#lady stuart de rothesay

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Wednesday 5.. February 1840

8 ½

..

monsieur came in the night?  chemise much soiled at noon on Thursday – Refreshed after having slept perhaps 1 ½ hour – finished the little bit of packing that remained to be done – breakfast over at 11 ½ and at 11 ½ sent Gross to Mr. Marc’s with note enclosing five £25 circulars nos. 8592, 3, 4, 5, 6 to be cashed and A-‘s letter to her sister and my own letters to “Miss Marian Lister North Cave Yorkshire Angleterre” “Robert Parker Esquire Solicitor, Halifax, Yorkshire England” – “Messrs. R. and H. Hunt, Hamburg” and packet to “John Hodgson Esquire English Quay, St. Petersburg” (containing civil note to Mr. Hodgson himself thanks for his attention etc. and asking him to forward thro’ Mr. Buchanan by the bag my 2 half sheet-notes to the “Honourable Lady Stuart” and to “Lady Stuart de Rothesay” both undercover to Lord Stuart de Rothesay 3 Carlton house terrace London) and packet to “Messrs. Hammersley and co. Bankers London” containing a thin ½ sheet close and small written note in envelope to “Lady Duff Gordon 34 Hertford street” from 11 ½ to 6 at accounts and settling with George the courier Grotza who leaves us on our setting off on our journey, and Gross – paid the latter his ¼ years wages due on the 16th instant and 30 days board in advance £1 for every 6 days i.e. 24 Roubles for every 6 days = 21 x 5 = 105 R. per 30 days – Had Mrs. Howard sundry times on one account or other – I had ordered the Kibitkas’ to be packed immediately on Gross’s return from Mr. Marcs’, but somehow this was not understood and it was 4 p.m. when Gross came to ask if they were to be packed – and it being a 3 or 4 hours job made us off so late – Mr. Marcs’ cashier brought the money I having omitted to indorse the circulars – asked for tea about 6 – wrote and left with Mrs. Howard the following character of Grotza – Mrs. Lister will be obliged to Mrs. Howard to inform anyone who may apply for the character of Elizabeth Catherine Gross that she has lived in Mrs. Listers’ service as Ladys’ maid from the 10th of May 1839 to the 5th of February 1840, and that Mrs. Lister has found her strictly honest, well-conducted and trustworthy, clean and neat in her person and about her work and a good hairdresser, and getter up of fine linen – Mrs. Lister has had no occasion of trying her in dress-making, but she had a good character for ability in this respect from the lady with whom she lived last – Wednesday 5 February 1840. (I am not certain whether the paper was dated or not) –

we had had tea and waited some time for all [?] announced ready when the summons came at 7 25/.. – but our kibitka so uncomfortable the little alteration that could be made took till 7 ¾ vid. p. 7

SH:7/ML/E/24/0006

(vid. p. 7) still the seat too high – our kibitka uncomfortably pace – no help for it till morning – never dreampt of being off so late – in the dark – now at 7 ¾ as we drive off from Mrs. Howards’ in the Great Dimitri Street Moscow – A- and I and our government post courier in our covered kibitka (3 horses) followed by our Russian servants George and his wife, and our German Gross in an ordinary ½ mat-covered kibitka also with 3 horses – uncomfortable

Leave Moscow fine day

[misslisterkeepsajournal]

1831 Monday 3 October

8 1/2 3 3/4

Reading life of Rabelais - breakfast at 9 55/.. - afterwards changed my dress and went out at 11 1/4 with the girls and Miss Hyriott - walked along the cliff to Tuton Burry pretty enough (burry what the Scotch call den) in 35 mins. [minutes] - then went down upon the sands, and sauntered along picking fossil shells from out of the clayey cliff - near Barton (the preventive service station) large nodules of indurated clay which when broken shew a cristallization in the middle and sometimes remains of water - got rather uncertain about the tide - hurried on - not at first seeing the track up the cliffs to Barton, went a little too far, then returned, found the track, and hardly stopt till we had got to the top - Mrs. Dent has a good collection of fossil shells near there - had not time to ask to see it - it suddenly came in foggy, and soon turned to small rain which the highish wind drove against us -

Home in 3/4 hour at 2 1/4 - rather wet - changed my dress - at 3 1/4 went with Lady S- de R- [Stuart de Rothesay] in the chariot to Xst.chch. [Christchurch] to the post and to Mrs. Ridout's multifarious shop - in returning Lady S- [Stuart de Rothesay] left her card for old Lady Londonderry (ætatis 70 and very deaf) at Belvidere, a nice little place very near here -

Home at 4 1/2 - sat reading a little of Miss Berry's book and talking to Lady S- de R- [Stuart de Rothesay] dressed - dinner at 6 1/2 - coffee - tea - afterwards the girls danced Miss Hyriott or danced with or played for them - Lady S- [Stuart de Rothesay] too played for them and they did not leave us till 10 1/2 - then asked her to sing which she did from book and memory till twelve I standing over the whole time no occasion to say much I merely looked all attention said if one learnt life from songs how pretty it would she smiled and answered yes then by and by said how pretty Mores songs were how much of constancy yes but some were contradictory and all for inconstancy 'but I dont think inconstancy makes half so pretty a song' she smiled and said nothing and I made no further attempt

On going into the other room she took her work and I sat by we talked of Vere and all the offers she might have had but somehow did not have and about her being from illness overly little touchy I complained as usual of her closeness but tho she some times seemed cross was by no means bad tempered on the contrary and kind and affectionate hearted but would not shew it she had seemed rather cross the morning I came away this Lady S de R [Stuart de Rothesay] attributed to the idea that V [Ver]e had of Lady S de Rs [Stuart de Rothesays] attempting to change the Hastings plan

Owned I thought there was a time when Miss Macl [Maclean] might have made or married the match with Henry Yorke yes said Lady S de R [Stuart de Rothesay] and she married it said last night V [Ver]e had no expectation from Sir Hector which perhaps Lady S de R [Stuart de Rothesay] was not prepared I said there was young Coll and all Scotch people left to the state but did not explain more - a little was said of Lady Gordon as the person to help to first make Vere sensible of her independence and mention of Lady Gs [Gordons] liking of fine people but never a word of her as a companion for me and when I hinted at it the other night it was put off with oh no she could not go farther than Paris I dont fancy it is at all in Lady S de Rs [Stuart de Rothesays] plan for Lady G [Gordon] and me to get together nor does she at all dream of Lady Gs [Gordons] seeming to play for it

Thus we talked on never the least opportunity for me to make any speech to Lady S de R [Stuart de Rothesay] or I should have done it I tried the thing by saying I should count upon her coming to see us at Hastings and bringing the girls she said perhaps she might for two or three days (she had before said she might in February) and then as if suddenly recollecting herself rang the bell and lighted her candle and we both hurried off to bed a distant good night on the landing as usual -

I cannot quite make her out she cannot dislike me her manner is confidential and yet the excessive distance she keeps at is so striking to myself that I fancy she could not so manage it at unawares to herself she would not for worlds let me enter her bedroom if she was in it she is very particular before me speaking at breakfast this morning of Madame Galvanis prowess and strength and knocking a man down Charlotte said but I myself had knocked a man down (it seems she alluded to the man I swung round when he tried to trip me up by catching hold of my ankle) I said no I did not consider myself very strong but was very active and could run away oh said she that would not be your plan and she thought I was strong 'you once gave me your hand at Hieres and I would much rather have your arm than Madame Galvanis' I took no apparent notice of this but oh oh thought I then you noticed my manner of giving my hand and do not think me a coward I wonder if after all she rather likes me or not or has she not heart enough or does she merely want me for some purpose or other? she certainly does not seem as if she would help on anything with Lady Gordon and when I laughed and joked about taking east Highcliff if she would it me quite furnished Charlotte said something to which Lady S de R [Stuart de Rothesay] said Miss Lister means living furniture but I dont know whether it must be a gentleman or lady said I the other would be far more trouble somehow I fancy her manner would not be the same to all ladies it is to me time will shew?

Came upstairs at 1 40/.. - had just done the above of today at 3 1/4 - rain came on between 1 and 2 - and afterwards rainy afternoon and rainy windy stormy evening and night - Fahrenheit 65°. now at 3 1/4 tonight -  

Reference: SH:7/ML/E/14/0126

[wasalwaysagreatpickle]

Friday 11 June 1830

5

12 1/2

Fahrenheit 57˚ at 5 50/.. a.m. and fine, but dull morning – off at 6 10/.. – Lecture De Mirbel from 7 35/.. to 8 50/.. – ordered more little dishes for my plants – breakfast 

Washing breakfast things 

Watering plants etc. – at the museum at 10 25/.. – Lecture 12 De Blainville from 10 50/.. to 12 18/.. – Lecture 7 Geoffroy Saint Hilaire from 12 1/2 to 1 35/.. – home at 1 50/.. – staid cutting open books De Mirbels Elements vegetable physiology etc. till 2 3/4 – off at 3 – fiacre 1 hour from Place Maubert to Madame Contant’s and then home at 4 – Letter 4pp. and 1 page of envelope from Miss Maclean says she is better, and will set off soon – 2 half sheets full from Miss Hobart – account of the private theatricals at Hatfield Lord Salisbury’s – magnificent doings – Mr Charles Stuart will have 2 months leave and will go to the Rhine the end of this month – 

Forest dressed my hair – dressed – off to the Embassy to dinner at 6 5/.. – Lady Stuart ready – I the 1st arrived but soon came Lady Isabella Blatchford and Lord and Lady Lonsdale and an oldish girl who afterwards recognised me and whom I find to be Miss Thompson sister to Mr George Thompson of Sheriff Hutton – there were 1 or 2 other ladies, Lady Eastnor, the 2 Miss Berrys and Lady Charlotte Lindsay, and Mr and Mrs Hamilton Hamilton, a starred general and a Colonel Stuart and a Mr Gregory and Messers Ashburham and Scarlette Attachés – went out to dinner with Colonel Stuart and sat between him and the general who talked a good deal – ditto Colonel Stuart that I had really a very pleasant dinner – Knowing almost everybody it was very pleasant too, after dinner – It was then that Miss Thompson asked if she had not met me in York – somehow I did not admire her much – something rather too…. what? free and easy, old girlish, je ne sais quoi? Lord Stuart went to sit by her, and she seemed to amuse him for he laughed (unusual with him at a party?) very heartily – 

Shook hands with Miss Thompson on her going asked where she was that I might call she said with Lord and Lady Lonsdale that this business about the King would of course hurry them off and that she had no time for civilities I very calmly said oh I shall have the pleasure of meeting you somewhere else it was foolish in me to offer to call take a lesson from this and be very backward in such cases at first I really did not recollect her but 

On explaining who she was (Miss Thompson) said I recollected her dancing and that she was very musical to which last she assented – but took no such notice of the former – in fact, on recollection, she danced ridiculously, affectedly, and was stared at and quizzed for it – stayed after all but Lady Eastnor and Lady Charlotte Lindsay and the Berrys to talk to Lady Stuart de Rothesay about our journey – shall hardly (they all think) get off to the Pyrenees, but Lady Stuart de Rothesay agreed we might talk simply of going to Mont d’Or (the baths) and let the rest take its chance really this seems likely enough – 

All went on well so far till just before coming away Lady Stuart took us in the conservatory and gave us some roses this Mr Gregory was there I asked Miss Berry if he was Gregory Williams yes on which I spoke to him said well enough I remembered the pretty green house at remstone he asked how and when I said I had passed a day or two there with the Norcliffes in returning from all seemed well enough but I had scarce got home before the folly of this recognition struck me Miss Hobart spoke of him as vulgar but he had money so he went down with Lord how stupid in me to acknowledge him so unnecessarily and did it seem odd to the party? I stood in my study musing and grieving over it how is it I always do something to regret shall I never do better? in wishing good night so often to Lady Stuart de Rothesay I one time unthinkingly held out my hand and of course we shook hands she really always does it of her own accord that I thought of this too as a folly 

In speaking to Lady Isabella Blatchford of her tour along the Seine (she has taken a house at Saint Germain for a month) said she should or go on return by the Loire – she seemed to attend, and begged me to write her about it which perhaps I shall do – 

The thought has always struck me she might suit me for a while I really want someone of rank – 

Home at 9 40/.. stayed talking to my aunt, and had McDonald in for near 1/2 hour, talking to her about herself – she is not well – has got cold, and rheumatism in her head, and the right submaxillary gland swelled and the front 1/2 of her head hot which seemed to alarm her – went to my room at 10 1/2 – stood musing – 

And regretting

Perpetual showers during the day – almost a regularly rainy day – Fahrenheit 61 at 11 p.m. –

In margin: To take Lady Eastnor and her children to the Jardin du Roi on Thursday at 12 –

[veryfineday]

Thursday 3 June 1830

4 40/..

12 1/2

Vc  L  Vc  Vc  Vc

F62º at 4 40/.. and 62 1/2º at 5 40/.. and very fine morning - off at 5 50/.. - walKed to rue Saint V-[Victor] in 53 minutes - so early Tuileries gardens shut - at the amphitheatre at 7 10/.. - talKed to my neighbour who Keeps me my place - Desfontaines lecture 7 from 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 - breakfast at home as usual - monsieur Julliart came for a few minutes - brought the cerveau  I to leave my key with the porter and he will come again at two and bring un petit enfant a terme - Laugier Leçon 18 from 9 20/.. to 10 40/..  metaux des alcalis, calcium, barium, strontium -

called and left my card for monsieur Geoffroy Saint Hilaire having written on it ‘eu personne’ as Mrs. Galvani told me was all that was le plus poli - home at 10 50/.. - examining my poor hanneton - still alive etc.  washing up breakfast things till 11 20/.. then writing 2 Itineraries of tour to the Pyrennees etc. and dawdling over 1 thing or other -

off at 12 40/.. per fiacre from rue du Jardin du roi - home at 1 20/.. - dressed - Letter from M-[Maraina] Lawton 3pp. and the ends - she has been looKing after the dairy - milK by pails full given to the pigs - has made an arrangement about selling it, and the 1st weeK got 10/6. for milK and 16/. for butter, a little fortune for her - writes rather in hurry at last, but in good spirits -

carriage from Dagor’s - out at 1 50/.. - went to the banK - gave the last of my circulars ₤50 at 25/45 - then at the embassy at 2 25/.. - found Lady S-[Stuart] de R-[Rothesay] alone woth bad head ache - It seemed she was not at home to people in general - Lady Eastnor soon came in, and we all went to luncheon - talKed a little of our journey - Lady E-[Eastnor] aand I left tête à tête some time at luncheon she all for onr going - Lady S-[Stuart] de R-[Rothesay] not against it at all - but it is uncertain and depends upon whether one of the HardwicK party wish Lady S-[Stuart] de R-[Rothesay] to meet them at Dieppe or not, as she has offered to do thus - she asKed me to go with them to the Louvre -

we were there just 5 minutes before it must be closed (at there five minutes before 4) so drove to neorama, I with Lady S-[Stuart] de R-[Rothesay] and little Louisa and miss CocKs, Lady E-[Eastnor] and her youngest girl and Charlotte S-Stuart in Lady E-‘s[Eastnor’s] carriage, my hired one followed empty - the Neorama a triumph of art in as much as it is a panorama painted on a flat, - on a plain surface - the two views were Saint Peter’s at Rome and westminster abbey. the figures, men, women, monuments, all much too large - parted at the Neorama at 5 -

as to the journey I had told Lady S[tuart] de R[othesay]  I should not go if she did not go  this was foolish enough?[with a dot] somehow I am never satisfied with myself  I always ssay or do something I afterwards would rather have let alone  Lady Eastnor shook hands with me on parting - went to madame Contant - she knows of a perfect French ladys maid  said I was ssorry I had spoke to my own about staying only two or three days ago  perhaps after she will suit me best in my present circumst[ance]s

paid by george madame Decante’s little bill - called on madame de Hagemann, hotel Sinet, - gone to her apartment rue basse du Rempart, and home at 5 50/.. - dressed - dinner at 6 55/.. - read a little of the paper - came to my room at 9 1/4 - settled accounts - Coffee at 9 40/.. - then sat writing in the drawing room till 11 1/4 - finished my letter began this day weeK to M-[Maraina] 

wrote pp.2 and 3 and one of the ends very small and close - gave her the list of my lectures and my hours given to Pelletier, and monsieur Julliart speaKing of the last as giving me lessons explanatory of the other lessons - never hinted at anatomy - It truly seems as if I had not an hour to spare - mentioned having been at the embassy today and at the Neorama - and that I liKe Lady Eastnor very much thinK her a very nice interesting person - said she mentioned having seen M-[Maraina] occasionally at Leamington - I hoped the L-s[Lawtons] would spend next winter at L-[Leamington] and become better acquainted with the Eastnors - said my aunt was better than when I last wrote -

went to my room at 11 25/.. at which hour F 62 - fine day till near 2 p.m. and afterwards afew slight showers, but fine night - monsieur Audoin left had left his card for me Letter from miss mcL-[MacLean] just as I came in to dinner - 3pp. and the ends - enclosing Breadalbane’s 2 last letters to let me Know how they were all going on at Coll house - miss mcL-[MacLean] talKs of sailing as today and resting a weeK at Boulogne - wrote the other end of my letter to M-[Maraina] - read it all over sealed and directed it -

[womenattheirpiano]

George Hayter - Charlotte and Louisa Stuart, Daughters of Baron Stuart de Rothesay Lionello Balestrieri - The Painter and Pianist Arvid Nyholm - Woman Playing Piano Guy Pene du Bois - The Artist's Wife Georg Anton Abraham Urlaub - Portrait of a Young Lady at the Clavicord Aukusti Uotila - Interior…

[venicepearl]

Lady Stuart de Rothesay and her daughters by George Hayter

[awhilesince]

Saturday, 26 June 1830

1 1/2 p.m.

11 35/..

did not awake till 10 – musing about the journey and thinking of Lady Stuart de Rothesay incurred a cross! had a nap after it and  Up at 1 1/2 – dressed – breakfast – 

Madame de Hagemann called and sat with my aunt and brought her maid to get acquainted with Cameron – Letter 3 pages dated 11 June Villa Atenolfi La Cava Regno di Napoli from Miss Mackenzie – She had not lost a post in thanking me for my 

‘very kind letter and for the book you so obligingly forwarded to me from Miss Maclean.... It would indeed give me very great pleasure to make your acquaintance anywhere, but I think I am not likely to leave Italy at least for a 12 month to come’ 

she would be glad if Miss Maclean and I went to her – much about Gessy Miss Maclean’s maid whom Miss MacKenzie would like to have – knows the Comte de Noé and all his family – very proper ladylike sort of letter – 

the carriage waited from 2 – went out with my aunt at 3 40/.. – drove to the carriers named by Mr Sagot – they sent me to the great douane rue d’ Enghieu Faubourg Poissonnière – books not come – then to Galignani’s about maps and guide books for the Pyrennees – they had none – then to Madame Hautecœur’s, Wallerand’s, etc and Amyot’s – he will get me the Itineraire des Hautes Pyrennees to look at – then to Madame Galignani’s – paid her the 125/. I drew for her at General Medés banker’s, and 30/. for the lesson I had some time ago, and the 100/. that Miss Hobart gave me to give her – spoke to her about the Italian Courier she mentioned some time ago, and asked her to send him chez moi – should like to see him – 

home at 7 1/4 – dressed – dinner at 7 40/.. – paid Hellant the Tailor who came – said he did not now make for Lord Stuart because he would not lend Mr Wood 10 000 francs – used to charge 75/. for the undress coats – gave Mr Wood 5 per cent and there was not paid of 15 months or more – then he said Lady S– (Stuart) used to have all his cloth from England and there was only 24/. for façon – I do not much believe the man – he wanted to persuade me that I had a 10 per cent discount as George’s last coat undress, double breasted, is 65/. – 

all this and writing notes of Thursday yesterday and today till 10 20/.. then coffee – and came to my room at 10 3/4 – at which hour Fahrenheit 66 1/2 and raining – then from 4 1/2 p.m. more or less the rest of the afternoon and evening –

reference number: SH:7/ML/E/13/0057

[skgway]

1832 Nov., Thurs. 15

7 1/4

11 10/..

Fine morning Fahrenheit 49 1/2 at 7 1/2 a.m. A cross last night thinking of π [Mariana] – Lighted the fire in my room, 1st time this season –

Breakfast with my father at 8 1/2 in about 3/4 hour – Then had Pickles – Let him have the filling up of the old course of the brook at 6 d [pence] per square yard on the stuff carted from the old Wakefield road to Breakneck – He had spoken to Washington about it who said it was only worth 5 d [pence] a yard – But the old brook course is to be filled up – The bushes stubbed and trees left standing and all space made into land – Remembering that W– [Washington] had said Pickles could only just "have made wage" of the wearing, thought he might as well have his price for filling up – Besides I do not think it too much –

Draining done at Lower place at 1/3 one shilling, three pence and some of the most difficult at 1/5 [shilling/pence] per rood by Pickles 28 roods stone for which carted by George Naylor, and 78 roods stone carted by Dodgson = 106 roods – Washington has let the draining required in the old brook-course (to bring water to the new cut) to Pickles at 2 /. [shillings] a rood P– [Pickles] to  cart the stones – Some driving required under the new Lower brea road P– [Pickles] can get it done at 3 /. [shillings] a yard – About 60 yards of it – The road commissioners ought to do this –

Came to my room (after being 10 minutes or 1/4 hour with my aunt) at 10 1/2 – Letter from M– [Mariana] (Lawton) – 1 1/2 page hurried – Written from her bed, having tumbled over a box and hurt her right ankle the night before, and having had a great deal of pain from it, took 30 drops of laudanum which kept her in bed late – She must get up for company General Glegg, Mr. Worthington, Mr. Hill, next day i.e. today Swetenhams etc. then Wilbrahams etc.

Quite impossible to come here now, but perhaps may come just before going to Leamington – Will write again in a few days.

‘God bless you my dearest Fred, believe me always truly and affectionately yours MPL  [Mariana Percy Lawton]’

A letter to disappoint me after such an one as my last.  But I care not much about it. It helps to wear away the tenderness excited by her last but one. And tis as well. I am already indifferent again about her coming –

Wrote the above of today till 11 5/.. – Reading over letters to answer – From 11 1/2 to 1 20/.. 

Wrote 2 full 1/2 sheets to Lady S– [Stuart] de R– [Rothesay]. My letters to the two ladies Stuart nice easy well done chitchat. Moreso to Lady S[tuart] de R[othesay] than I feel to have ever written before, ending with 

‘I am really thinking very good of you if you answer any of them. I hope you are no longer under any uneasiness for the health of Lord Hardwicke. Believe me my dear Lady Stuart, very truly your A Lister – 

Tell Lady S– [Stuart] de R– [Rothesay] the letter she enclosed for me was a rather odd one from Mrs. (Honourable) Leicester Stanhope respecting my courier, Budo, quite contradicting the good character her husband had thought proper to give of him –

Apologize to Lady S– [Stuart] for returning Veres letters before – Waited for the present conveyance with the shawl. I hoped would keep her warm in the carriage, a new manufacture invented by a man near here whose name, however spelt, is pronounced Ootram – So busy for a great house in London glad I had not to wait longer – Made of the hair of the Atacama Lama –

Nice long Letter to Vere –

"It is quite a treat to me, my dearest Vere, to sit down, and fancy I am going to have a little talk with you – I shall not calculate how long it is since I did so last, because it is not my fault that I have not done it again sooner; and wrath against myself, not against you, is the only wrath there ever can be between you and me – 

I should forgive you anything, even if I had nothing to forgive; but that you have taken 2 months instead of one to write me such a nice little letter in, is no wonder, all things fairly considered" –

More anxious about her now, on account of not knowing how the news of her beau pìres death would affect her plans –

"Surely you would not hurry across the Alps at this season of the year – The very thought of it would make me uneasy – You know that my regard for you is not the creature of mere words; and therefore words are not necessary to persuade you of its anxiety" –

Conclude with

“Surely the news would reach you before the 5th, that you would not have set off for Rome and Naples. I can and do feel for you – (supposing Donald obliged to leave her) – You may at all times count upon my sympathy, be it in pleasure or in pain – None will feel in your welfare an interest more anxious or more true than your affectionate AL –"

Sent off at 8 1/2 the box containing the Atacama-lama-hair shawl directed to the "Honourable Lady Stuart, Richmond Park, Surrey" and within in envelope to "the Honourable Lady Stuart, Richmond Park" the 2 half sheets full to herself and Vere’s 2 letters returned and letter 3 pages and ends and under seal to “The Lady Vere Cameron” and the 2 half sheets full in a separate envelope to “the Lady Stuart de Rothesay” – 

Told them all of my aunts being so much recovered I was no longer uneasy about her and hoped to be off in January – From 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 wrote 3 pages and ends to Mrs. Norcliffe – Chit chat – Not knowing what to do about a groom – Asked her to advise and beg her to write before being off to Bath if but a line or 2, and as soon as she can after arriving that I may know where to find her. 

Mention having engaged Eugénie, and hoping to be off in January – Thanks for all her kindness in inviting me to Langton and Bath – Must spend my xmas here – Congratulations to Esther, and hope she is even more happy than she expected to be –

Went downstairs at 9 35/.. and came upstairs again at 10 1/4 at which hour Fahrenheit 51º 1/2 – Fine day – Feel very bilious tonight, perhaps from sitting all the day at my desk –

[wrotetheaboveoftoday]

1833 Tues. 19 March

7 50/.. 11 35/..

L LL L

fine morning Fahrenheit 45º at 7 50/.. and 45 at 8 1/4 in the case by mistake outside my window and 55º without case (red leather) at 8 3/4 the sun out - breakfast at 9 - did not come upstairs again till near 11 - then with the glazier puttying up the library window and taking out a light from the hall chamber window - then above an hour over the maps and plans of Scrope's geology of central France and reading the preface of the text - a minute or 2 with my aunt and from 12 50/.. to 6 1/2 wrote 1 p. page to Mrs. Tiler [Tyler] a melancholy surprise to me, and sincerely lamenting Mme. Galvani's serious illness - begged Mrs. Tiler [Tyler] to add my name to her list of 16 subscribers of £5 a year each, to date from 1st January last, for Mme. Galvani - said I sent my letter by the post as being the quickest and surest conveyance -

Then wrote 2 half sheets full to Lady Stuart de R- [Rothesay] and then to Hammersleys begged them to instruct Messrs. Laffitte to pay £5 on demand to Mrs. Tiler [Tyler] of Avenue de Paris no. 11 at Versailles, and then wrote to Mr. L- Maclean apologizing for having inadvertently not acknowledged more immediately the receipt of the willow plants on Friday and thanking him for his promptitude in forwarded them -

Kept copies of all these letters that to Lady S de R [Stuart de Rothesay] easy and well enough written satisfied me - thanks to Lady S- [Stuart] for her note and for her letter of 4 December last -

'the news of this most agreeable long letter, is, of course, out of date - but that part, half promising me a visit one of these days, will surely stand over in full force, till I can offer you a comfortable snuggery where you may rest awhile from all the turmoils of the world - How delighted I should be!' -

Had before said I sometimes wished myself and my aunt in Paris again 'for Shibden is not the most comfortable of sojourns, as it is at present' - glad of her account of Lady Stuart -

'I had a little plan sometime ago, of trying to arrange matters comfortably for a tolerably long visit, finding that I should be obliged to remain in England till May but my aunt anxious to keep me here, or near here, that I had said nothing about it, and should be merely backwards and forwards 40 or 50 miles off for the present - .... since being obliged to give up my Italian tour for the present, I have been doubting between per steam to the northern capitols, and a nice quiet ramble in Auvergne - at this moment, the latter scheme is the favorite - I can wander about examining the mountains, and enjoy myself during the hot months' -

Surely I shall be in London before the month of May be gone by -

'my love to the dear girls, and believe me, dear Lady Stuart, very truly yours A. Lister' -

At 6 3/4 sent off my letter to the Lady Stuart de Rothesay' under cover to 'Lord Stuart de Rothesay, 3 Saint James's Square, London' and to 'Madame Madame Tiler, Avenue de Paris no. 11, à Versailles, France' and to 'Messrs. Hammersleys and co. Bankers, London' and to 'Mr. [L.] Maclean, 23 Argyle Street, Glasgow N. B. [North Britain]' - dinner at 6 3/4 - in the little room from 7 35/.. to 8 1/2 - then came to my room, wrote the above of today - then read the courier, and cut open the 2 volumes of Debrett's peerage till 11 - tolerably fine day - some flying showers in the afternoon - Fahrenheit 55º now at 11 p.m.

[annelister-wellwellwell]

Monday July 13, 1829

6 10/60

11 40/60

From 7 10/60 to 7 55/60 read the first 29 pp. Mawe’s familiar lessons on mineralogy and geology – from 8 to 9 25/60 wrote out all but the 1st 8 1/2 lines Lecture 11 geological - Breakfast at 9 1/2 – at my desk again at 10 10/60 - wrote note to ‘Mme madame la comtesse de Noé’ to ask where comte de Noé’s painted glass windows 

‘I wish to ‘shew these windows to a friend, if they are within a moderate drive from here… If Wednesday be fine, will ‘Mademoiselle de Noé go to Enghien les Bains? I shall be happy to call for her at a 1/4 before 3 - ‘we shall be about 1 1/2 hours in going, as much in returning, and perhaps nearly a couple of hours there. I fear it is quite in vain ‘to hope that you could spare so long a time as 4 or 5 hours – I am, my dear madame, very truly yours. A. Lister’

Dated at the top Monday morning and at the bottom Rue Godot de Mauroy N° 39, by way of giving the address – then folded up the book Perrelet lent me some 7 or 8 days ago (Cassini’s voyage to try Lerois montres marines) for George to take this morning – my note to Mme de N- Noé to be left also as he returns with me from the Jardin du roi – Dressed –

Walked to the Boulevard – there in 1/2 hour to the Jardin du roi, and there at 12 5/60 – the 2 old ladies who sit next to me, told me how interesting the seance was yesterday morning at pavillon de la baleine – Monsieur Geoffroy Saint Hilaire – very civily observed on my not being there – said j’en étais fachée but was très occupée – lecture over at 1 1/4 – a gentleman near me said he had read in the journal Figaro of Samedi a critique on Monsieur Geoffroy de Saint Hilaire, that the owner of the whale was a friend of his and therefore, and not for the sake of science, he took all the people he could there – that the ambassadeur Anglais had been there – one of the old ladies had got a ‘notice sur la Baleine’ which I thought to get for Miss Hobart and took the address in the passage Choiseul –

Off in a fiacre and alighted exit the passage at 1 3/4 – could not find what I wanted – returned to the Palais royal at 2 places there before going to a very civil person in a reading room in what was to be the galerie de bois and then got the journal Figaro of Saturday but no critic – merely a paragraph announcing that ‘Hier à 2 heures, son excellence Monsieur l’ambassadeur d’Angleterre et sa famille ont honoré de leur présence le pavillon de la baleine. On dit que demain Dimanche, à 10 heures, Monsieur le professeur Geoffroy Saint Hilaire doit rassembler au pavillon tous ses élèves, pour leur donner une leçon d’histoire naturelle – looked about in the Palais royal – it is much improved of late – always amused there – looked at pendules – shall not do better than at Perrelet’s – Roland ( a woman) n°143, asked 430 francs for the same that the man almost next door (nearer to the rue Des petits Champs) asked 340 – it was a Venus like Perrelet’s at 285? but rather larger? only the pedestal doré instead of marbre jaune – a neat pendule dorée with 1 hansome bronze figure a Thalia the muse of comedy at 420 francs - 

Walked slowly home and came in at 3 – had my hair put in papers – George brought back note from Mademoiselle de Noé – much obliged to me but cannot go on Wednesday – should not be back in time to dinner and engaged out to dinner on that day – the painted windows are in the church of Sainte Elizabeth near the rue Vendôme – cannot recollect the name of the street the church is in, but it is very far from the de Noés - wrote the last 19 lines and settled my accounts all which took me till 4 3/4 – then wrote out Lecture 14 (of 29 June) on the mammifères – dressed – dinner at 6 – George said there was someone so ill at the embassy, no carriages allowed to enter the court – came to my room at 7 1/2 – wrote and sent at 8 1/4 the following ‘To Miss Hobart’ ‘Monday evening 13 July – 

Dear Miss Hobart, George tells me, there is someone so ill at the embassy, that no carriages are allowed to enter the court – surely it is not you! I hope it is not Lady Stuart – I hope it is not Lady Stuart de Rothesay – I hope, in short, that George has made some mistake – do write me one line, if you can – I thought of writing to Lady Stuart about seeing Comte de Noé’s painted glass ‘windows – I meant to have told you about the somnambule, - that she promised she would cure Sibbella, if she might but have a lock of her hair! etc.etc. But it may be you who are so ill; and I can think of nothing else – I fear there is no letter for me from Sibbella – Ever very truly yours A L’’

Then wrote out 21st, 22d, 23d botanical lecture and 25th, 26th, 27th chemical lecture of 23, 25, 27 June respectedly – then at 9 1/4 very nice note back from Miss Hobart – 2 2/3 pp. of a 1/2 sheet note – It is Miss Savile that is ill – Dr Chermside and Morgan in attendance – 

‘Yesterday they apprehended a brain fever – she is very lightheaded, and excessively reduced by the quantitty of blood they had taken from her – Lady Stuart de Rothesay has sat up these 2 nights with her, and will make herself quite ill with attending – a very large dinner party unfortunatly today at home but she did dine with us, Sarah is not now in positive danger, the inflammation is very considerably diminished’ – Lady Louisa Stuart and Miss Mayo go tomorrow – if I send a letter by 9 they will take it – ‘of course we cannot think of Lady Stuart de Rothesay joining in any party this moment but if you can come tomorrow I daresay I shall be delighted to go a little drive with you – aunt Stuart is not very well, her erysipelas plagues her - … yours affectionately Vere Hobart’ 

Coffee at 9 3/4 – came to my room at 10 20/60 – thoroughly rainy morning from about 7 till after 11 – afterwards perpetual and sometimes heavy showers particularly between 4 and 5 - read a little Mawe’s familiar lessons on mineralogy – wrote to Mr Briggs – dated tomorrow – cannot account for having had no letter, as the rent day was on the 1st instant a fortnight since on Wednesday – the pipe of servants wine which came on Friday bottled today –

Diary pages:  SH:7/ML/E/12/0055  and  SH:7/ML/E/12/0056

[anne-lister-adventures]

Saturday, 2 May 1840

6 3/4

1 3/4

Very fine morning and Reaumur 10 1/2º at 6 3/4 a.m. the German woman came with butter A[Ann] wrong again because I took one instead of half a pound      surely I shall now stick to my purpose and get rid of her some way or other as well as I can 

At 10 came Hoffman for 1/2 the money in advance for the carriage doing yet he has been since Wednesday morning and done nothing at it! I would give him the money if he would give me security for having it done as he promised I said on Tuesday but it was agreed to be done on Monday evening – No! He had taken 2 Calêches to do, and the Kibitka was to be ready next Tuesday week! No! said I, I must be auge or demidieu not to be out of patience with this – Tell the man I wish him good morning – And I sent George with compliments to Mr. Chwostoff to ask him to be so good as say when he could come –

I should go out today at 1 1/2 for a couple of hours except this had no engagement – George can literally do nothing i.e. get nothing done for us – What can be the reason of it? I cannot comprehend the man he is Russian – It is not that he cannot explain what is wanted – Had George in soon afterwards about what to do with Domna – Mentioned her going to Mr. Besoc’s – Longish talk – George went to her, and brought word back that she should not like to be at Mr. B-s[Besoc’s] all the people being Georgians – What would she like? To be at the house of a Marchand here whose wife had been to visit her – Said I had nothing to say against her objection to Mr. Besoc’s – Would consult Mr. Chwostoff tonight – George to inquire into the volonté of Domná and if her volonté and mine agreed, the matter would be easy – If not, I would arrange some other way – But if she returned I saw no way but his going with her – A-[Ann] and I sat talking things over she mending gloves &c. at my elbow, I drinking raisin tea and eating the raisins being thirsty – Then wrote the last 8 lines till now 1 5/’’ – 

At 1 1/2 Hajie Yoosoof came and brought a youth with him – At the moment Madame and Mademoiselle Golovin were announced sent off Hajie and received the ladies who sat some time very civil Mr. Stadler soon came and sat more than 1/2 the time they were here, and after they went took him with us to the Gymnase for Hajie returned for us soon after 2 – 

Large handsome building 60 élèves du Gouvernement – Building 50,000/- and 3,000/- (en argent) per annum allowed in the Directeur and Master of the School only arrived about a month ago from St. P-[Petersburg] the latter had been 3 years at St. P-[Petersburg] a student before that at Charkoff – 

The Tiflis Gymmase. (Image Source)

He shewed us his translation into Russian of Romeo and Juliet, and his Baudry-Paris Edition of Shakspeare[Shakespeare] in 2 volumes large 8vo.[octavo] – Good clear print – The edition corrected by Chalmers – Well-informed gentlemanly man – Turned to Macbeth – The beginning – Aroint thee witch – The glossary explained it – Avaunt – Begone – Mentioned the conjecture of a learned Scotsman (Dr. Hunter ages ago to my Aunt Anne) – That aroint thee should probably be a rowan tree, witch – i.e. the rowan tree or mountain ash was a spell against witchcraft – Or it might mean, that the shaft of the besom on which witches rode was generally of rowan tree, and that the witch should betake herself to it and begone – But now on writing this (at 10 55/’’ p.m.) it seems to me that the conjecture was that rowan tree witch, meant, there is, or I have, or beware of, a rowantree, or spell against thy powers, and will have nothing to say to thee – 

The rooms of the Gymnase large lofty and good – And the master’s apartment very nice and comfortable – Tasted the soup the roast beef and soup the 5 boys remaining (vacance – All the rest gone to their friends to return next week) had for dinner – very good beef – Tender – Best we have tasted here – The Maître de Pension gave us chocolate and excellent Savoy Biscuits as we talked over Shakespeare – Mr. Stadler, too, at home on the subject of English Literature – 

From there to Hajie Yoosoofs house in the square Abasabad – He shewed us several dictionaries and grammars – English Richardson’s Dictionary and Sir William Jones’s Grammar and Jauberts French Turkish Grammar – At last shewed his own MS. Grammar in Persian Tartar and Turkish – Had given 29 lessons to a young Prince Tchetchevadsoff (vide the name right spelt a p.[page] or 2 back) and he could already read and speak a little Persian – Mr. Stadler as we talked it over afterwards thought our Hajie’s grammar quite on an Eastern plan, no easier to an European, nor so easy as the common method – For my part, I am no judge – But it is probable that Lord Clanricarde will not trouble himself much about grammar or asiatic society in this case – Got away as soon as we could much obliged to Mr. S-[Stadler] – 

Came in at 4 50/’’ – Sat talking – Dinner about 5 17/’’ that is eggs and barley cake and butter and a little cheese and wine and water – Had just got all sided (about 7 p.m.) when Mr. Chwostoff came and staid till 10 25/’’ – Had stood some time but we somehow got to the subject of our English Ministers and their measures and Hein came – 

Soon after Mr. S-[Stadler] came we had sent for Hoffmann who arrived too tipsy to be fit for anything ∴[therefore] sent him off – With Hein la chose s’arrangeait – The carriage to be done on Thursday or Hein to forfeit (to pay) for 55/- S.[Silver] R.[Rubles] which it is now agreed to pay – He to send the carriage back but I to pay for its going to him = 3 or 4 abasses – Does not want paying till the work is done – 

Had talked over the affair of the servants – Of leaving Domna – On C-‘s[Chwostoff’s] saying it would be best to give her so much, and let her arrange for herself, but surprised she would not go chez Mr. Besoc, I proposed giving her her wages as usual and doubling her allowance for nourriture i.e. giving her 2/- a day – Yes! That would be quite enough – And if I gave George 1/- per day for the time he had been here it would be quite enough – 

All this settled we had tea – Green exprès for Mr. C-[Chwostoff] and he probably thought it good; for he took 2 cups – Did not know of any other place (Inn) for us to be at than this – Shops here where nothing but Persian things are sold in a Georgian (Colonel in the Russian Service) here learned in the Persian language and who has just finished or is finishing – Persian Grammar and Dictionary – 

On C-‘s[Chwostoff’s] going away asked what books we could bring from England, should we return to go to Persia, that he would like – But said he was of course aware of the difficulty – All must be sent to the Censureship – He said we should get the Russian Ambassador’s seal put on the package – Box or caisse – This led to explaining the difficulty of this – Lord S.[Stuart] de R-‘s[Rothesay’s] getting our passport signed Whig Ministers &c. &c. – But inquire again as to getting the Russian Minister’s seal – He might safely give it to us – We are certainly not likely to aid the spread of Whig politics – 

C-[Chwostoff] asked to see A-‘s[Ann’s] album – heard we had beautiful views &c. &c. !!! Explained – Shewed A-‘s[Ann’s] little unfinished sketches – I wish we could se fournir de jolies dessins –

Had Domna and had just read a few pp.[pages] of vol.[volume] 3 Dubois and had just written the last 4 1/2 lines of p.[page] 181 and the last p.[page] and so far of this now at 12 10/’’ – Very fine day, but rather windy – 

Mr. C-[Chwostoff] spoke of the amazing of trotting horses in America – The Marquis of Sligo had bought 2 horses in Philadelphia that trotted in double harness 19 English miles an hour with ease – He had given 2000 dollars for one horse – But for 600 dollars one could have a good horse that would trot 19 miles an hour in harness – The American horses taught to trot from their ‘infancy’ –Could trot a mile in 1 20/’’ minutes to 1 1/2 minutes – the latter pace common enough! – I had boasted that our English horses could trot as well as the American – no! said I – now I give in – we cannot do that – a mile in 1/2 minute a common trotting speed = 60 x 2 / 3 = 40 miles an hour!!! they can beat our best blood horses at gallop – Yes! They could – I said I had once ridden 2 miles in 4 minutes and thought it a great thing and I had trotted 14 miles in an hour (the little brown Buskett mare at Skelfler) and thought the galloping in particular a great thing – But I had only gone at the rate of 30 miles an hour and American horses can trot at the rate of 40!!! – 

It seems the great Western America-going steamer is taken up by our government for the India Mail to Alexandria and letters do not now go viâ Marseilles – And by this new arrangement government would save £60,000 a year – Speaking on the head of Whig savings, I said we paid the same taxes as before the petites économies of clerks and ladies pensions &c. &c. and in a time of and after 20 years of profound peace, we still borrowed, Ministers could not make all ends meet! – 

C-[Chwostoff] said we were better off in war – No nation had gained by the peace – Nor England nor Russia nor France still in a precarious state – And we should go on from change to change till we had (such was the sense of his phrase) run the whole rig – Had just written so far now at 12 40/’’

[symbols in the margin of the page:]         ✓       ✓       +          ✓       +          +

[in the margin of the page:]             Hoffman again

[in the margin of the page:]            Gymnase

[in the margin of the page:]            Mr. C-[Chwostoff] drank tea with us

[in the margin of the page:]            Agreement with Hein

Page References: SH:7/ML/E/24/0093 and SH:7/ML/E/24/0094 and SH:7/ML/E/24/0095

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Saturday 21.. December 1833

8 25

11 25

Dressed in ¾ hour and downstairs to speak to Charles H- about upper buttery floor - under-drawing the hall with press-paper etc - breakfast with my father and Marian before 10 - Long talk with the latter - one the Inman’s aetatis 12 coming to Miss Walkinsons’ school - annoyed - and Marian cried - then with my aunt - came to my room about 1 - wrote a full ½ sheet and 1 p. of ½ sheet envelope to Lady S- ‘Found my aunt a great deal better than it was possible to expect from the very alarming accounts I had received - she is certainly in a precarious state and suffers a great deal, but if I might venture to depend at all upon my own judgement, I should say the danger was less imminent than it had been represented and that life might be prolonged for a considerable time, at least for many months - I have no fear of her no getting over the winter unless there should be some sudden change which I do not at present see any reason to apprehend - she was delighted to see me, and had counted upon my coming, that I shall never repent not having hesitated about it - but I feel persuaded, the account might safely have been such as to have permitted my remaining where I was till spring’ - went by High Wycombe - stopt ½ hour for soup and sandwiches at Oxford - at Leamington near 10 - Lawtons not there - sat an hour with V- (looking very thin but very well - ‘the baby the fattest little thing I ever saw’ took so much notice of me quite delighted with it) - then forward and reached Lawton at 11 - Mrs. L- ‘quieted my apprehension about my aunt’ so did not reach here till Thursday evening - did not see of the Miss Camerons and Mrs. C- only for a moment - mention my letter from Lady Harriet - Lady S- if writing to say I am safely arrived  my aunt much better than I expected -‘I have no fear of her not getting the winter over, and think even that she may continue  much longer; but that she was so anxious to see me, I feel I was right to come - I have only done my duty, and self-denial and trouble, however great weigh with me as nothing’ - mention writing to Lady S- de R- and hope anxiously for good accounts of Lady S- herself ‘Adieu dearest lady Stuart and believe me always very truly and affectionately yours’ - wrote a full ½ sheet to Lady S- de R- ‘my dear Lady Stuart I have found my aunt so very much better than I expected, that I have no fear of her not getting over the winter, and she may even continue many months longer - she says, she felt better the moment she got my letter - and the surprise and pleasure have had so powerful an effect, that the appearance of her leg is quite changed - the alarming tendency it had to gangrene, is  wearing worn off, and the threat of immediate danger is gone - the manner in which she has roused up from an apparently fixed indifference about everything, is really quite extraordinary - ...... should you be writing to lady Gordon, may I beg you to tell her, I am here, more unsettled than ever - So great is my aunt’s suffering, it is impossible to desire the prolongation of her life; but she is now so extraordinary better, that, tho’ recovery is impossible, I think she may and probably will continue many months - my love to the dear girls - I almost fancy I can enter into the feelings this winter - may all the world have smiles for Charlotte! Believe me, my dear Lady Stuart very truly yours A. Lister’ - same sort of account (as to Lady S-) of my journey and of B-‘s except the addition how pleased she was with Lady S- de R-‘s letter and that I came away quite sure she Lady S- de R- ‘would be the means of settling everything properly and comfortably for all parties’ – dinner at 6 ½ - at 7 sent off

SH:7/ML/E/16/0152

my letter to ‘the honourable Lady Stuart’ undercover to ‘the Earl of Ripon Carlton Gardens London’ and my letter to ‘the lady Stuart de Rothesay’ undercover to ‘Lord Stuart de Rothesay Carlton-house terrace London’ and my letter written this afternoon to ‘Mr. J. Bewsher Baggage warehouse custom house London’ – Sir I shall be much obliged to you to forward the plate as soon as possible directed to ‘Madame Lister aux soins de Messrs. Laffitte and compagnie Canquiers à Paris, and I shall be much obliged to you to write on the parcel Argenterie Française – on shewing this letter to Messrs. Hammersleys and co. Bankers Pall Mall, they will reimburse you the expense incurred on my account – I take this opportunity of thanking you for your civility and attention and am sir your much obliged A. Lister’ – sat talking to my aunt till after 9 when she went to bed – Really she talked quite as cheerfully as before I last left home and is so well it is difficult to think of her as being in any near danger – then talking to my father and Marian till came up to my room at 9 50 – fine day F48° now at 10 5 pm – found my cousin come gently on getting up this morning but have never had time till now to put on linen - had Charles H- again this afternoon - the press-paper largest sheets made here 2ft by 20in. at 3 1/2d but this size would not answer Charles advises putting a sort of under flooring across the joists, and using the 30 oaks boards I have as they would be just as good for anything else afterwards - will consider what the labour would be - perhaps 25/.

[misslisterkeepsajournal]

1831 Sunday 2 October

7 1/2 1 3/4

Fahrenheit 68°. at 9 and fine but dullish morning - rain in the night - breakfast at 9 1/4 - at church - (just as they were singing the morning hymn) at 10 1/2 - 2 clergymen - preached only tolerably 1/2 hour from Isaiah xvi.3.

Off from the Old Antelope, Poole (not very good rooms or breakfasts but good mutton broth with rice in for dinner) at 12 3/4 in 8 mins. [minutes] from the time of service being over - Ever green hedges formed by mud walls covered with neatly clipt furze - Stopt to water the horses at the Inn at Bournmouth at 1 25/.. - so far had got on pretty well, but there thought the horses would have gibbed down the hill, and could not have been got on at all - had only got about 1/2 mile farther when they stopt, and after 1/4 hour's fighting with them, found it so impossible to make them stir, sent the postboy to Xst.chch. [Christchurch] for a pair of leaders - sat waiting his return just 1 1/4 hour (heavy rain during the great part of the time) then off again at 3 10/.., and at Highcliff at 4 5/.. -

Found all the party at dinner Lord S- [Stuart de Rothesay] being about to start on his return to London for the 2nd reading of the reform bill tomorrow - dined - very heavy shower - coffee - Lord S- [Stuart de Rothesay] off about 5 - an architect here who had been giving hints about additions to the house - all astonished at my news that the waiter had given me at breakfast this morning that Lord Ashley was 205 ahead last night and Mr. Ponsonby at the close of the day could not gain a hearing, and it was confidently said he would give up the contest - vide line 1 of this page 1700 had then been polled -

Dressed - tea - the girls played on the piano till 8 3/4 then went to bed - Lady S Stuart de Rothesay very nind [kind] in her way talked of the estate and shewed plans of Bure then a little about Vere who had answered her Lady Ss [Stuart de Rothesay's] letter rather huffily gave me a nice pretty letter from Madame Appony to read and one upstairs with me four half sheets and a page of half sheet envelope full of chit chat from Mrs Hamilton offered to go tomorrow Lady S [Stuart de Rothesay] very kind about it and I stay till Tuesday I find it better than I expected in coming along had lamented my returning or going to Swanage and said to myself well but I shall be off at two tomorrow and then the misery will be over I am really very fairly at my ease and comfortable she stood at my door talking yet still no shake of the hand or even good night I came into my room without doing more than close the conversation by saying I would gladly stay till Tuesday her manner to me is a strange mixture of the kind and confidential and cold does she really like me or not? if not why have asked me here?

Finish day till between 1 and 2 - afterwards heavy showers - but fair about 5 and afterwards wrote the above of today - Fahrenheit 65°. now at 1 20/.. tonight - came upstairs at 12 25/.. -  

Reference: SH:7/ML/E/14/0125

[wasalwaysagreatpickle]

Thursday 3 April 1834

6 3/4

2 35/..

Same as last night 

Well aired comfortable enough bed – the room very small having used the large good room as my dressing room because the bed had not been slept in of 3 or 4 months – rain in the night, and a little this morning after getting up – Fahrenheit 52˚ at 7 40/.. – breakfast at 8 – out at 9 1/4 – took a boy as guide – walked by the house and home terrace, and across fields and down a steep, thick wood down by the little river (Rye) and walked along it (the valley narrow and beautifully wooded in the [blackfall] style) to the little village of Rivaulx where we came rather suddenly but finely on the large beautiful remain of the old abbey at 11 1/2 hour there – have gone, but choir and transepts remaining the court of the cloisters, and what is said to have been the refectory, kitchen, dormitory, and prior’s rooms – very fine remain – but Elgin cathedral finer if I remember it correctly – walked from the abbey up the steep carriage road to the far terrace from which you look down almost perpendicularly on the ruin there being a Grecian portico Lodge at each end of the terrace (as there is a Grecian temple at each end of the home terrace) – inquired for the fine cypress trees somebody (Mrs Henry Belcombe or Mrs Norcliffe) had told me were there – no such thing – 2 miles from this far lodge on the far terrace direct to Helmsley – Had left the old abbey at 11 1/2 and got back to the Inn at Helmsley at 1 1/4 – 

Miss Walker not seeming tired – paid all, and off from there at 1 1/2 with 4 horses to Coxwold – very steep down Wass-bank – alighted at 2 20/.. for 25 minutes at Coxwold church to see the monument to Belasyse (Fauconberg) family – very neat small church – at Byland abbey (in 1/4 hour from Coxwold) at 3 – fine ruin but nothing to compare with Rivaulx abbey – belongs to Mr Stapylton (martin of myton) who let some part fall in the other day from taking away some of its stone – 5 or 6 minutes there and then walked to the little Inn in the small village of Wass where the horses were gone to bait – Miss Walker lay down there being a bed in the room but did not feel particularly tired – Wass belongs to Mr (Martin) Stapleton – he is always in want of the rent the moment it is due – has nothing in Byland but the abbey – the people at the Inn have 14 acres of land (good) all grass but pay £56 per annum besides £3 a year title and 3 guineas for the licence, and all the taxes, that the place stands them to £80 per annum – 20 minutes there and off at 3 40/.. – 

Drove through the village of Ampleforth, and alighted at the Roman Catholic college about near a mile beyond at 4 8/.. – 14 monks Benedictine, and 40 boys students form the college – 1 of the biggest boys, who would be called a philosopher, would cost, everything included (excluding dancing and perhaps music) £50 a year – two of the monks, very civil, shewed us all over the house – good, airy, neat-kept rooms above stairs and below and everything very nice – nice garden – beautiful situation and view from the house – about an hour there and off at 5 5/.. – 

Through Hovingham, and not far from there passed at 6 5/.. Slingsby castle not very ancient b[u]t fine look[in]g ruin – rather houselike as to large Elizabethan windows – alighted at Langton at 7 25/.. – Mrs Norcliffe thought us late – Norcliffe there and Charlotte, both going to York tomorrow – Isabella Norcliffe at Croft – dressed – 

Went to Charlotte for a moment. What did I bring Miss Walker for, they said she was crazy and she charlotte believed it I merely said no if I had thought her so should not have taken her there –

Dressed – tea about 8 3/4 – Norcliffe went just before Miss Walker went to her room at 10 35/.. Mrs Norcliffe stayed an hour after and then she and Charlotte Norcliffe and I went upstairs, and Charlotte Norcliffe stayed talking to me in my dressing room (that of the white room) from 11 35/.. till 1 5/.. 

Thanked her very much for what she had said tho she seemed ashamed of it explained and said I thought of settling with Miss Walker. Charlotte Norcliffe thought I had better not determine too soon but take time to let it amalgamate gradually I said it had already been amalgamating the last eighteen months and and I thought that long enough and I thought I had made up my mind but begged Charlotte not to name it nobody was so much in my confidence as she she thanked me said she had no idea I knew Miss Walker so intimately or would not have said what she did she and Mrs Norcliffe had had a good deal of conversation about her before coming upstairs they said she ought to visit and I know not what which I combatted and said if I could not manage York society comfortably for her I could ask Lady Stuart de Rothesay who I was sure would be all kindness this seemed a surprise upon them Mrs Norcliffe said I should make Miss Walker unhappy by so taking her out of her own line but they soon began to see I was not to be talked out of it Charlotte said she understood Miss Walker had fifteen hundred a year yes said I calmly she has – 

Found Miss Walker asleep, but she roused up and we had a long talk – 

Told her all I very well could 

very fine day –

[veryfineday]

Thursday 27 May 1830

6 25/..

11 55/..

N  Vc

thinKing I could not attend the lectures lay dozing from 5 1/2 - this never does for me - I am always sleepy and heavy afterwards - F 52 at 6 3/4 a.m. breakfast at 8 -

wrote my note to ‘monsieur monsieur le chef du bureau des contributions directes’, and off (have a carriage for the day) at 8 35/.. to madame Decante to order about what to wear today - then home for feathers - then ordered Forest at 1 - then to madame Hautecoeur’s and waited while she had just tie new strings and the 3 3 ostrich in my hat - then paid miss Hobart’s artificial flower bill to Batton no.76 rue de Richelieue 80./[francs] then bought riband for hat passage des panoramas then went to the little shop Bains Chinois about slippers and home at 10 3/4 -

sleepy and tired - asleep in my chair till 12 it was raining - then wrote the last 9 lines of yesterday and so far of today - when I returned for the feathers this morning, gave the porter my note to take to the Chef du bureau (vide line 2 of today) - alll which tooK me till 12 25/.. - some time talKing to my aunt better today - had had a very good night - Forest came at 1 dressed my hair, and madame Decante came at 1 3/4, and dressed me -

off to the embassy at 2 25/.. - a children's ball - with madame de Hagemann the whole time - Lady S-[Stuart] de R-[Rothesay] introduced me to her sister Lady Eastnor - talKed to her some time - a nice little person - liKe Lady S-[Stuart] de R-[Rothesay] but on a less scale - TalKed a little to the 2 miss Berrys and Lady Charlotte Lindsay - madame de H-[Hagemann] introduced me to the Danish count she had brought with her - 

madame Zamoyska and her daughter the princess there the latter hardly spoke the forme[r] smiled as usual graciously but that was nearly all  somehow I never feel as if I was properly dress  I wore dress silk stockings and black satin shoes my new black moire that is watered silk morning gown my watered silk white bonnet with my three ostrich feathers put into it for the occasion  all that was very well as also the blonde frill round my throat that madame Decante made me this morning  but she made me wear my blonde scarf  which was not well at least I was the only one who wore any blonde and my diamond headed serpent bracelets perpetually caught and I fear have very nearly ruined my scarf  madame Decante told me to take my fan   luckily I did not  for there were not more than two or three fans  and those great big morning ones  sseveral a great many had dress parasols and shawls over their arms  white gloves of course - remember all this for the future -

[margin: costume for a bre[a]kfast]

home at 5 1/2 - talKing to my aunt 10 minutes  monsieur Pelletier came at 5 40/.. - 5th Lesson from then to 7 1/4 - dinner at 7 25/.. - no paper come today - pacKet from madame Galvani enclosing note for myself (cannot have the answer about the protestant clergyman for young waterhouse till the wife comes home next weeK) ditto for miss Hobart and for miss Caton, and miss Glynn - message from the bureau this morning, that, the furniture not being mine, I had no right to pay the contribution personnelle -

sent off the porter after dinner to monsieur de Favières notaire Duchesne rue Saint Antoine no.200 to say very civilly sorry I was not at home when he called but the answer from the bureau was I was not liable to the tax -

came to my room about 9 1/2 - wrote the last 22 lines of today, and coffee at 9 50/.. - came to my room at 10 55/.. at which hour F56° - showers between 11 and 2 - before and afterwards fine - ‘monsieur and madame Charles Droz’ left 2 cards today - 20 minutes trying to use the blowpipe monsieur Pelletier left me today - 

[timehasbeenbusy]

Paris

Friday 13 May 1831 Continued

‘when I called on Wednesday Lady Stuart de Rothesay was out, gone, I ‘suppose, as usual, to that everlasting Mr Hayter.  Mr Hayter, to whom I really did ‘think of sitting for my picture till frighted out of it by the exorbitant demand he ‘makes of one’s time.

George Hayter National Portrait Gallery

‘I gave Madame de Hagemann your note to read and she begged me to say a ‘thousand kind things for her to you and Vere, and say she would write the ‘moment she got home – they were not off from here till after 12 on Wednesday, ‘determined to go by Luxembourg and Coblenz, if the state of the country ‘permitted –you will have heard of the émeutes, réunions, in the Place Vendôme ‘– nothing – absolutely nothing – But the dispersing the people by a thorough ‘drenching from the fire engines of the sapeurs pompiers, was excellent. I meant ‘to have written to Vere, but see it is too late – Adieu, dear Lady Stuart – I shall ‘be delighted to see you and am always very truly and affectionately yours A ‘Lister’  

Then wrote the following to Lady Stuart de Rothesay  ‘My dear Lady Stuart may ‘I ask you to enclose my letter to Lady Stuart – You would see my card on ‘Wednesday’ – I concluded you were gone to that everlasting Mr Hayter, and ‘hoped therefore you were pretty well – I have had a very nice long letter from ‘Vere this ‘morning – she seems glad to be put upon the strengthening plan, and, ‘from her manner of writing, I should think her certainly better – but she says, ‘it is a woeful thing to have arrived at that point where health is the first object to be considered’ – ‘the de Hagemanns did not get off till ‘after 12 on Wednesday – ‘We have just fixed to be off tomorrow-week, and hope to be in ‘London on the ‘26th  by the steam packet from Calais –If I can take any thing for you or Lady ‘Mexborough, I shall really be very happy to do it – I am quite sure you can ‘depend upon my punctuality – Believe me, my dear Lady Stuart, very truly yours A Lister – Friday 13th May’ Enclosed my letter in little enveloppe to ‘the honourable Lady Stuart and this with my note in enveloppe to the Lady Stuart de Rothesay’ and sent them at 5¼ copied a little beginning of letter to Miss Hobart to go on Monday.

Monsieur Juilliart called at 6 and stayed near ¾ hour to explain that Monsieur Serres Hôpital La Pitié was making experiments on the cervau [brain], and therefore took all the little subjects – yet even had not had one these twelve days impossible therefore to get me any. Then talked of doing as well as we could next winter if I was here which I counted up on being – said I had donné congé for my little apartment nº 7 and taken another nº 27 rue St Victor  He would be much obligeed by my being here from England if possible (said I would if I could) une boîte à disséquer [a dissecting box – he would go as far as 30 francs for it – had heard of very nice ones for a guinea with a little hammer in them etc etc  Said I knew of nothing good under 3 guineas – he would be glad then of a few bistouries and scalpels, and would go as far as 5 francs a piece for them.

Hoped I would recommend his mother’s pension at Geneva sur la place de Belair tout piès de l’hotel del la Balance – her country house at Warembé á din minutes de l’hotel de Sécheron – price depends upon the rooms occupied – from 180 francs to 240 francs per person and for each servant ½ the price paid by the maître –but when I said the fixed price for servants un pension in Paris was always 100/- par tëte, he begged me to put that down as his mother’s price – I said I had heard she was considered rather dear – yes! but hers was considered the first rate pension in Geneva – after the rate of 240/- per month she would take pensionnaires by the day – he owned there were pensions at Geneva for 80 francs per month – His own address Quai de la cité nº 23.

Dinner at 6 50/.. – read the paper – came to my room at 9 5/.. wrote the first 22½ lines of today – Coffee at 9½ - sat talking to my aunt about Shibden my father and Marian and my early education – Came to my room at 11 10/.. Fahrenheit 57º at 12 – fine night – very fine day – wrote the last 50 lines of today and had just done at 12. 

Reference Number SH:7/ML/E/14/0059