Entries from Anne Lister's Journals

Very fine morning Fahrenheit 63 1/2 at 8 50/60 - breakfast at 9 A review of the national guard this morning - to be in the Rue de Rivoli - the troops passing - Madame Contant had difficulty in getting here at 9 instead of 8 1/2 - brought her bills, Ann's and mine, about a thousand, rather more, to pay her - Ann and the servants anxious to see the King and all spent the whole time till 3 p.m. watching in vain - he and his staff were at the obelisk and the troops, merely marched in order before him Had Miss Daniel between 10 and 11 - she brought a habit she had made last year - cloth - really very well - and Madame Calès at 4 just as we were going out - the carriage - undressed - tried on the stays - very good fit - paid for the 4 pair (2 each) 70/ + 80/- Out in the carriage from 4 3/4 to 7 at the Luxembourg gardens saw the entrance of St. Geneviève, the new sculpture on the pediment, and some time at St. Suprie - dinner at 7 10/60 and sat in the salon eating strawberries Out again i...

Fine morning Fahrenheit 55 3/4 at 8 1/2 - no hair dresser this morning - carriage ordered at 11 - laquais de Place Lefevre third day today - breakfast at 9 - strawberries as yesterday (1st. time yesterday) - and sat reading Galignani till 10 3/4 - then dressed or rather changed my dress Mademoiselle Rosalie (the Swiss femme de chambre not coming at 9 this morning) after all the talk with Madame Figarol yesterday not coming at 9 a.m. as finished - Ann and I took on valet de Place, Lefevre, (4th day) and having George at home went out in the carriage (4th day) at 11 1/2 - put into the post, Place de la Madeleine, Ann's letter dated yesterday to 'A. Jubb Esquire Lord Street Halifax, Yorkshire Angleterre' for which paid 3/40 - to announce her going to the South of France for the benefit of waters and begging Mr. Jubb to Mr and Mrs. Sutherland if he thought there was occasion respecting Mrs. Ann Walker Then Madame Figaroll's after waiting some minutes for the dress could not...

Very fine morning Fahrenheit 65 1/2 at 8 20/60 a.m. sat writing or thinking what to write to Hammersley &c. till Oddy came to ask about breakfast at near 9 - coiffeur not come - went to Ann - so poorly I could scarce hear her speak - ordered breakfast - the coiffeur came at 9 and Ann had sat down to have her hair dressed about 10 minutes before breakfast was brought up - I sat down to breakfast, and had got about 1/4 when Ann was done and I had the coiffeur - Ann had lain down and locked the doors - but on my second going to her let me in - begged to have a room to herself and for no one to go and disturb her - I was therefore to be obliged to get my imperial out, and poor Ann went into the drawing room - this is very terrible - I scarce know what to do - so long a journey at to the Pyrenees with Ann's nerves in this state! Lui oservait entreprende une tel voyage dans une telle circunstance? Courage? ou que faut il que je fasse? writing my journal does me more good than anythin...

Very fine morning - Carré, coiffeur, at 8 1/2 as yesterday - breakfast at about 10 - Fahrenheit 66 at 9 a.m. dressed - ready at 11 Took the 2 servants and Lefevre, laquais de Place, 1st. time and off at 11 40/60 in landau to St. Cloud by the avenue Charles X thro' the Bois de Boulogne - at the palace at 12 35/60 - the royal family to be there today therefore could not see the interior of the palace - alighted - walked about - went to the top of the Observatory and to see the Cascade and got into the carriage again at 1 40/60 En passant called on Madame de Bourke number 53 rue du Faubourg St. Honoré - very glad to see me - but almost immediately came the duchess of something and her 2 daughters and a gentleman the duke ..... I suppose and I took my leave - Madame de Bourke said there was a letter for me and shewed me to Miss Gassy who gave me the note from Miss Ferrall and gave me an address to a dressmaker and to a carossier letter of horses and carriages and on hearing of my going...

Fine morning Fahrenheit 66 1/4 at 9 Ann came to me at 8 and finding me quite undressed I got into bed again for the 1/2 hour she staid - the hair dresser came at 8 35/60 instead of 8 - Ann think that perhaps my French plate went like the dozen of English silver forks and like the pelerine I had of Mrs. Barlow &c. &c. viz per Mademoiselle Eugenie Pierre! Carré, Coiffeur, at 9 10/60 for 40 minutes doing me Ann and Oddy each taking a lesson - breakfast at 9 50/60 - breakfast and reading yesterday's paper and looking near till 12 then till 1 1/2 at accounts - then Passport from Mr. Okey signed at on one Embassy but no other Ann and I went out, à pied, at 1 35/60 - sauntered to Madame Figarol's to see along the rue Duphot - told tinner there to come for the footpan's at 8 a.m. tomorrow and got curd from ye Crémier-glacier rue Duphot no. 8. milk -/80 le litre - black silk shawls - mine should be trimmed said the demoiselle with dentelle at 13/- to 17 francs l'aune - w...

Very fine morning had madame Calès - ordered 2 pair stays for Ann and 2 ditto ditto for myself to be sent home on Sunday morning - then had the coiffeur  (Carré) 1st. time dressed Ann and myself for which paid him 4/- to come at 8 a.m. tomorrow dressed - lucky - breakfast at 10 Dr. Tupper came about 10 20/60 and sat with us at breakfast - would have us go to St. Germain (not on a Sunday) by the rail road in the 32 sols places - then 5 sols more per omnibus up to the tower of St. Germain thought he could get us an order to see the old castle, if it be still proper, now a military penitentiary, for ladies to see - had their couturière - contente d' elle, after all - it was 1 p.m. before we got out George to bring the dresses, to be my old merinos for a pattern, and Oddy to go with him to Madame Figarols and wait till we came - put Ann's letters into the Place de la Madelaine post - Ann's to her sister and aunt and the joint one to Samuel Washington, vide last page, to him cum...

Fine . Fahrenheit 57 at 8 1/4 a.m. good kiss last night breakfast at 8 1/2 in my dressing gown - packing all the morning Dr. Belcombe came about 1 1/2 or after - the carriage came at 1 50/60 - packed the inside myself and saw the postboy do the back boot - dinner at 3 - Mr. Brown came about 3 1/2 to give Miss Walker a lesson how to do the clouds of her worsted work Off from Heworth grange at 3 52/60 called at Mrs. Williamson's to see the silver handled knives for which Miss Walker and I had almost offered 40/- a dozen - the lady would not take less than £3 so troubled myself no more about them Off from York 4 10/60 the carriage very full - left Eugenie and Joseph with Miss Walker had to keep awake and look perpetually behind to see that the box tied there was safe At Shibden at 9 35/60 20 minutes helping to get the great chain &c. &c. out of the carriage - 20 minutes with my aunt very much better had been out twice in the garden - then coffee in the little sitting room an...

No kiss last night crept into when she was asleep that she knew not of my getting in - quiet this morning she not well enough for much moving about but looked at her queer and played gently tho not excitingly Had Parsons to cut my hair at 9 1/2 and he then cut Miss Walker's breakfast at 10 1/2 while Miss Walker lay down again - not free from sickness - Dr. Belcome came about 11 1/2 Miss Walker got up to see but lay down again before he went away - merely told him we were going to London to Dumergue the dentist for Miss Walker but begged him not to name it - the Lawtons expected at Harrogate in August - I think Dr. Belcombe seems now aware of the business between Miss Walker and myself - asked me if I thought her being so well would last - yes! I had no fear - said I had heard this morning from  Mariana Leamington forwarded from Shibden, dated 26th instan t 3 pages and ends and under the seal Composed proper enough letter tho owning she repented her conduct and its consequences tho...

Kiss last night Fine Fahrenheit 56 at 7 a.m. breakfast at 7 50/60 - off at 8 55/60 - at Alborough, the old Isurium, in 7 minutes - 3/4 hour there - saw 2 pieces of old Roman mosaic each perhaps about 3 yards square and in a garden - the 1st. chez Pybus covered over, descend 2 or 3 steps into the room built over it - the mosaic much sunk in the middle - covered with damp - no visible device - the other mosaic chez Charles Inchbald, at the other end of the town, very nicely kept - a lion in the middle but only the head and neck remaining - could merely trace where the rest had been Then in 2 or 3 minutes at the Devil's Arrows and 25 minutes there till 10 18/60 3 of them - of the same coarse sandstone grit as the rocks at Plumpton near Harrogate and probably brought from there - the tops a good deal furrowed and water worn - they were Druid deities, phalli,? merely my own idea At 11 1/2 alighted at the Dropping Well at Knaresborough - merely went to the well did not walk thro' t...

Fine - Fahrenheit 56 at 8 1/4 - breakfast at 8 1/2 - a little sucking her breasts last night other wise perfectly quiet Off at 10 1/4, and at Newby hall in 1/2 hou r and 3/4 hour there - some handsome Gobelin's tapestry in the drawing room, but nothing worth going to see except the statue gallery in 3 rooms domed and lighted from the top - several good antiques collected in Italy by Mr. Weddell - said to be the finest private collection in England - a fine statue of Brutus, -as also of a sitting muse, but the finest, the Barberini Venus, in the attitude of the Venus de Medicis - 3 fine busts, of Minerva, Jupiter, and Hercules - the horse house merely a good substantial 3 story brick mansion with 2 wings (one the statue gallery) projecting forwards in and from the front of the house - a handsome broad avenue-sort-of approach Passed thro' Ripon, and alighted at Studley in 55 minutes at 12 25/60 - bought guide book and off with guide at 12 35/60 - the laurel bank (common laurel c...

Fine Fahrenheit 54 at 8 - p erfectly quiet last night - breakfast at 8 1/2 - found fault at being charged 1/4 per mile instead of 1/3, as elsewhere, except at Standrop, which, from inadvertence, I had not noticed there - dearer bill than at Staindrop - but we had been comfortable Off from the King's Head, Masham , at 9 1/2 and at Hackfall 3 miles at 10 5/60 - 3/4 hour in the grounds - much spoilt since I saw them 2 years ago, by the Marquess of Ailesbury's wood on the opposite bank of the Ure (river) being cut down - Miss Walker disappointed and much tired - brought away 3 cream cheeses the village (Gruelthorpe) far-famed for them Off again at 11 50/60 and at Brimham-rocks house at 2 1/4 (ten miles) - bad road, certainly, on the moor, but our horses worse - the old postboy meant to have left the carriage 1/4 mile the house, locked up, among the heather but I would not let him - on arriving ordered fried eggs and bacon, and with these and our cold roll of veal and bread and gi...

Fine but dullish - Fahrenheit 58 1/2 at 6 55/60 goodish kiss last night Comfortable enough at the Queen's Head Staindrop - not so cheap and good as at Greta bridge - off for Raby Castle at 9 26/60 and there in 1/4 hour - drove into the hall - by much the most imposing part of the Story - the Castle well worth seeing, but too much modernized within generally and without as to the windows - no pictures worth seeing but six good views of Venice by Canaletti - Castle and terraces stand on 2 acres - the old baronial hall seemed smaller than when I saw it from Croft 10 or 12 years ago, because perhaps now converted into a museum of natural history - some pretty good birds stuffed, and shells and minerals - the housekeeper very civil - clean's [sic] the marble slabs and chimney pieces (the red porphyry columns of the entrance hall and the imitation verd antiqua excellent of the dining room only scagliuola) with a mixture of soft soap and Spanish whitening and pearl ash smeared on to ...

Good one last night Fine morning Fahrenheit 58 at 9 20/60 - breakfast at 9 1/2 - all walked to church - there at 11 1/4 in 35 minutes - a small modern building, more like a Methodist meeting house than an established church - only 2 pews the squire's and parson's - the rest benches - warm with walking and asleep almost the whole service - reading the litany on our arrival - congregation of farmers and neat cottagers perhaps from 50 to 70 - singing without music fair enough Walked from the church to the hall some fine beech and balm of Gilead? fine timber near the house - or silver firs? - Mr. Morritt and his 2 nieces in London - so could not see the interior of the house - only 4 men to keep the grounds in order, too few, and nothing well kept - Had we come from Martin's Inn (built by colonel Craddock) in opposition to Chambers, the Morritt Arms, we should not have been allowed to see the Rokeby grounds - Martin had behaved abusively to Mr. Morritt ( will be æt. 63 next O...

Fine morning goodish kiss last night and an hours play this morning i am really getting fond of her for the play was all my own bringing on - Fahrenheit 58 now at 7 1/2 a.m. - breakfast at 8 35/60 Out at 9 1/2 along the river to St. Martin's, and thence close by the water (no path - climbed over hedge and wall) to opposite Easby Abbey where we wanted to be yesterday afternoon - Miss Walker seated at her sketching at 10 1/2 - left the 2 servants with her, and at 11 sauntered back to Richmond getting into the path high for some fields length above the river - fine views of the town Went into Bowman's the bookseller's and bought Tate's Horatius Restitutus and his 2 little works on the Greek metres and Greek prepositions - and bought the Richmond guide published by Bowman 2/- better than Robinson's at 4/6 with bad incorrectly drawn lithographs - Bought also Clarkson's History of Richmond - very few copies remaining - the author determined the work should not be d...

Fine morning Fahrenheit 58 at 9 - breakfast at 9 1/2 and reading a little till 10 20/60 All off to Easby Abbey at 10 1/2 - left Miss Walker and Mr. Brown comfortably seated at sketching having got table and chair from the old woman at the cottage, and left Eugenie and took Joseph and walked off to the grand stand on the race ground Got there in 50 minutes - 35 minutes at the top - the man who went with me a very intelligent sort of countryman - said the best hour for view was 5 a.m., and, next to that, sun set too hazy today - or could have seen York minster very plainly as also from sea to sea - and 'thousands of millions of acres' of ground - the hyperbole struck me - walked back in 40 minutes a better and nearer way - in going turned up the hill too soon and did not go by the great high road - the race ground a good turf and 2 1/4 mile course - the beacon about a mile beyond it - asleep 1/2 hour in in the wheelbarrow as yesterday then all adjourned to the old woman's ...

Real playing and sqeezing [sic] and pressing for an hour and a half last night and almost as long this morning she says she gets fonder and of me and certainly seems to care enough for me now I think we shall get on very well nobody would care for me more or do more for me Very fine morning Fahrenheit 56 now at 9 a.m. - breakfast at 10 1/4 in an hour Off to the abbey of St. Agatha , (Easby Abbey) at 12 - walked slowly by the water side - above 1/2 hour in getting there - 1 before I could leave Miss Walker comfortably beginning her sketch - then left Eugenie with her and Mr. Brown, and took Joseph, and walked up to the village consisting of an hospital founded about a century ago by a reverend Mr. Smith for 4 poor old women, and 2 cottages and the hall, Mr. Jacques , a man of very low origin whose brother went to India made money and left it him, and who, independent of this brother, had done well for himself - has the lead mines in the dale and 'tries his hand at everything' ...

Two this night and one this morning but not very good ones we had spoilt them a little by grubbling as we came along in the carriag[e] just before and after Boroughbridge  IIII Breakfast at 9 in about an hour fine, but dullish Fahrenheit 58 now at 10 1/4 a.m. - out a little before 11 - Miss Walker and I sauntered to the castle - 1st. founded by Alan le Roux (the Red) 1st earl of Richmond in 1071 - 1st. dismantled by an order from King John in the 18th year of his reign - not the scene of any remarkable historic event - we had the concierge with us the whole time - the castle court locked up, so that we could not get in without the man - the great square Keep tower erected in 1146 - the groined roof of its ground floor supported in the middle by a large octagonal tower from which rises a large round column that supported the floor above - fine view of the Swale from the castle and fine mountain view to the eastward but too thick today to have it in perfection Then sauntered a littl...

Fine, Fahrenheit 58 at 5 3/4 - Miss Walker æt. 31 today - breakfast at 5 3/4 Off at 6 20/60 - after passing beyond view of Shibden and its neighbourhood dozing the greater part of the way to Leeds till Kirkstall and from there to Dringhouses read the whole of the poem and some of the notes to 'Rokeby' stopt 5 minutes at the end of Nunnery Lane while Joseph took back his Chesterfield livery to Mr. Scott's book-keeper - then at 11 40/60 stopt 5 minutes at Barber and Whitwell's - got the seal (Foi est tout on a scroll) a birthday present to Miss Walker and left to be crested the Northgate plate that was uncrested 2 gravy spoons 18 Dessert ditto 2 sauce ladles 12 dinner forks (and one crested for a pattern) and 1 fish knife - then stopt 5 minutes at Myers's left there the slipper, and drag chain and 4 yards good of stuff like the lining - then at Heworth Grange at 11 55/60 Dr. Belcombe soon came - said Miss Walker had overdone herself when last at home and there had b...

Fine but dullish - Fahrenheit 53 at 9 3/4 at which hour breakfast - had Lowe the tailor - Joseph's bad figure so bad (large) about the hips In and out all the day till 5 - Pickels and his men not here - Mallinson and his men only here in the morning - Charles and James Howorth laying north parlour floor, John planting strawberries - had him the 1st. thing setting out grass plot square with the house - Marion objected - wanted it about a yard out of square - I out of patience - it was then decided to have without grass from within 4 feet of the windows down to the 1st. grass walk - Charles Howorth sawed off the lesser of the 2 great hollies that had withered almost unto death Came in at 5 - read a few pages of Walpoliana - asleep 1/2 hour - out again - dinner at 6 3/4 - coffee - took leave of my father and sister - settled with Cordingley about 1/2 hour with my aunt - pretty well - dawdling over 1 thing or other over Miss Walker's quantity of things bread biscuits, ground rice...

Incurred a cross just before getting up thinking of Miss Walker Fine but dullish - ready in an hour - putting away Miss Walker's books that Eugénie never told me off till last night - breakfast at 9 1/2 at which hour Fahrenheit 54 called up to my aunt her ankle bled so much came wrote and sent at 10 1/4 note to 'Mr. Sunderland Lord street to ask him to come today To my study - read from page 131 to 166 end of Walpole's letters and read 8 pages Walpoliana , all in volume 24 British prose writers - 3/4 hour's nap From 12 to 1 1/4 with my aunt - read the prayers and Lecture 5 Mr. Knight volume 1 in about 3/4 hour out at 1 1/2 - sauntered and loitered along the hut walk to Lidgate to get 'Rokeby' for Miss Walker Loitered in the walk returning till called to Mr. Sunderland at a little before 5 my aunt not worse - with my father and Marion till dinner at 6 - Settled with Cordingley - dawdling - packing travelling bag for Tuesday till near 10 - then 25 minutes with my...

Fine but dullish - Fahrenheit 59 at 7 50/60 - breakfast in 20 minutes and out at 8 40/60 - rain sent me in in 1/2 hour - reading a little of Walpole's letters - asleep - had Washington between 10 and 11 - no competition among the people for Northgate - only 3 or 4 bidders - the highest £6350 - of course no sale - laughed and said I was very well satisfied - he gave me the sale plan of Stamp's - told him I meant all the work here to be done by piece - I should be away next Saturday - he was to come and see what had been done - paid him two 10 pound bank of England's and £20 Briggs's notes that divided for the £40 bank of England for Miss Walker then had Lowe's boy with the clothes - not a very good fit - the greatcoat a gentleman's box coat with silk buttons! - Love to come himself on Monday morning - the boy to say I was disappointed in the fit, and to take the greatcoat back for livery buttons - then with Charles Howorth measuring to see if middle mullion of...

Fine - ready in an hour Fahrenheit 57 at 8 5/60 - reading till 9 1/2 from page 25 to 76, volume 24 British prose writers to the end of Horace Walpole's Reminiscences Letter from Mr. Scott's book-keeper 'George Ellis, 3 Dove Street, near the Nunnery, York', to say Joseph had brought away his livery hardly worn at all, and to beg me to desire him to send it back again - the poor lad brought it away in ignorance, never dreaming, as nobody said anything to him about it, that he ought to have given it back Letter also 3 pages from M- Mariana Lawton, dated Thursday 8th. instant and lastly last Tuesday night 13th. instant - hoped to have heard from me - disappointed tho' saying she had now no right to be so - and indeed ought not as she had neither asked me to write to her at Lawton, nor had I promised writes to ask me to pay my 'new servant James for a great coat Thomas had bought of him' Found her scholars more stupid than formerly dined at rode nothing intere...

Soft Rainy morning - Fahrenheit 56 at 9 - till when reading Hooper's Medical Dictionary - Joseph in consequence of my out till so late last night did not go to the post office till this morning - Letter (1st. leaf to Washington and Sarah (order for £60 and directions about cowslip wine) and page 3 half crossed to myself from Miss Walker York - wants to send Matthew off here on Saturday - has named to her (which I did not intend) his chance of sleeping in my father's room - he was to take less in shaving and be perfect by Saturday! From 9 to 9 40/60 wrote 3 pages to Miss Walker then with Marion till 10 40/60 - sent off Joseph with my letter to 'Miss Walker, Heworth Grange, York' at 10 3/4 - not to send of Matthew on Saturday morning but on Tuesday morning - his sleeping in my father's room not certain - but Marion wishes and hopes it, and may manage between when I am out of the way room in it - not to send more asparagus 'I fear it does not agree very well wit...

Fine Fahrenheit 54 at 7 3/4 - ready in an hour and out with Pickells - breakfast at 8 1/2 - Marion's picture (view of Shibden dale by Mr. Horner £20) came last night - busy with Charles Howorth putting it up in the little sitting room hanging my father's bell Asleep in my study from 10 1/2 for an hour rain about 10 20/60 prevented my going to Yewtrees wood - fair at 11 1/2 - but a shower, heavyish at 1st., soon afterwards - made me determine not to go - Mr. Sunderland came - saw my father - said he had, evidently had a slight paralytic seizure - my aunt's ankle bled more than ever last night - the linen kept unwashed - Mr. S- Sunderland s aid there might be 2 oz. ounces = 4 leeches - my aunt poorly today - but he said there was no material change in her general health, and still thinks she may get over the summer - difficult I think to say whether she or my father is the worst Pickells and his 2 men in the garden today - I said too much had been cut away from under the ...

Soft rainy growing morning - Fahrenheit 56 1/2 at 10 20/60 a.m. ready in 3/4 hour - with Joseph in his room teaching him to arrange his cupboards till 8 - out a few minutes - with my father and Marion - the former complained that his left arm felt weak yesterday - this morning he has hardly any use of it - breakfast at 8 1/2 in 1/2 hour - asleep in my study 1/2 hour and at my desk at 10 20/60 - till 11 20/60 wrote 2 1/2 pp. to Miss Walker Washington paid me the theatre dividend £21.13.10 1/2 yesterday afternoon - £15 to be laid out on the Bailey hall cottages if she has no objection - wants a check for £40 to pay taxes - going to Udale after hay time will persuade them to do what Throp wants - Matthew to take less in shaving , and be off here this day-week in time to come all the way - my father may keep him and have him in his room - his left arm weak yesterday - has hardly any use of it this morning - I suspect a slight paralytic affection - If Miss Walker's chair-bed not at...

incurred the cross thinking of Miss Walker just before nine - a fine but dullish morning - dressed downstairs in 40 minutes to speak to Mr. Shaw the plasterer who had waited 1/2 hour to get lime and sand on Wednesday for him - his men to begin pointing westside of house on Monday and do over the north chamber gable-end in a fortnight or 3 weeks when the lime had stood long enough not to blister - then with Pickels and his 2 men Dick and John Ambler who began setting the stone-posts and railing at the bottom of the Hall croft this morning Charles and James Howarth helping John Booth to get the stuff down - and Charles Haworth's nephew Carter preparing rail ends Breakfast at 11 and [Marion] came to mend a tear in my pelissse and staid talking till 12 20/30 about her living with Miss Mosey  I recommending it rather than marrying Mr Abbott Out at 12 20/60 till came back and saw the aunts ankle dressed a little after 1 - then out again pulling up old hedge at bottom of Hall croft and w...