nothing - ‘we have got another room upstairs in Paris .... and, as it were, another servant too’ - Mrs. D- Duffin says, the N-s [Norcliffes] expected this week or next - ‘How shall I be off going to L- [Lawton] for 2 or 3 days?’ Mention having got a Doublefente Cafetiére, and roaster for her supposing Mr. C.L- [Charles Lawton] to like coffee -

Determined to take Martha, if my aunt does not object - can I take her with me to Lawton, or must she be left here till I return; for return I must for 2 or 3 days - M- must dress her up for me - heartily glad they have given up the festival - Mr. John L-’s [Lawton]’s conduct

“passing strange - he must little know the parties he has to deal with, if he can fancy, for a moment, such conduct likely to do him any good - But do you seem to take as little notice of it, as you can - leave the gentlemen to settle it - your shewing any impatience, can profit nothing - Mr. Williams will, of course, advise Mr. C. L- [Charles Lawton] what to do - I will not enter more largely on the subject now, as I shall see you so soon”

Mention having heard from Miss Pickford and that she is bound for north and south Italy and Germany felt a little pain in my back so lay down at two and three quarters for an hour dozed but not slept I had this pain last sunday monday and tuesday a little and it then went off - Lay down for an hour at 2 3/4 - then from 3 3/4 to 5 1/4 wrote all but the first 6 lines of today - at 5 1/2 was just closing my letters when Cordingley brought in a small round deal box from Lawton containing 2 partridges and 27 peaches, and 4 pp. pages and one end

Pi [Mariana] in very low spirits Lou cannot spend the winter with her now if this is the case I believe I must go for two months of it tat least to Scarbro for indeed I cannot spend it here alone ...... My spirits are so completely shattered that I am not fit to be left much to myself  I do all I can to struggle against lowness but spite of myself it daily increases and I am sure my mind if not my life will be sacrificed if I have such another winter as the last - M- wishes we would take the Pattisons’ house or the Salmons:

“Either I think would suit you, the air is good and healthy, your aunt would have as much society as she liked, you might have - for 2 or 3 days at anytime and you might be from home as much as you pleased, for your aunt might then either be here or I with her, or at all rates I should see her most days, and you would not be far from Shibden - it has been my daydream and nightdream for some time past”

Poor Pi [Mariana] said I to myself I am not what I used to be  You might have your own for two or three days etc.  Would not repay me for my liberty and being near Shibden is what I would avoid but afterwards mused a little upon delta [Charles] letting us have the place rent free but ah thought I we are better where we are it would be humdrum and stupid and I could not leave England Pi [Mariana] could not now make up to me for all this besides the expense of the thing - sat down immediately and erased the 2 first pp. pages of my paper - (she had been discomposed by C-’s [Charles]’ great wish and determination to go to the festival tho’ she had written to give it up) - said their going to the festival would not make her lose any of my society - might perhaps be better not to go at all till I had got all done - if I had gone on the 20th must have returned here - must go too, probably for 2 or 3 days to Langton - bade her cheer up - I would think of all she wished, but she must help me to think whether the spring plan could be put in execution or not - on this, too, must much depend my own plans

At all rates, not to go to Scarbro’ for 2 months - this would eat up all proper leave of absence - She must write soon, and tell me her opinions candidly about the Spring plan (her going to Italy with me) - whatever they might be, I would continue - my wits had never yet forsaken me in time of need, why should they now? I would almost move heaven and earth to gain her as far as possible all that would suit her best - go to the festival with a good grace, and a light heart - I should now be better satisfied to have her there - If Lou could not spend the winter with her, not to mind - I would try to manage, and make up to her for it - only to cheer up - this all I asked at present - would send the pattern chemise tomorrow or Tuesday - should like to have one dozen chemises exactly like the pattern

Poor Pi [Mariana] the thought struck me to send Miss MacLean to her I must think about all this when shall I get back to Paris again off what will be the end of all this - Dressed - went down to dinner at 6 3/4 - sealed and sent off at 7 my letter to ‘Mrs Lawton, Lawton hall, Lawton Cheshire’ and to ‘Miss McL- [MacLean] of Coll, Coll house, Aross, N.B.’ and my note to Mrs. Wilcock, Saville hill - Kind, civil Note from Mrs. Wilcock she had written to Geneva - meant to have written to Vienna, but after what I wrote will wait to hear from Miss P- [Pickford] again - would have been very glad to see me - in fact, knows no more than I do - my father read aloud 1 of Mr. Knight’s sermons - from 9 to 9 50/60 wrote the whole of this page but the 1st 8 lines - Rainy morning - fine day from about 11 a.m. to night - came to my room at 10 10/60 having been downstairs 20 minutes

(in margin, halfway up page)

my fath[e]r and I calculat[in]g taxes aft[e]r din[ner] for

2 horses - 4.14.6       3 horses -5.14.0

2 manserv[an]ts - 13.0.0        3 serv[an]ts - 7.6.3

2 carriages - 3.2.0        House duty at £40 rent and upw[ar]ds, p[e]r ann[um] 2/10 in the [k[i]nd] = pay[in]g £100 a y[ea]r rent nearly £15 per ann[um] 

25 windows - 7.14.3                                                       

[timehasbeenbusy]

17 & 18 November 1828

Monday 17 November 1828

5¾

11 25/60

From 6 40/60 to 8 read from page 30 – 42 of the Brief History of Christ Hospital and wrote the whole of the above today – Breakfast at 8 20/60 – off to Halifax at 8 50/60 down the old bank to Mr Briggs – said I had seen Holt, and what I had said to him – Mr Briggs thought I had better give away the coals - getting them would be expensive – must have an engine – did not think they would pay – giving them away would not, said it was my present mind to get them at all rates – Mr Briggs said he would see Holt, and go with him to plan the ground, Mr Briggs shewed me an oak-root round table made at Brighhouse priced £20 – one not so handsome sold to Mr Stead for £25 - About 20 minutes there – then sat 25 minutes with Mrs Veitch (poorly in a bad cold), then at 9 ¾ got to Savile hill –the breakfast things not removed Mrs and 2 Miss Wilcocks – Miss Pickford much better for the baths of St Gervais, to spend the winter at Roma – to write there poste restante – Mrs Wilcocks going to write to her today – begged a little of her paper and wrote ⅓ of the first page small and close, hoping my letter to Genoa was received, giving my address in Paris – observing she could be complacent in writing full letters, all crossed, as I had just seen, to Mrs Wilcocks - to write to me before expecting to hear of or from me again – uncertain as to my stay here, but would not exceed 10 days or a fortnight – asked what beauties she most admired and what thought of this place and that – should not at this moment say of what use her information might be to me – thought that by hook and by crook, I should see her before the twelvemonth’s end –

 ½ hour at Savile hill –then went to Throps – not at home – could learn nothing – my job was but a small one – would think about it – Throp most likely to be at home between 12 and 2 – returned along the canal – the new lodge to Stonyroyde, nearly roofed gable-end, labells windows, little building expensively hewed – got home up the old bank at 12 – Letter from Mariana Scarbro’on my desk – 3 hurried pages 2½ pm yesterday, ‘great change – cannot last much longer – ‘the struggles are dreadfully severe, and it is indeed a trying scene to us all’ – Mariana sat up on Friday night, but says she bore it well – ‘as to myself, have no fears on my account – I am honestly and in truth the best of the set’ would ‘like me to write something more than a mere statement that life was no more ….to appear in the York paper ……..’some little tribute to his merits would be gratifying to us all’ will write tomorrow (ie today) if any thing happens – if not on Tuesday (ie tomorrow) – offers to bring my father cod, sounds as she passes through – Had just begun to write when (at 12 20/60) Miss Hudson of Hipperholme called for ½ an hour – going to send off a parcel from Whitleys tomorrow by the van in 3 or 4 days to Miss MacLean if I had any letter to send Whitley would enclose it in time tomorrow afternoon – said I was much obliged etc etc but a very bad correspondent abomined letter-writing only said what I had to say – did not believe I could make up my mind to write – thought I, no, I wont send in her parcel, I do not understand all this, they shall have it to themselves  Miss Hudson Miss Maclean had asked many questions about the place – it was not very beautiful country and she had said so – I abused the house – said much wanted doing at it – it was a doghole of a place as I always told people – I certainly never said much in its favour  -

Came upstairs again at 12 50/60 – from 1 to 3, wrote 3 pages to Mariana including the following ‘as to the request that I should write something more than a common obituary notice, be it remembered Mary, that I am not an advocate  for long paragraphs of this kind in newspapers, and, above all, that it is Steph, not I who can do this best – when I am serious, you know my repugnance to speak or write strongly in praise or dispraise – all that I need add is, that, were my own father in the circumstances of yours, and I heard I persuaded myself to write any thing more than a mere ‘announcement of the death, it would probably be something like the following’ –

‘Died on ------- at his house in Scarborough, in the ----- year of his age, after a long and ‘severe illness, William Belcombe Esquire, ---- years a resident physician in this city ‘where his talent soon established him at the head of his profession, where by his mild ‘and gentlemany manners, and active and useful benevolence, he was soon and lastingly endeared to all who knew him well – He was eminently successful in his practice which ‘was very extensive  ‘to the last of his professional career, he devoted a considerable ‘portion of every day to his numerous poor and‘gratis patients; and it does not fall to the ‘lot of every one to be more sincerely lamented, or to leave behind him a good name ‘better deserved – But Mary, do you not think, it would be best for Steph to draw up a ‘proper memoir to be inserted in the Genteman’s Magazine?  To do this, no-one is better fitted than your brother – As a professional man, he might give a brief and comprehensive sketch which, in doing credit to his father, might reflect some credit upon himself – your father’s practice which laid the foundation-stone ‘of his reputation in York, was, at that time new in England?  His services in the navy, experience in the ‘West Indies, studies and intimacies with the man of letters on the continent, mild treatment of insanity cases,‘not to forget (if thought proper) descent from an old and respectable Lancashire family, and his marriage with‘whom, - might, if well handled by his son, do some dutiful honour, and some practical good – give‘my best regards to Steph, and tell him so – Then write the following to Mr Birmingham ‘Shibden hall Monday 17 November‘1828 – Sir – Being domiciliated in Paris, I wish to take over with me, on my return, a small box of plate viz ‘1 tea-pot, a couple of dozen folks, dozen spoons, cream jug and sugar, - basin, snuffers and tray, and a couple of ‘waiters – I know, some particular permit is required for this from the French chef de douanes – I shall be much obliged to‘you to take the earliest opportunity of giving me all necessary information on this subject, direct to Mrs Lister,‘Shibden hall, Halifax, Yorkshire – on my arrival at Dover, I will pay you any expense that may have been ‘incurred on my account – I am, Sir etc etc A Lister’ – all which took me till 5 – then skimming over again Cronhelms Book-keeping – dressed – dined at 6 25/60 – at 7 sent off to the post by John, my letter to Mariana ‘Doctor Belcombe’s Scarborough’ and to Mr John Birmingham, Commissioner, Old Ship Hotel, Dover, Post paid’  then Sat talking till after 9 – wrote the last 3 lines – went up to bed ay 10 5/60 – very fine day not so damp and thick as these last few days – rather inclined to be a little frosty – reading the rules in Hutton’s Book-keeping, till 10 ¾

Tuesday 18 November 1828

5 50/60

11 10/60

Read the 1st 45 lines Saturday 2  I went out at 7½ - went to Cowgate wood – took the wallers from walling and stayed there to right the set started against the wood in Pearson’s great brow – stayed with them and did not get home till 10¼ - sent John to make holes for planting in Pump Lane – find on my desk letter from Mariana Scarbro’, 11 hurried lines dated yesterday 17th instant ‘at 5 minutes before 1 today my precious father breathed his last without a groan, tho’ from 11 yesterday to the same hour at night his sufferings were very severe, after that he became calm and composed until 5 this morning, when difficulty of breathing returned and continued till within a few minutes of his death - Steph was with us - my mother at this minute bears ‘up tolerably, and we all do our best – I will write again in a day or 2 – God bless you – always yours Mariana’ –Will she get my letter of yesterday today? What will she think of what I wrote to announce Dr Belcombe’s death? It will seem cold, praiseless, spiritless, heartless – how different our feelings!  Her expression precious father –shocks me – dear father – or simply father - It smites me best to think of those I love when gone as if they were still here – I never yet could say my poor uncle and Mr Sunderland’s exclamation on first seeing him a corpse ‘poor thing!’ shocked me more than I could describe -  Letter also from Isabella Norcliffe, Langton, they had heard a bad account of Dr Belcombe’ think it will be a happy release but I dread the effect it will produce upon Mariana, whose nerves are little able to bear such a shock – I fear there is no chance of our meeting at Lawton, as of course she will not leave Scarbro’ just at present’ – they leave Langton for Bath on the 2nd of December -

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Sunday 26 August 1832

7 5

11

finish morning (rain recently) and F62° at 7 10 - breakfast with Marian - came to my room at 9 40 - from ten to eleven and twenty minutes wrote copies of letter to my landlord in Paris and to Hammersley and to Doctor Beclombe – went down to my aunt at 11 ½ - poorly

vid. p. 212.

again – amused her by talking of altering the house – better idea than what seemed to me the best on Thursday – to enter by the lower buttery and turn the upper kitchen into cook kitchen – my aunts’ present bedroom into back kitchen Hemingways’ room into butlers’ pantry – hall into dining room – upper butteries into servants hall or housekeepers’ room – present kitchen into drawing room – and make the kitchen court by walling up between present coach house and cow house and barn end and of the house – at 12 5 read the morning service sermon 7 Mr. Knight in exactly 50 minutes, as I generally do – then looking about – true the house is not worth much altering – should do little or pull it down at once – came upstairs at 2 ¼ - sometime asleep – then making out work-account with Pickles and writing the above of today till 4 – such perpetual showers have not been out – sometime in the library - till 5 ¾ wrote the following 2 2/3 pages to Dr B- ‘Shibden Hall Sunday 26 August 1832 – At last, my dear Steph, my patience is in the wane, and I really must ask for a little of your physicking - after the wonders you did for Grantham, no sick of bowels needs despair - I cannot tell what is the matter with mine; but for the last 4 or 5 years, they have been more or less tiresomely obstinate - Dr Tupper have me medicines and tonics in Paris, tho’ never for any good beyond the moment - I was better for the vegetable system (began at the end of 1828) till its goof effect seemed worn out last winter; and I have been omnivorous ever since April without being sensible of its making any difference whatever - the soft, relaxing air of Hastings did not quite agree with me, and I have never since had any sufficient or proper alvine evacuations - some 6 or 7 little rounds lumps per day (some days nothing at all) in size more like those of sheep than anything else, tho’ well enough as to colour and for the last 7 or 8 months, I have had a feeling of weight or stiffness, sometimes amounting to pain, at the bottom of my back, particularly on blending it inwards, as if the lumbar vertebrae might be this put in too close contact with something which ought not to be there - almost any kind of medicine (from my so seldom taking any) acts promptly and well; and, for a day or 2 afterwards, I feel relieved, but then all returns to its former state. I feel a regular inclination, every morning to the right; yet it always ends unsatisfactory - I am perpetually well in every other respect, and can in no way account for this intestinal obstinacy - I have had no sick headaches, as formerly, since it began, and one morning last October (not having taken medicine) found that I had parted with, to all appearance, a large garden-worm, but rather thinner, and flatter and paler - I eat, and sleep well, and am out all the day - perhaps I drink too much water or liquid of some sort, from being often thirsty during the day, and always so in an evening - on applying much to reading or writing I am soon either or powered with sleep, or, on keeping awake with difficulty, have a sensation of fulness [fullness] in my head and ringing in my ears. If you can make anything of all this, do pray tell me what I had best do - I have perhaps too little confidence in medical man in general, but faith enough in you to move mountains - I have nothing of news kind to tell you worth my trouble of writing, much more yours of reading - no cholera at Halifax as yet, but we are thinking of making preparations, as it is within 7 or 8 miles of us, tho’ little or nothing is said of it - Mariana tells me, they really are to be off for London on Wednesday, and talk of going to Brighton and Hastings, before their return. I suppose Mrs Milne and the Norcliffes are expected back about the end of this week, or beginning of next - I see there will be no getting off from here on this side of Xmas and I shall therefore hope to see you before I go. Do tell Harriet this, with my kindest regards to her, and to you all - my aunt begs her compliments - very faithfully  yours. AL’ – wrote out this copy just before and after dinner till six and fifty minutes – dinner at 6 10 – sent off at 7 my letter to ‘Dr. Belcombe, York’ – read ½ a dozen pages of the Reliquiae diluvianae to p. 74 then my aunt came and no more reading till skimmed over the courier – went into the little room at 9 ½ - came to my room at 10 – rainy day – F60° at 10 p.m.

[awhilesince]

Monday, 1 December 1828

5 50/60

11 10/60

From 6 3/4 to 8 3/4 setting my pirouette Daybook and Cashbook and sealed and gave Cordingley for the post when John goes this morning to see if Mr Robinson be come my letter to ‘Miss Maclean of Coll ‘Honorable lady Stuart’,Whitehall, London’. – John took it at 9 – Looking into Hoppus’s measurer – Breeakfast at 91/4 with my father – staid down talking to him, and did not come upstairs till 10 3/4 – had been raining for 3/4 hour before or should have been gone out – then went downstiars again for Marian to mend my old pelisse a little – and staid while she turned up the hem of the white petticoat I had on – got measuring tape 2 roods or 42 feet long – fair at 11 3/4 and came upstairs – went almost immediately into the library for Hederic’s great lexicon and staid there reading 1 thing or other above an hour – then came to my own room and reading Turner’s Italian grammar till after 2 – 

went out at 2 1/4  – to the Cunnery plantation and stood there all the time and did not come in till 5 1/4 –Throp and the 2 wallers planting – finished tonight putting in 2100 oaks – James Smith off till after William Green leading away brash in the morning but preparing for brewing tomorrow this afternoon, and hardly got 2 loads away in the morning – John backwards and forwards at Halifax in the morning – clearing away this afternoon – James does little or nothing when I am not there – must break off tomorrow – John to go tomorrow morning for more trees to William Keighley – Throp’s not come yet – (Mosey and his man sawing up railing) – Mr Robinson had arrived just before I came in at 5 1/2 –

Dressed – dinner at 6 5/60 in the little breakfast room by myself – my father and sister and Mr R– (Robinson) in the drawing room – sat reading from page 332 to 392 Thompson’s Travels and adventures in South Africa – what I read was his account of the settlement of the English colony there, in Albany – his account interesting enough – But people should not emigrate for comfort’s sake – went into the drawing room at 8 20/60 and staid till they went to supper – spent a stupid hour – a restraint upon myself  and everybody else, then came up to my room – the title of the Skelfler freehold made good – the Copyhold a good holding title, but not a selling title – Strongly recommend its being made a selling title – the debt too heavy – spoke as if I thought it not likely to be lessened and however determined my sister might be at present not to sell, she might change her mind – better have the power to sell, cost what it would – there is a mistake in the admittance Weighton put for Skipton or vice versa, but if Mr Carr the steward rectifies this, still he must certify that Mr Buttle could not be tenant for life by courtesy and custom of the manor, as he put himself in to be – for if he was really tenant for life (Mr R– (Robinson) denies that he was or could be so) then the recovery suffered by Mrs Appleton on exchanging and selling to my father for £1900 and upwards was not good – she could not suffer a recovery in her father’s life time, and, in this case, the 1/2 of the copyhold (my mother and Mrs A– (Appleton) joint heiresses) in Mrs Inman’s –  but then a bill must be filed in Chancery shewing that my father paid this above valuable consideration and Mrs I– (Inman) would have to make my father’s title good – Marshall (who pays £184.10.0 per annum) if he does not pay better had better give up – He is the only one who cannot pay – Myers (who pays about £210 per annum) is a good tenant, and pays very punctually – estimate let at about £616 per annum – I see from Squibb’s particulars the outgoings paid by my father are £15.16.2 1/4   It was then let at 752.5.0 per annum and Wednesday 31 July that year (1822) my father gave me the reduced rents amounting to £653.15.0 per annum – and now Marian says it is about £616. per annum and Mr R– (Robinson) says times are such for farmers it is not cheap let tho’ not dear – does not seem to think it will bear an advance – this making out title and changing mortgage may be done says Mr R– (Robinson) – for not much more than £100 – supposed £200 – Mr R– (Robinson) as steward has £20 per annum – with repairs and 1 thing or another (to say nothing of title deed and mortgage expected) my father does not clear £50 per annum by this estimate – Yet I do not think Marian quite liked the manner in which I spoke of the debt being too great, and the little likelihood of lessening it – Mr R– (Robinson) said one thousand of the seven thousand now borrowed was fixed on the copyhold to be cleared off the 1st. opportunity – after all there are 218.2.37 acres roods perches at the will of the lord and tho’ the last admittance fines paid 28 years ago (dating from 1822) were only £22.1.6 (vide Squibb’s particulars) that is no reason why they should not be more in time to come – will they be less than (27 years rents an inheritance) £218? – 218.2.37 copyhold at the will of the lord – 178.3.37 copyhold fine certain at 5/6 1/2 – 322.2.16 (more or less) freehold – well for me, I have nothing to do with it – 

wrote all but the 1st. 8 lines of today which took me till 10 20/60 – Showery morning – raining a little at 2 1/4 p.m. but almost immediately fair, and fair the rest of the afternoon and evening – now that I am away, I hear my father talking below at a fine rate – and a laugh now and then and all are much better without me – Mr R– Robinson a very honest worthy man, no doubt – but a vulgar East Riding attorney; and I am little at my ease when downstairs with them – John Booth paid Throp’s bill this morning, and ordered 1000 more oaks of William Keighley Throp’s not being yet arrived from Beverley –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0101)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f101&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Sunday, 30 November 1828

6 20/60

11 10/60

From 7 55/60 to 10 wrote 2 pages to Miss MacL– (MacLean) –  dawdling over it – breakfast at 10 – Mr Robinson to come today or Tomorrow – the Skelfler mortgage monthly paid off to Mr Eden and borrowed of the trustees of Mr Clarke (non compos mentis) of Godmanham near Market Weighton –

from 11 3/4 to 12 35/60 reading the morning sentence (my father and Marian and I read the lessons) – from 12 3/4 to 4 in the library reading Grotius de veritate Aulus Gellius Encyclopedia article wheels (vide system of mechanics) Rafine’s England volume 1 etc. from 4 5/60 to 5 20/60 settled last week’s accounts with Cordingley, and wrote page 3, and the ends and much under the seal and then finished my letter (pretty small and close) to Miss MacL– (MacLean) on the remarks I did not choose to notice (vide bottom of page 185) ‘of course,

‘I strongly suspected;  But really, that was all; for the thing seemed so strange, that I was so stupid as not to ‘comprehend it either fully, or, perhaps, at all ….. was I then to commit to paper conjectures which, without your hint, I should have seemed much fitter for conversation, then writing? …… Now, Sibbella, do have the goodness, – the fairness, – not to proscribe a subject today, and tomorrow safeness then wonder that I have not enlarged upon it’ – 

if such be the effect of ‘the infallible application’ I shall certainly conjecture that the fever removed from the lungs is only shoved towards another and more important organ – 

‘Presumption ‘depends on circumstances – what seems presumptious to one, may not and ought not to seem so to another – But no more – we will talk over all this when we meet – not likely to see Miss Hudson – concluded they might correspond, at least, for the present from Miss H– (Hobart) to her long letter the morning I called to thank her for the parcel and from hearing how much she had liked Miss MacL– (MacLean) and how intimate they had been – … Dr. Johnson’s manner of writing is ‘sunny, not that which will do much harm with those who can fairly contrast it with the more temperate, and gently answer written by Mr Long – we sometimes owe more to those who mean to do us harm, than to those who mean to do us good – I am delighted at your so excellent accounts of yours, but have little hope that you will have leave to return with me, ever if I am not in town before January ….. If you begin with a thing give it a fair trial – we have an old proverb ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’ – Perhaps we much less seldom err in making one choice, than in not keeping to it – we are too fitful, – too fond of novelty, – and lose too much of effort in the waste of change ….. If you and he understand one another, as I expect you will …. whether we shall or not, I neither do, nor can form any idea; for, in all cases of this kind, my sole preparative idea endeavour is to rid my mind of prejudice…… I am annoyed about Cameron – She, poor girl, knows nothing about it – She certainly does not look as if threatened with consumption – nor is it I who has such fears ….. Do you begin to be alarmed to have me in Paris with you? No! not at all – and all your magnanimous proposals of immediate return homewards, – spending the remainder of the winter in Edinborough, when the cold east winds might be enough to undo all the good Mr Long has done, etc. etc. are of non-effect – you are to have a room to yourself, such as it is; and this satisfies everybody ….. yourself and Mr Long have made me think you consumptive but that is all– I so not sit down to calculate risks …. But can you go on with Mr Long’s plan gently, in Paris? …… did not know certainly that she would leave Lady Stuart’s by no means calculating that you would, or could get a lodging, sufficiently reasonable, and at the same time, sufficiently commodious to accommodate myself and Cameron – Of course, I shall be delighted to be in the same house with you, if you can manage it – But, Sibbella, you are who takes fright at the very name of consumption, and who would not think me safe, did they dream of the possibility of my being obliged to infringe upon the liberties of your bedroom – my grandmother, 1 of my uncles, and one of my aunts died of consumption; I myself was all but ordered off to Sicily in early days; and I am persuaded now, that a longer sojourn in Melville street would not have been advisable - But I do really hope that your original excellent constitution’ will be restored, and that Pain will, at least, be no drawback upon Mr ‘Long’s skill’ – ask all about her lodging she is to go into as tomorrow – give account of Dr Belcombe’s funeral; adding nothing could be more gratifying to the family than the Conduct, on your occasion, of the whole town, tho’, I fancy, the funeral was intended to have been much more private – 

wrote the 1st. 16 lines of today - dressed – Dinner at 6 1/4 – afterwards wrote the whole of this page which took from 7 20/60 to 7 40/60 – Mr Robinson not come – my father read aloud in 55 minutes sermon 2 vol. I. South’s sermons – came upstairs at 8 50/60 – studying Hoppus’s measurer till 9 55/69 then went downstairs for 1/2 hour and came up again at 10 25/60 – speaking of planting acorns my father had always found, they grew best when thrown on the grounds with a little wet moss over them – he had found them sprouting; and sometimes covered them with 1/2 inch of mould, and they never grew any more – Thoroughly rainy day – rather windy towards night – Ploughing under furrow (under fore as pronounced), is sowing and then afterwards ploughing it in –

Sowing under furrow good in light sandy soils for by burying the seed deeper it does not come up so quickly and is not so liable to be killed by frost – but in strong + clay soils, it would not do – the seed could not get up at all – seed sown not under furrow on strong clay, if much room all soon afterwards will not always come up from the clay binding so fast, that it cannot push thro’ – in this case, go over the ground with a heavy harrow –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0100) (SH:7/ML/E/11/0101)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f100&pos=1

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f101&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Friday, 28 November 1828

6 35/60

11 3/4

making some addition to what I wrote yesterday to Pi (Mariana) about her mother then crossed it out —

from 7 20/60 to 9 1/2 wrote 3 pages and the ends to M— (Mariana) 4 or 5 lines of page 2 the whole of page 3 and 2 comparisons of lines on the 1st end respecting Mrs B— (Belcombe) M— (Mariana) must stay one or two days here on her return and I will help her to settle her array of what she has to do at home — mention Becher’s work and having got plenty of information for her respecting Friendly society — “But to turn to your letter — on the subject of the misunderstanding between your mother and myself, you are quite assured that, had any “choice been left me, your mother (for whose previous kindness I have never ceased to feel obliged) is one of the last with whom “I would have had any misunderstanding at all — Prevented by yourself and Stephen from sending the letter, but still anxious to conciliate “as far as I could consistently, and then sent the written message of which you had a copy; and you find me, on your arrival here “in the spring of 1826, surprised and hurt that your message, however well intended, had not, in spite of my “twice urged entreaty, been deemed worthy the smallest notice — you will remember my saying, any answer “would be better now; for that, if no answer at all was returned, this must convince me that all hope of conciliation “was for ever at an end, and that the not being even on speaking terms must inevitably ensue — this induced you “to inquire into the fate of the message, and thus wrung from you, not Anne, the following answer in your letter from Scarbro’ of 31 March 1826 — “Harriet did give your message to my mother — she read it herself, and returned H— (Harriet) the letter, saying, “ probably Miss L— (Lister) and I “may never meet again, ’tis better we should not” (Anne told me this) — She has never mentioned your name to me, tho’ “I have given her opportunities” — what course remained for me but to keep out of the way, yet, as you begged me “not to let thing be known, to keep up appearances as well as I could? I did do so — tho’ 3 or 4 times in York “afterwards before going abroad, my not calling as usual was either not known, or, in some way, so well excused, that “not even Mrs Duffin could suspect from any word or conduct of mine how matters really stood — I never named “it to anyone out of your own family, except my aunt, till Isabella told me in Paris, she had heard it from Mrs D— (Duffin) when I, of course, in self justification, told my own story, yet still begging her not to mention it, except “to Mrs N— (Norcliffe) and Charlotte — with the latter, I told you, I had talked the matter over the other day at Langton — “The contrast between your mother’s manner of meeting me at the Duffins’ and of receiving me in her own house in “Petersgate only about 2 hours before, did certainly take me by sursprise — whatever of your mother’s kindness I had deserved to forfeit, I had done nothing to deserve to regain — But Mary, from what you wrote me in March “1826, could I calculate upon your writing in November 1828, “when I named the thing to my mother” (i.e. the hope “never to see me again)” declared such an idea never entered her head, that on reading your message she did, “Tell Miss Lister that we shall sometime meet again, meaning by that, her manner when you did meet would “convince you that the thing was forgotten”? These 2 messages are, in fact, Mary, so unlike each other, “that all I can say is, I agree with you, “there has been a great and unfortunate mistake” — Still good accounts of “Miss MacL— (Maclean) Luckily, she can get a good servant in town, that I am at ease about not sending Cameron — “write soon …. Tell me particularly how you are — Have the goddness to take care, and harass yourself as little“as possible (the following written merely that the Bs Belcombes may read it) Do not pother about that foolish settlement — “business — you have had misery and vexation enough about it; and for pity’s sake, trouble yourself no more — I doubt that “you can do any good; and their unavailing anxiety hurts, mortifies, and disappoints me — I am sick of making “friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; for such friends, even when obtained, have no beauty in them that we should “desire them — we know the unstable value of the things of their world better as we use them more — God bless you, “Mary! I am now and always very especially and entirely yours AL Anne Lister” — 

read over and folded my letter — what will M— (Mariana) think of it — will it be a makeup or not I dont care about it had I been very anxious on the subject might have made more advances — Breakfast at 10 — 

went out at 11 to the Cunnery plantation — Throp and the 2 wallers planting and our 3 men and 2 horses clearing away as yesterday — In the afternoon Mosey begged a piece of elm which he said was worth 6 d (pence), and for this felled 4 firs, and for 6 d (pence) to be paid in money felled 5 more larches, and one sycamore — He and his companion all along the upper Cunnery hedge (15 roods) for railing — Throp and the wallers 1 1/4 hour at dinner on Wednesday — remonstrated — so 50 minutes today and yesterday — while they dined sauntered about the upper fields musing upon building a pretty farmstead at the top east corner of the upper Cunnery, or just above the upper will field — fancying how much and how to plant the upper will field so as to form one continuous line with the present plantation and the other side of Bairstow — with the workmen till 5 — returned by the Cunnery — talking to Matty a few minutes — she hoped if their cottage was taken down I should find her some place — a lodge or something — not improbable said I — we are like to find some place for you — she thanked me, and I returned by Benjamin’s and the high road and came in at 5 20/60 

Dressed — Dinner at 6 — afterwards John took to the post my letter to M— (Mariana) (Mrs Belcombe‘s Scarborough) — He brought me from Thomas Greenwood‘s this morning (got for me by Thomas) „Hoppus‘s Measurer“. York printed by and for Thomas Wilson and sons, High Ousegate 1825 price 3/. bound — for measuring wood, stone, glass, etc. — new Edition revised by new Edition revised by  T. Crosby — 

Came upstairs at 8 3/4 and wrote the whole of today (the extract from to M— (Mariana) — copied from the rough draft and what I copied on to it from the letter this morning) — 

On seeing young James Greenwood of the Cunnery in the plantation this evening gathering up some of the fire wood, spoke to him about keeping people out of the plantation, and said I would give him 10/. a year — to be paid by Mr Briggs Xmas and midsummer, the day after the rent day — writing the whole of this day took me till 10 — then went downstairs, and came up again at 10 1/2  — asked my father not allow old Rothero to cut grass in the Cunnery plantation now it is replanted — mild day

drizzly but too windy to keep my umbrella up — high wind all last night before — yet neither my thorn bush nor beech in the Allan Car seem to have stirred —

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0099)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f99&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Thursday, 27 November 1828

5 55/60

12 1/4

From 7 to 9 breakfast at 8 10/60 in my own room musing over M—’s (Mariana’s) letter and writing a long answer on the subject of my misunderstanding with Mrs B— (Belcombe) — 

went out at 9 1/4 to the Cunnery plantation — Throp planting, the 2 wallers holing, and our 3 men and 2 horses clearing away the trees and branches — from 12 50/60 to 4 1/2 had Mosey felling ten sycamores at the top of the Clough, and about a dozen more firs — got him to value for me — the 10 sycamores £3.6.0 — at 1/9 per foot — woodmen have 1/8 in the pound for felling — the Keighleys in buying woods after got an 1/2 for the other — when they and Sowden would to buy my uncle’s (for they probably joining under him) it was so — lines 22 and 23 page 184. William K— (Keighley) valued good sycamores at 1/6 and the rest at 1/4 per foot — Mosey valued all the 10 (not better than William K—’s (Keighley’s) some at 1/4) at 1/9 per foot — thought I Thomas G— (Greenwood) might think the wood cheap enough — I will learn to value my own woods — get all down and sell by ticket — or at any rate sell by ticket standing, if standing one must sell — Mosey valued good larch at 1/6 per foot as did William K— (Keighley) scotch fir for 9 pence per foot according to William K— (Keighley) Mosey did larch for railing worth 3/. or 3/6 per rood reckoning our stoop to eventually 3 yards.  William K— (Keighley) thought I had felled altogether £20 worth of firs — say £30 worth now — 

somehow got to talking to Mosey about wheels — James Drake Wheelright of Northowram had killed more horses (with ill set on cart wheels) these people knew — did not draw well — wheels had not proper under line — i. e. the spokes of the wheels should from the nave come a little on towards to the periphery so as to keep upon the arm of the axle — but if too much under line like Drakes draw hand — press too much to the top of the arm — if too little under line always pressing on the linch pin — great art in using the bush true — if a wheel varies on the face above 2 or 3 rights of an inch, will spoil the running — at 4 1/2 brought Mosey down to try on —  gig wheel varies on the face 7/8 of an inch — put the rest under the gig — turned round the wheel against a piece of wood, and measured the difference of the distance from yard piece of wood of the Different portions of the circumference of the wheel — new tiring the wheels had by the contraction of the iron (tire made 1 1/2 inches too short so as to contract so much when cold and these hold fast the fellies) increased the dishing of the wheel and there made the variation on the face greater — recommends patent bushes for carts — the arm of the axle thus turns in about a gill (a pint?) of neats foot oil, and will go 12 days without looking at — the patent out — so these wheels made a Lidget — a very good cart £16, with patent bushes £18. — asked Mosey to write me out his ideas of the proper under line and dish of wheels etc. He had learnt much from Nicholson’s practical builder in 50 one shilling notes but it had cost him about £4. unbound — 

came in at 5 1/4 — ordered Mosey beers, and came up to dress — dressed — thought what I had written about Mrs B— (Belcombe) this morning too long — would not do — from before 6 to 6 3/4 wrote something else — Dinner at 6 50/60 — afterwards asleep on the sofa — came upstairs at 9 and wrote the above of today — Marian went to Halifax this morning and Thomas G— (Greenwood) paid her the £10.10.0 to be paid to me for the wood and I received it before dinner and settled with her for the flannel she has got me — 

Mosey told me, Mr Walker had no spirit for workmen — all the outbuildings at Crownest going out of repair for want of painting etc. — Mr Walker’s game-keeper joiner had informed against 3 poacher’s took a false oath, and they informed against him for buying 9 pheasants for Mr Walker for which Mr W— (Walker) will have to pay £5 per grid penalty — he had brought much game of the Kirken’s poachers that were transported — 

good deal of rain during last night but very fine day — went downstairs at 9 and came up again at 9 1/4 — from then to 11 1/2 wrote what satisfied me to M— (Mariana) about the misunderstanding with her mother —

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0098)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f97&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Saturday, 6 December 1828

5 1/2

11 3/4

at my desk at 6 1/2, and reading Miller’s gardener’s dictionary Till 8 10/60 articles Luereus, Castanea Land, Gramen ploughing, Sorbus, Luick, Osculus, – Breakfast at 8 10/60 – 

went out at 9 – from then to 4 (came home while the men were at dinner) in the Cunnery plantation – found William Keighley junior just come – had him cutting down the upper Cunnery plantation hedge felling a few firs at the other end of the plantation, and the old black Italian poplar and valuing the 13 sycamores Mosey felled in the Clough Till about 4 1/2 about 66 feet of the sycamores at 1/4 per foot about 10 feet of wood in the poplar at 1/6, but a little hollow at the bottom so called it 14/. George Naylor came to me to me in the morning to ask to buy a few larches – found out they were for Womersley to build a shed of some sort at his stone quarry for 2 delvers soon afterwards came and chose out 6 larches at 1/3 = 716 and 2 ditto at 5/. = 10/. William K– (Keighley) to get me 2 bushes of acorns from Studley near Ripon – my intention to plant them around the young trees in the Coneyry wood – the 2 gardeners planting and helping to clear away – John and William and the horses charging away and snigging trees for Mosey and his man to saw up into railing –said William K– (Keighley) they reckon 18 feet of wood to yield a pack of bark – the allowance made for bark in measuring wood mentioned in Hoppus, it is not the Custom to make in Yorkshire – George Naylor appointed surveyor of the high ways in Southowram – 

I am brought me about 10 a letter 3 pages and the ends from Mrs Barlow (Paris) – is she besides herself 

‘anything relating to you brings on the fever ….. I think it right to say that I think it is more than my life is worth for me to remain here and to see you …. it would be very material to my health if you could remain away until I could be clear off in the spring …. for me to be seeking a new place of abode at this sseason of the year is more than I can undertake perhaps in my delicate state and yet in it better I should do so than witness your return here I shall tell Mrs S Barlow not to come and I can leave the field open to you early in the spring ….. if without too much inconvenience to yourself you could lengthen your absence it is the last favour I shall ever ask of you and an early answer would afford great relief to a suffering invalid   your poor aunt with tears begs to me to remain to triumph over Madame de Rosny alas she little knows the pearl beyond all price is gone lost forever she little knows that Madame de Rosny could say of her niece Miss Lister of Shibden that she feared from the character given her by Madame de Boive (Boyve) that her being under her roof might increase the ill fame her own character already possessed   good god and is it to such a none you have fallen from the path ….. am I to believe her statements true   and is your fall complete   oh how I have struggled to avert this believe me on my word I regret nothing for myself the agony is to have seen and perhaps again to see your degradation I feel no jealousy no malice no selfish motive as far as I am concerned it must be the same to me to whom you prostrate yourself’   then anxiety for my return to the paths of virtue invokes the blessings of heaven upon me and hopes I may never have one days bitterness as the many I am doomed to endure but I shall ever pray for you Anne my own dear lost one  oh good god support me in this ssevere trial oh how I loved honour and virtue and wished to see you enshrined in them I have still one consolation that if your good uncle could see the passing here below that he could never condemn me in any advice I have ventured to give you’  when well goes to see my aunt for her own sake   ‘she says you are going to remain in Paris two years Madame de Rosny had private conversations with Madame de Boive (Boyve) before I went to England they related to you the countess said she so pressingly asked her to call she could not refuse her   I did not mention any this gout of malice Anne but I think it my duty to point out that your new favorite is not blessed with much discretion and that I think it right to warn you to it cut of this I ssupose you have begun to be sensible that you will teach her to be more so for your own sake   a young Englishman  she tried for after you were gone and it quite turned her head because he was richer but he has cut her   she told Ferdinande her husband was much better with the Marquis Nicolai than with you who were not she thought ‘‘riche’’ 

the woman wont go to her when Mrs B- (Barlow) goes – Dr Tupper has not yet made up his mind about the apartment – the Senés anxious to keep such good tenants, and have carpeted my bedroom, Mrs B– (Barlow) thinking Miss MacL– (MacLean) would like it better –

(left margin: all emphasis dashes, marked in the original are always dotted, by me instead of lines under matter)

plenty of money to supply my aunt with – kept her bed since last week, and has not seen her ‘nor does she know I am writing; but I thought the fever might abate after this letter was written, and which hung upon my mind – would willingly die but for Jane 

‘but I must stay and endure all that my beloved god ordains do not be afraid that I shall be at or ment to you or trouble you in future   no doubt this is the last request I shall ever make you and it is to enable Jane to remain here this winter who very unwillingly gives up Paris oh Anne how happily we could have remained together if …. But it was decreed we should part   you love eclat to court the attention of the stranger and the far away (quoted from my last) and I shall soon be for gotten oh that I could as easily forget you   but I have been forgotten and put aside since last ….. this time twelve month you were still all you all to be  and I gloried in you  we took sacrament together on the twenty eighth of this month and I thought it would render our friendship still more sacred Anne are you happier now if you wish me to burn your next letter trust me to do it if it so requested oh I remember how you looked after your residence in Rue Matignon when you made believe to be in your sore throat   oh horror of horrors I rave again    I bear you no ill will my wound is too deep for that filled with poignant and deep sorrow bless you may the almighty bless you may I never see you again and may you find one as faithfully devoted as’ …. I cannot make it out – ‘how much I could tell you but will not plague you any more nor am I able to go through the horrible task    I should have been glad to have been spared the asking you to prolong your stay and at any other time I should have been off without saying a word    excuse this letter if I have said aught to offend you I intended it not cut my peace is gone and I know not what I write   

M. Touchon’s apparatus for extracting the human calculus, much approved by Sir Astley Cooper – was to have operated (was sent for) upon a Mr Jordan ‘but by the time  he arrived Mr J– (Jordan) was too ill to submit to it’ – ‘the countess says you delighted in such conversations as I blush to hear – teach her discretion if you can and not to boast so much of your favours sso publicly’ – It seems my ‘aunt is remarably well’ – is she be sides herself  mused a few minutes as I stood by William Keighley cutting down the upper Cunnery plantation hedge but soon turned to him and occupied myself with what I was about just saying within myself is she mad   to quarrel with the little countess now would never do true or not as this I must be wary and mind what I am about my heart is not interested my head will have fairer play but shall I leave Paris and thus get out of it all would Dijon do for us for my aunt may indeed live these dozen years  came home when the men went to dinner and from one to two and a quarter no from    

from 12 50/60 to 2 10/60 at my desk – and wrote what I thought of writing and sending in the evening to Mrs B– (Barlow) in answer to her tirade – at 2 10/60 went back to the plantation staid there perhaps near 1/2 hour after William K– (Keighley) went then went down to the bottom of the walk – their ashes partly washed away by a flush of water from Charles Howarth’s – must this stopt – then measuring to see how much railing it would take to rail off the whole of Lower brook ing wood and the walk above (in Lower brook Ing) anew – about 200 yards in length – 

came in at 5 20/60 – dressed – Dinner at 6 1/4 – came upstairs at 6 55/60 (had my wine afterwards) and from then to 7 55/60 wrote and sent by John to

‘Madame Madame Barlow, Rue des Champs Elysées No. 6, Paris’ the following 2 pages with 4 or 5 lines on the end of the other side to my aunt – Shibden Saturday evening 6 December 1828. Maria! I have been out all day, and have just got your letter – my heart aches more than perhaps you think, but would ache still more were it not supported by a conscience comparatively void of offence – I have neither time nor spirit to enter into detail – my letter, to save the next mail, must be in the posting - office in an hour; and I have ordered the servant to have his horse standing ready in the stable – at all rates, I lose not a moment in complying with your request to write as soon as I can – you have always found me at least ready to oblige you to the utmost of my poor ability; and on this, surely, not when scandal can shake your faith – if after your receipt of these few hurried lines, you still wish me not to return, I will do all I can to oblige you in this, also – But I give you my word of honour, you are mistaken –Madame G– (Galvani) is, at this moment, forcibly recalled to my mind, whom I have heard more than once observe, that the French not only tell all they know, but much more – not only count over what they have received, but  boast of what they have not – to me considered individually and singly, all this is unimportant: – to me considered collectively and in connection with others, it has an importance exactly equal to the credit given to it by those whose good opinion and regard I value – Perhaps, Maria, I might  justly complain to find myself so precipitately condemned unheard – Presumptive evidence, however plausible, should always be received with caution; and even the positive assertion of those whose veracity we have in any instance been known to doubt, should be well examined, and well weighed, before we attempt to fix on it the stamp of truth – But if you continue to do me the injustice you do me at present, I shall not blame your heart for it; and this at least, will shed one little beam of light along the darksome cloud that you have thrown around me – If you still desire my not returning to Paris till you are gone, (and may I entreat you to spare me, as soon as you can, at least the misery of suspense) I will do my utmost to manage it, and will take all the care in my power never to intrude upon you more – my constant prayer will be for your happiness – and may you live to discover that your esteem has not been deservedly forfeited by your ever steadily and sincerely affectionate friend AL (Anne Lister) – will you be good enough to send the 3 or 4 following lines to my aunt – Shibden Saturday evening 6 December 1828. my dear aunt   I am in a hurry to send off my letter to Mrs B– (Barlow) I find Dr T– Tupper can still give no decided answer – without further hesitation, lose no time in taking our present apartment for 3 months longer – It delights us to hear such continued good accounts of you – very busy – I shall stay over the rent-day, at all rates – all quite well – ever most affectionately yours AL (Anne Lister) – my father and Marian send their love’ – 

went downstairs at 7 55/60 and had my wine – then asleep on the sofa above an hour, till 10 – then talking about my aunt’s return to Shibden (my father always wishes it and will see no objection – no difficulties in the way), the difference it would make to all parties, servants etc. etc. and came upstairs at 10 40/60 – then till 11 wrote (all but the 2 first lines) of the first 13 lines of today, etc. Highish wind now at 11 p.m. – Very fine day –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0102) (SH:7/ML/E/11/0103) (SH:7/ML/E/11/0104)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f102&pos=1

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f103&pos=1

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f105&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Friday, 5 December 1828

5 1/2

11 20/60

at my desk at 6 1/2 from then Till 8 10/60 – writing rough draft and fair copy of what to reply to Pi – Mariana on Mrs Bs Belcombes message curtailed the rough of all too precise explanation and got the thing quite to my mind at last – one is 1st diffuse and then concise – Gibbon is right – the last perfection attained is simplicity, and be it added brevity – 

Breakfast in my own room at 8 1/4 to 8 1/2 – then good motion and  talking to my father 20 minutes and went out at 9 10/60 to the Cunnery plantation and there all the day (never left there a moment) and did not come in till 5 25/60 – another man from Throp’s, George Shoesmith, and on 5 the planet-caster or wise man at the Folly came 1st time – planting with Throp – John and William and the 2 horses clearing away – had the 2 hay sledges, and got on well – Dressed dinner at 6 10/60 – asleep on the sofa as usual  till 9 for about 1 1/2 hour – very fine day, warm but clear – came upstairs at 10 20/60 1/2 hour reading Miller’s gardener’s dictionary articles wilderness, medica or lucerne, woods hedges syringa.

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0102)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f102&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Thursday, 4 December 1828

5 1/2

11 1/2

Very good motion at six and three quarters my bowels quite well Bowels quite right now – kept so by the air and exercise I take and perhaps by the treacle (mixed with melted butter) which I have since my last coming home from Lawton had a great fancy and which I take almost every day – at 6 1/2 (to 7 1/2) reading Miller’s Gardener’s dictionary – 

went out at 7 35/60 – spoke to John and the gardener – came in again and breakfast at 8 – out again at 8 1/2 – went to Throp stubbing fence till 10 and then getting up thorn which we set at the bottom of the Calfcroft – very well got up, but had the hay sledge and in gliding it off into the hole, broke the roots terribly – despair of its living – annoyed, but not angry – Mosey and his man helped us with it on and off the sledge – twice at home for a minute or 2 during the day, but out (chiefly with Throp) and did not come in to dinner till 5 1/2 – dressed Dinner at 6 1/4 – 

Letter this morning from M– (Mariana) Scarbro’ – has had the rheumatism in her head from watching a shipwreck. will spend a day or 2 here – when will it suit me best? did think of leaving Scarbro’ next Monday but they will her to stay to see Duncan who is to arrive on the 13th – he is to sail for India early in March – ‘a day or so with him will do, therefore setting my plans, and tell me what day I must be with you’ – the following is the answer respecting the misunderstanding with Mrs B– (Belcombe) 

‘At my mother’s request I have Twice read to her the latter part of your letter, and she desires me to say that such a message as you received never once entered her head or her heart to send – she certainly felt much hurt at the time, and had she known you less might have had insuperable difficulty in qualifying the term you used, but a little reflection convinced her, that you could not mean to use it in the sense in which she received it and that some alliance might be made for your warm and unshaken interest in my welfare, having in your way reconciled the occurrence to herself, she did not wish you to find any difference in her manner when next you meet, and as well ‘as she could blotted the circumstance from her memory, until your manner again recalled it, which certainly surprised her as she could not guess at the mistake which had arisen in representing the answer she made to your message – By your letter it seems, I was the person who gave it to you, whereas I had insisted that Anne had sent it; however, I am quite sure that I repeated at the time what I understood to be said to me, tho’ Anne bears my mother out in the assertion of its being misrepresented, by declaring that she never heard her say any such thing, this being the case, my Freddie, I must entreat you to believe that it has been my mistake, and to accept the assurance my mother makes of such an idea having never entered her head, but on the contrary that she wishes to meet you as she has hitherto done – I really and indeed believe, that not even myself is more fully convinced of your heartfelt regard for your welfare than is my mother, and I think she has been deeply concerned at the interruption in your friendship – Perhaps had I had courage to speak to her sooner on the subject all would have been well, but my heart sunk with me at the idea, and I could not make the effort, which I now greatly lament, as it would have saved me much painful thinking’ 

!!! Humph! what a plaster! this never entering into her head or heart looks very like an afterthought – no mistake of M–’s (Mariana’s) – she would represent the thing at the time as it really was told to her – she was too much interested to conciliate between us, to make matters worse unnecessarily – this reflection that I could not mean to use the word (cajoled) in the sense it was received, is nonsense – a bungling attempt to excuse excusing it; for Mrs B– (Belcombe) knows well enough that (as I did at the time, and never have contradicted, and never will do) I meant what I said – I meant that M– (Mariana) was taken an unfair advantage of – she signed away the little property she had a right to not willingly but because she could not help it – I have told Mrs B– Belcombe this more than once – she knows my sentiments well enough; and no reflection could convince or has convinced her that they are changed – this is fudge – ditto then some allowance that might be made alias that is now made for my warm interest in M–’s (Mariana’s)  welfare – But let it pass – take the present assurance, the fruit of time and of experience that is not wise thus to quarrel with me, and believe so I do that she now wishes to meet me as she has hitherto done – 

wrote the above of today after supper and had just done at 10 1/4 – damp, occasionally drizzly small rainy day, but  tolerably fine on the whole for this time of the year – my father saw Rhodes the engineer today – the cutting of Godley road thro’ the bank 26 feet deep – to be a meeting of the commission on Tuesday to finally determine whether to have a bridge across from Sourmilk hall or not, and which line to choose for Lower brea road – came upstairs at 10 1/2 –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0102)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f102&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Wednesday, 3 December 1828

5 20/60

11 20/60

at my desk at 6 35/60 and from then to 7 1/4 wrote out index from 15 October to 4 November both inclusive – studying Hoppus’s measurer – breakfast at 8 40/60 to 9 5/60 – 

went out at 9 1/4 – wild rough windy, rainy morning – put on my plaid, and seemed out all the day, and did not come in till 5 1/2 – with Throp levelling where old fence was and planting 2 limes, 2 hornbeams, a mountain ash got out of the plantation, a Spanish chesnut, and an acacia, and removed another thorn (not so large as yesterday) all except the two limes (planted above the Calfcroft pit-hill close to the walk) on the walk-slope in the upper Brook Ing – the 2 wallers making a loop-hole over at the bottom of the Calfcroft close to the walk, and making a wide heading to prevent the rush of the top water from again (as on Saturday night) washing away the ashes from the walk below, which John spread on again today (and helped us to stub the fence between Calf Croft and upper brook Ing) while William Green sledged us down the ashes, and stones from home, and from closer by (the old fence) for the wallers – 

Dressed – dinner at 6 1/4 – afterwards wrote the last 6 lines – vide line 2 of today – rainy, drizzly wild day, but rather better from about 2 to 5 1/2 – high wind towards night – wrote out Literary Index from page 162 to 179. went upstairs at 10 1/4 – cut my toenails –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0102)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f102&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Saturday, 29 November 1828

6

11 25/60

Bowels right ever since I ceased to notice the continuity – at Hoppus’s measurer (1/2 hour) till 7 1/2 –  from 7 40/60 to 10 wrote 3 pages and the ends small and close, to my aunt – breakfast at 10 10/60 – came upstairs at 10 40/60 – 

In the letter to my aunt mention the additional difficulty (some time ago) about Northgate title deeds – Lower brea ready to leave 6 yards in front of the house – to be begun next spring or as soon after as possible – In treaty with Joseph Wilkinson about the coals bought of Dr Drake – know not how the matter will end – going to try to get back the Pump servants‘ pew – mention all the railing done and doing some walling and setting stones at Mytholm wood – about 2/3 of the Cunnery plantation (or Coneyry spelt properly) now to be dignified with the name of wood, felled, and replanting with oaks – so much wood dead and worth little, and so much wanted for railing shall only get about £10 towards expect – 3 new hedges to be planted – Benjamin’s wellfield Wellroyde brow, and upper Cunnery – must do the rest of the Cunnery wood the next time of coming over much most on that account be at this time of year – the whole of the Clough to be planted and there to be one day a pretty walk – thorn planted near Allen Car well – Skelfler title not yet completed – Mr Robinson daily expected here – mortgage could not be transferred – would only perpetuate blunders – so new mortgage deeds made – 

‘my father seems better satisfied with me and my alterations there I fancied him at 1st; and we are getting on very well – His ideas of the picturesque are not of the highest order – would you believe, that he took up, and had planted in the hedges, as many of those beautiful single thorns in the upper fields, as they could remove? I have told him I would rather give him 5 pounds a piece to let them remain – and he will spare the spade in this kind of things in future – one of his plans, you know, was to straighten the course of the brook! After all, so long as he does not put his plans in execution, I cannot help smiling – what would have become of us all, if my uncle had done differerently?’ 

mention the history of Yorkshire coming out, to be published at Leeds, in one shilling 8vo octavo, and (proof plates 4to quarto) 2 shilling nos numbers, and the man’s coming to take a view of Shibden for the work – Dr. Belcombe died at 1 p.m. Monday the 17teenth instant – account of the funeral – M– (Mariana) to stay till next week and spend one day or 2 here on her return – ‘Her health very delicate – I know not quite what to make of it’ N–s (Norcliffes) going to Bath on the 2nd next month – Norcliffe to be in Paris this winter – shall at least spend Xmas Christmas in England – satisfied now Mrs B– (Barlow) is in Paris – she will give my not all necessary assistence – if not furnish with money will send it over – as to the apartment – 

‘perhaps you had best make sure of where we are for 3 months longer – you will know, on my return, that I had better ‘reason’ (allude to MacD–’s (MacDonald’s) sister at Tobermory saying, they had never sent for MacD– (MacDonald) to be with her mother, but she had ‘so good a place (thought it a pity – they may not always think so) then you can now imagine for determining to take back with me a woman servant – as for upper slower, you will soon see the inexpediency of such distinction – the work of each will be ascented; and each ought to be a comfort to the other – MacD– (MacDonald) has nothing to fear – nothing to lose, but surely something to gain – we will by and by setting all this, it being premised, that one of them must always in the anteroom – It seems Madame de R– (Rosny) did not forget her promise, tho’ made in such a manner, that if she had forgotten it, I ought not to have found great fault – I will thank her on my return’ – 

mention Miss Margaret Crompton’s intended match and the news of Mrs N–’s (Norcliffe’s) last letter – all right again at Crownest – Mr Wiglesworth’s affairs so bad, will hardly be anything for his grandchild – (worth £17.000 when dissolved partnership with Mr

Thompson – Gill, and his servant and mistress Caroline cheated him) – other local news Mrs Veitch very poorly but better – ask my aunt to ask Mrs B– (Barlow) to as Madame Galvani 

‘to tell me how and what to write to the Directeur généneral de Douanes at Paris, to get the duty on the plate I wish to take over, remitted’ – 

mention the rate of Duty and terms of Deposit – (vide Birmingham’s letter) – mention the quantity of plate packed up – from 10 40/60 to 11 1/2 wrote the above of today read over my letter and wafered and took it down forJohn to take to the post at 12 – to Madame Madame Lister place neuve de la madeleine No 2 Paris’ –

cut my nails Dawdling over 1 thing or other – wild, windy, rainy day – went out at 12 1/4 to the Coneyry Wood – the men gone to Dinner – very wild and rough and rainy – walked about – musing about planting 2 or 3 trees next west corner Lower Cunnery – down by Benjamin’s – on planting about 5 trees (at 10 yards distance) there – then to the new brook when the Godley road is to cross it – why have a brridge – from 18 to 20 feet  deep of cutting – why not slope down to it on each side? – this would save a bridge and we might the most casually get rid of the road altogether – mention this to Mr Waterhouse – and that I should be glad if could help me to manage getting that piece of ground of Mr Emmett’s, cut off on this side, at a reasonable price – went back to the plantation and found the men there (Throp and the 2 wallers) at 1 20/60 – Calculating the expense of planting Bairstow supposing 9 Daywere all trenched at 2/6 per rood acorns dibbled in at 6 inch distance in trenches 1 or 1 1/2 feet distance at 1/. per rood – and afterwards cleaning (hoeing or cartting up as one would here turnips) at 6 d pence per rood – would let the hill on fire before beginning to trench, let it lie all winter, and sow or dibble in in March – Reckoning the walling altogether at 15/. per rood, and allowing £70 for walling, at a rough calculation, said the thing could not

be done, and the trees upheld (cleaned) for 3 years under £300 – the trees from William Keighley we are now planting are of 3 years growth – In nurseries, keep the acorns and other tree seeds over winter and sow in March – make a spade breadth trench by running along the spade and this taking up the earth about 4 inches deep – in this drop the acorns pretty thick and cover about 4 inches deep – the acorns soon come up – some do, and some do not transplant oaks, they have such a long root – If planting in a poor soil and high, bleak place prefers planting in spring to now – the plants in that case often rot and die by being so long in the ground without vegetation – gave Nathan and Robert each £2 on account – Mosey and companion were here this morning, but the day so bad, they went away before dinner – left the plantation about 3 1/4 – met John, and sent him to help to finish the trees laid out and there till the men to go home – came in at 3 25/60 – very wet – changed even to my dressinggown – William Keighley junior came at 4 3/4 – paid him his bill – 2200 oaks putting in at £4 instead of 40/. or 42/. per thousand – ‘to felling wage’ at 1/. in the pound 20/. (having valued the sycamores here at £5.2.0) – I saw he was not at 1st., quite right at this having got the wood but I took no notice – will come and prune, and cut off the upper Cunnery hedge for me –thinks I do right to rail it – He is all for planting in spring, and drought comes, almost sure to droughted – wrote the last 24 lines of today which took me till 5 5/60 – 

from 5 1/4 to 6 40/60 wrote 3 pages and the ends, read over and sealed my letter to IN Isabella Norcliffe – nothing particular – said I had left the miniature (likeness of myself by Millet) – at Lawton, so could not now send it to Fisher’s – would send it in a parcel from London – IN (Isabella Norcliffe) – to write and give me her address in Bath as soon as they are settled – ‘You would, of course, think the death of an excellent and ‘lamented friend Dr Belcombe a happy release – they all seem to bear it as well as could be expected’ merely added that Mrs L– (Lawton) seemed to fear her mother would bear up less well by and by there now – M–’s (Mariana’s) health so delicate, know not what to make of it – ‘I often think on the subject with much and painful anxiety’ – no doubt, she can get things over from France, but must pay for them pretty dearly – will ask Birmingham about it – make no promises about Mac D–’s (MacDonald’s) gown – going to France and coming from there makes all the difference in the world – shall take even plate, books, linens, etc. etc. putting return to make for the permission of the Directeur général des Douanes to take over plate duty free, to have anything found that I had not fairly named – should be here over Xmas at least – sent off my letter to IN– (Isabella Norcliffe) (Langton hall, Malton) by John at 6 50/60 at which her dinner – dozed a little afterwards –

came up to bed at 9 40/60 – speaking of the Cunnery, my father would not build a farmstead there, but portion off the land to Benjamin Bottomley’s, Pearson’s, John Oates’s, George Naylors, and Charles Howarth’s – about 40 Daywere thus to divide amongst them – Mrs Robinson told them some time ago they said nothing now of any more building at Lower brea – an improvement in machinery – could get all done by this means at the mile – would set about it next spring – wild, windy,

rainy, rough day – the wind abated and very heavy rain all the evening – 3/4 hour studying Hoppus’s measure –

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0099)(SH:7/ML/E/11/0100)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f99&pos=1

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f100&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Wednesday, 26 November 1828

Wednesday 26

6

11 25/60

Went out at 7 35/60 — with Mosey letting out the railing of the Cunnery brow to be ordered to the plantation and planted with oaks — then with Throp planting and the 2 wallers holing in the Cunnery plantation — came in at 9 1/2 — wet of my feet etc.

changing my things — breakfast from 9 3/4 to 10 1/2 — Letter 3 pages and ends dated yesterday from M— (Marianna) Scarbro’ — Dr B— (Belcome) buried at 10 on Monday morning — Steph and Mr Charles L— (Lawton) chief mourners — 8 of the principal gents (gents/gentlemen) of the town bearers — 3 mourning coaches and 8 gents’s (gents/gentlemen’s) carriages “most of the tradespeople attended in mourning and Charles said the church rows very full of respectable people — Mrs B—’s (Belcombe’s) income independent of Clifton £409 per annum that cannot be reckoned at less than £200 a year and surely on this with “Harriet’s £160 they may all do very well” …. “I mentioned the £200 I had saved for William, which I said he might have next “June that I meant to give Duncan £50 to receive in India, and that I thought it was all that I could promise — such information “was very little expected, and was I must say, gratefully received by all parties” … does not think William will live “he cannot sit “up more than a few minutes, and some of the wounds are still unhealed” — meant to have left Scarbro’ on Thursday (tomorrow) “so little difficulty in making a decent alteration” … will continue there till next Monday — week, and then stay (1) or 2 in York — can I be ready by that time? — Note from Mr Wilbraham — think the rules excellent — make no alteration — mention of my misunderstanding with Mrs B— (Belcombe) on repeating the words “my mother never wished to see you again” all were in astonishment — Ann did not remember writing any such message if she did write it, declares “she must have been drunk or mad” — Mrs B— (Belcombe) “declared such an idea never entered her head, that on reading your message she said “tell Miss Lister that we shall some time meet again, meaning by that her manner when you did meet would convince you that the thing was forgotten” …. “my mother was mortified by your manner at Mr D—’s (Duffin’s) and thought you had no “inclination to forget, and consequently when you next met at Steph’s trying to make her manners as like yours as she could I really think my Freddy there has been a great and uncomfortable mistake, for all disown every intention of saying or writing anything that could be otherwise than conciliatory — whatever answer you send to this part of my letter I shall shew” — “Charles and Steph left us at 12 today. The former will meet us at Manchester” — 

Letter also from Miss MacL— (MacLean) (Whitehall London) 3 pages and the ends dated the 23rd instant — good account of herself — bids me not mind about Cameron, but sorry I have got a servant threatened with consumption — to propose her to Vere woud never do — can do without her — a nice girl at the lodging she is going to 1 December — why do I talk of a lodging here or there — shall I not be with her? — “as you do not choose to take any notice of and eventual “remarks I made in my letter of late which you are not so stupid as not fully to comprehend, I shall in future prevent my pen from touching on such a subject but I am much annoyed not by any presumption only anxious for his ssake to be soon dismissed this of course only to yourself I shall write not more on the subject and at range enough it is that this young man should be so in love with her or connexions surely it must be I do not understand it — “I shall now tell you all — he will tell you all has discovered — if you and he understand one another as I expect you will - she seems to have lost her watch and seals — Mr Long has had a “severe blow from his horse’s head this morning — but had infallible application his I hope prevented inflammation” — …. “It must be merit of no common kind that can overcome manners and appearance such as his together with a bad stutter, lisp and brogue which you will judge of soon — his manners I am sure will surprise you at first” — hopes to be well in six weeks “tho’ he shakes his head when I say so” — asks if thinking of her health as I do, and shall be afraid to “run the risk” of having her in Paris — better say so now than afterwards — she can spend the remainder of the winter with Mrs Hunter in Edinborough and then go home �� Mr Long “thinks under the blessing of providence that my original excellent constitution will presently be restored — I do not doubt it myself” — Miss H— (Hobart) asked her to write on some subjects relating to Mr Long “and to send her a paper in which a violent attack was made on him — I granted her request, and tho’ she has twice written to me, I have no intention of keeping up a correspondence — she is an excellent and sensible person but I have nothing more to Do with her” — had left off her wigs — Mr Long detests them — “says they are the dirtiest things in the world — keep in disease etc. etc.” — 

Kind letter from Mrs James Dalton (Croft) 3 pages the ends and 2/3 the first page crossed — nothing particular —

having read my letter went upstairs at 10 1/2 — put on my old pelisse and things again — afterwards Greenwood came about the wood — went out with him at 10 3/4 — told him about the Sheep croft — He had begun to turn it into a timber yard without knowing whether I would take the £10 a year offered or not — told him to see Mr Briggs, and then I would decide — should never allow any steward to let for me, except with my expressive directions so to Do — £10. not enough — said it was worth £20 — He said he could have had a field near twice the breadth of ground for £20 — I said as for that I did not mean to charge him the full worth — he had it on uncertain tenure — to be given up at another time — He said he had begun to make his saw-pit, but would leave it to my honour — he would willingly split the difference —well! said I — you shall have it then from this Xmas (Christmas) rent day to next Xmas rent day at £10, and then afterwards shall pay £15/ per annum — he thanked me, and said he was much obliged, seeming very well satisfied — I see Mr Briggs is not to altogether to be trusted with letting the church pews ought to be raised — went to look at the wood lying in the Cunnery brow, Pump Lane, and Lower Brook Ing wood — the lot valued at £5.2.0 or £5.4.0 (ready money) he said was cheap enough —  I said the chap was ready, so he must give me some little advice — I said £5.10.0 — He said no — he would give me £5.12.0 — Asked what he thought it really worth — he said £7 — well! said I, that is right to say so — I am quite satisfied for you to have a good bargain — He said, he had looked at the 3 trees at Northgate — cheap enough at £4.11.0 (William K— (Knight) said they were done up to the height) he would give ten guineas for the whole and pay tonight if I would send John down, and lead away on Monday — John to go tomorrow evening for the money — so that he gives me 7/. over at the Northgate lot, and 10/. over at the other — Told me my Southowram stone he had heard was worth 7/. a yard — but would advise me to sell it by ticket and always to have 2 values, and take the medium between them and then stock to that price, and take no less — went back to the Cunnery plantation about 11 1/2 — set Throp and Nathan Sharpe to get up a beech — all our men and 2 horses snigged out the trees —at 12 55/60 had Mosey and his companion to fell some more firs at the top of the plantation and kept them doing (boughing also) till — Throp and the 2 wallers 1 1/4 hour at dinner — said it was too long these short days — must limit them to 1/2 hour — get the beech (sledged it on the little sledge with shafts) set in the Allen car (near the top in front of the house) at 4 1/2 — put[ting] well get up — hope it will do well — Throp seven more weeping wilows this morning making in all 15 — Told Mosey I would have 10 of the holes made in the morning left, and 10 more made  — his charge for this at 1 1/2 per hole = 1/3 — himself 2 half days and his partner one hole at 3/6 per day and 6 d. allowed for drinkings = 6/. would make no change for felling the few trees 2 mornings some days back, but said I would give him something to Drink for it — 

came in at 5 1/4  — dressed — Looked out M—s (Marianna’s) letter containing on one of the ends the message from Mrs B— (Belcombe) “Scarbro’ 31 March 1826 — Harriet did give your “message to my mother — she read it herself, and returned H— (Harriet) the letter, saying “probably Miss L— (Lister) and I may never meet again, ’tis better we should not” Ann told me this — She has” (meaning Mrs B— (Belcombe)) never mentioned your name to me, tho’ I have “given her opportunities” — (vide line 12 from the bottom of page185) Some difference between these 2 messages as stated now and in March 1826! 

Dinner at 6 1/4 — afterwards wrote the whole of today — Rather rainy and drizzly this morning — occasional rain after breakfast and more especially rain and drizzle towards 5 — after dinner; about 9, very heavy rain — came upstairs at 10 20/60 — still raining heavily — from the bottom line 12, page 185.

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0097) (SH:7/ML/E/11/0098)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f97&pos=1

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f98&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Tuesday, 25 November 1828

6

11 20/60

Read the pamphlet lent me by the William Priestley’s “The York Musical Festival of 1828. A Comedy in 5 acts.

London printed for Hirst, Chance, and Company St. Paul’s Churchyard, and for the Booksellers. 1828.”

“Printed by Edward Baines and son.” octavo pages 99. said to be written by Mr Sidney Smith — well done

enough — “the object of the comedy, to use a military phrase, is to form a diversion in favour of the pope, of when so many very serious and dull things have been said, in speeches and sermons, in this large controversial country” — the “Dcan of Dorchester” is made their rascal of the plot —  my father saw no wit in it and Marian would not read it — nor would she on another account give a living to Mr Sidney S— [Smith] — quite indecorum in him to write such a thing — 

breakfast at 8 3/4 such a rainy morning all at a stand — went upstairs about 9 1/2 having stood talking to my father—Reading Juvenal Satire ii first 90 lines — 

Throp came about 10 (not before), and did up the sodding about the thorns removed yesterday — went out at 11, quite fair — set William to get trees out off plantation — John at the mangle and then went to Halifax again and not with us in the morning — In the afternoon (at 1 3/4), musted all hundreds in the Cunnery plantation — when and Joshua Keighley had come at 1 1/2 — they 2 felling till 5 and got down all we wanted — the 2 wallers (who had not been in the morning met them just come and took them back with me at 1 3/4) — holing and Throp planting after them — Had Mosey from 1 40/60 boughing, and all my father’s 3 men and 2 horses clearing away the trees —  all worked till 5 when we could see no longer — got on well — planted near 200 trees — ordered to be one yard distant — but most of them 3/4 yard distance — just

2 Keighleys, 2 wallers, Mosey, Throp,

and our own 3 men and 2 horses all in the

Cunnery plantation in the afternoon

at the top west corner of the plantation — ordered 900 more oaks of William Keighley to be sent for on Thursday night — John told Thomas Greenwood of our fall of sycamores — he will come up to look at them tomorrow or Wednesday — out all the day from 11 to 5 1/4 when came in and Dressed — went down to Wellroyde at 1 1/2 told James S— [Sykes] — to make haste — 

Just before having been in the house for a moment saw on my desk note from Mr Wilcock — heard from Miss Pickford on Saturday from Genoa dated the 8th instant — she had received my letter there go to Florence and Rome — “some of the road must be terrific near Finale” (Does she mean?).— “impossible to give an idea of the magnificence and beauty of the line of coast they passed “from Nice to Genoa which latter place is superb in Palaces and the situation beautiful — the air of the sky past “description — they have lately had an earthquake there in the night — all ranks ran out into the street” — tried to meet me in the church on Sunday but was told I passed him while speaking to Dr Gervase Alexander — 

Came in at 5 3/4 — dressed— wettish — just began to rain before I got in — otherwise fair all the while I was out — very rainy morning till 10 — then began to clear and fair at or before 11 — 20 minutes in the library reading Miller’s Gardener’s Dictionary — Dinner at 6 20/60 — wrote the above of today — came upstairs at 10 1/4 —

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0097)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f97&pos=1

[awhilesince]

Monday, 24 November 1828

6

11 25/60

set off with our united best regards to Mr Mrs William Priestley, the woodcock that my father received with 2 pheasants posted from Mr Robinson (John to take it for his daughter Martha to take) and wrote a few lines on a scrap of an old letter back — thanks for the parcel of books posted and hope to see her in the course of a few days and will return the books lent — “Have you succeeded?” meaning have they got a free presentation to Christ‘s hospital — then tied up Cronhelm and ordered 3/4 ream wool and 4 dozen black edged and highly glazed like that ordered for Marianna for the Belcombes — my father and Marian going in the gig to Siland, will leave the book at Whitley‘s — all this and 1 thing or other reading over what I wrote yesterday in Extract volume E and seeing that it was right etc took me from 7 to near 8 — read to the end of the account of Christ‘s hospital, having got before to p. 66. ’Tis a very nice little book entitled (lent by Mr Priestley ordered days ago)

“a brief history of Christ’s Hospital, with a List of the Governors 4th edition London printed for Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange and Hurst, Chance, and Company St. Paul’s Churchyard” Printer “W. I. Catline, Jamaica Row, Bermondsey.” 1 volume octavo pages 91.

Breakfast at 8 20/60 just before set Throp to take up the great thorn under the [sic] on the pit hill at the bottom of the Allen Car — went out at 8 3/4 met William Keighley junior just come — went with him to fell in the Cunnery Plantation — with him and to the walling along common wood to be taken at 3 pence a rood — got back to William Keighley at 12 1/4 — (John did not come to Throp till after 11 had to stay to get the gig ready for my father and sister —(William Keighley only 1/2 hour at his dinner at 1 1/4) Mr Samuel Warkington came at 2 and brought me a plan of the Dr D— coal — went to Wellroyde about a pick-ax then with William Keighley felling the great sycamore in Lower brook Ing wood about 10 feet wood at 1/6 and valued at 16/.) and a small sycamore 1/6 in Pumplane wood and a sycamore higher up in Pump Lane 6 1/2 feet wood  valued at 9/.), then back to the Cunnery plantation — agree to take a thousand and one hundred oaks of William Keighley at 40/. and 42/. bought of Lea nurseryman in Warley on the low side the Burnley road — about 4 all hundreds and William Green and the sledge and 2 horses to get away thorn to near the well in the Allen car - got it well then — propped the low side with stones putting all the long main roots as before up the hill — no great root down the hill — had it set so as to be safe at 5 20/60 and got home (too dark to work longer) at 5 1/2 —

Dressed — William Keighley brought the oaks — Dinner at 6 20/60 — asleep afterwards — came upstairs at 9 5/60 —settled with Cordingley for last week and wrote the whole of this page — Mosey here sawing up but not has companion — he thought some accident must have happened Mrs Veitch very poorly — water on the chest — Marian thinks she will not get better — they have found a wife for our vicar Miss Horsfall of Spring Grove Huddersfield — sister to Mrs Norris which latter Drinks —

very fine day - Fahrenheit in my room 60° now at 9 50/60 —  

the sycamore cut down in the Cunnery planatation including the other 3 (vide above) valued at £ 5.2.0 ready money deducting on this account 5 per cent or about 5/. William K— Keighley thinks that there will be about 150 feet of wood in the sycamore left standing in the planatation which one should reckon at 1/4 per cent feet — not large enough to arrange 1/6 per cent — so that we have left about ten-pounds worth — Mosey told me this morning, the railing done all the posts at 3 yards distance should be worth 3 dime a rood more = 1/3 per rood, and sawing up worth 1/. per rood — William Green stops at 9 for 20 minutes and then came up again —

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0096)(SH:7/ML/E/11/0097)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f96&pos=1

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f97&pos=1