Friday 1 November 1839

Fine winter's morning dullish Fahrenheit 62 1/2 at 7 3/4 on my table and the same now at 8 50/60

Read till 9 1/2 when Mr. de Richter came 1st time and staid till near 11 - many apologies fearing he should not be capable of teaching me - fearing I should lose my time - I reassured him - Begin with Dialogue 1 page 96 Heard's Russian Grammar - only did the 2 first sentences and of these the verbs свезц transporter моzу pouvoir bzлм prendre looking for them in the dictionary and grammar and talking over the irregularities, and the insufficiency of my English grammar and the want of order of my French one - Heard wrong (page 212) in saying that all monosyllabical verbs, including 8 that he names, are irregular - De Richter to inquire for a Russian grammar that is more clear

The Polish M.D. Mr. Fischer's son-in-law is professor of chemistry at the university Mr. Fischer retraite (pension) 1500/- per annum - very liberal on the part of the emperor De Richter to come at 9 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday

The fur merchant had been waiting an hour - had Mrs. Howard - bought another fox-skin for Ann 225/- to be bargained for till reduced to the price of mine = 210/- - bought also collars - nice sort of weasel skins - would take 4 skins for our 2 collars together amounting to 70/- or 80/- - all this settled, a man to come tomorrow to help to line the cloaks, about 11 1/2 and then breakfast

Then some time talking to Ann then dressed - Paris silk dress and shawl and jean shoes and silk stockings - and off to return the call of countess Alexandra Panin at 12 40/60 - not at home - left my card. Ann staid at home thinking I had best present myself 1st. and her afterwards - returned

Rechanged my dress, and Ann and I drove to our boulevard, took 3 turns and went a little way in the street beyond the boulevard - gently - in an hour - the warmest day since our arrival - enjoying one hour's saunter - not more than 2 or 3 gentlewomen walking, and they only seemed to take about one or 1/2 turn apiece - nobody seems to walk much who can help it then to the Gastinoi Door to look at quilted bonnets Grotza saw yesterday - would not do at all - and looked at cloth - black at 6/- per archine - too thick and heavy - a good dark sort of brown at 5/- might do better than flannel to line my old silk redingote for walking - or might make me a Douliette of it

Home at 4 20/60 - talking - dressed - Letter from Mr. Adam directed to me for Ann dinner at 6 - and afterwards till tea at 8 talking over the letter and home concerns - the letter a mere copy of the rent-letter sent off in July last to Hamburg to the care of Messrs. Hunt - no particulars - money total receipts and ditto of "expenses" not even particularizing whether any payment into the Yorkshire District Bank was included in these expenses - my 1st. impression that there must have been a considerable payment to the bank - then the indefiniteness of the expression made us uneasy - talked of home and calculated how long the journey would take - say 1400 versts + 104 posts to Berlin + 140 postes to Paris = say 2 months allowing us time to see all worth seeing en route - Hirst will be glad to come into Ann's terms for his farm in Lightcliffe - George Holdsworth of Lee Lane is compounding with his auditors - Holdsworth of Shibden mill will be glad to give the same rent George Holdsworth pays for Lee Lane, and wants new engine

Have just written so far now at 9 25/60 p.m. - then at English Russian grammar till had Grotza at 11 5/60 - fine mild nice day - Fahrenheit 64 1/4 now at 11 1/2 p.m. on my table.

WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/23/0118