Monday 25 November 1839
Small snowy morning Fahrenheit 64 1/2 in my bedroom at 9 40/60 and breakfast at that hour to 10 - then cut open Russian (Reiff's) Dictionaries and looking into them till 11 1/2
Out at 11 3/4 and drove to make our 1st visit to Princess Barbe Orousoff - there in 20 minutes and sat with her near 25 minutes - she shewed us Chinese silks, and a white worked muslin dress 250/- and a couple of feather tippets - and one fur ditto she had to sell for somebody or other - was disappointed we said we could not make purchases - no room - difficulties at the custom houses - she then said we would take tickets for her lottery, and gave us four numbers 20, 23, 24, 27. 'Collier de Stras, boucles d'oreilles, et bague' - at 2/50 - therefore paid a 10/- pink note, and came away - she was sitting in a small hot room encumbered with screens, and with her the young Russian girl who dined with us yesterday and an elderly woman, and an English woman seeming like a respected upper nurse, who said when I observed how lucky she was to meet with a Princess Ourousoff yes! she did not know what she should do to get her bread without the Princesse - the princess said she would call upon us - and was going out this morning spite of the snowy day - asked how long we remained yesterday after her, and said she was obliged to come away immediately after dinner - I merely said we had not remained long for Miss Walker had a bad headache - It struck me, It was good enough to demander la permission de laisser nos cartes chez elle
Vide Reiff's dictionary page 416 Кнаязь, titre Khân, anglais Knight, chevalier, - prince, titre des descendants des princes apanagés de Russie, et titre donné aujourd'hui par le souverain - Кнаги́ня princesse
It was about 12 1/2 when we drove off from chez Princess Barbe Ourousoff then to the Kremlin meaning to see the great salle having taken with me exprès unopened Baron Bodés note received Tuesday 5th instant supposing it to be a permission - by chance on opening it and seeing it long (read it) and found that the salle being encombrée de meubles &c. &c. he was very sorry we could not see it - then drove to the Gastinoi Door for press-paper for Richter's dried plants - for worsted at the German shop and lastly for fil d'argent the slippers (at the Gastinoi Door)
Then it being 1 3/4 drove to Countess Panin's - the young Countess received us - in mourning for her brother therefore does not go to the theatre - but Count Panin will go with us - she was dressed in white worked muslin with a black silk shawl on - no cap on - her aunt, an elderly lady, came in at the same time with us - not introduced - but she and I talked a little - the old Countess Panin will be glad to see us some evening - to go with Countess Alexandra Panin we had just about 8 minutes when the brother or some relation of Madame Apraxine came in and we came away
Countess Alexandra Panin's daughter æt 14 today - the young ladies here introduced at 18
Home at 2 25/60 - had just written all but the first 1 1/2 lines of today now at 3 1/4 a.m. [sic] - then at accounts till 3 3/4 - sat writing part of letter to Mariana till dinner at 5 - in 40 minutes - then the hair dresser being come Ann had him
I read a little in Reiff's dictionary then changed my stockings - one on and one off when Count Panin called at 6 and sat 1/2 hour + very civil and kind about our journey - and having heard that we paid too much would inquire for rooms for us at the Russian hotel near the governor's - Count Panin fond of bear hunting - going about 20 versts off (west of Moscow) to hunt, in about a fortnight
Dressed - at Countess Kutaisoff's at 7 50/60 and staid 50 minutes - her doctors just gone - she looked ill
Is to have a large plaster on her stomach and take petit lait four or five cups one every half hour has the piles all the Russians have them particularly the women even the servants - Count Panin when I observed that our princess looked ill what could be the matter with her thought perhaps she had too many doctors and too much physic
Would not let Countess send for tea because we were going to Countess Goudovitch - Countess Kutaisoff very glad to see us - it was quite right that we had gone - it might be about 8 50/60 when we arrived at Countess Goudovitch's door - the servant came out to say she was ill, and could not see.
Home at 9 - changed my dress - put on another evening gown - ordered tea - then till now 9 35/60 wrote all but the first lines of this Day
There seems a spell upon our going to Countess Goudovitch's - then at Russian grammar till now 12 35/60 - tonight - snowy day till after 12, and later in the afternoon rain - Fahrenheit 66 1/2 at 10 1/2 p.m. in the salon, and 67 1/2 on my bedroom table now at 12 35/60 tonight - Reaumur +1/2 degree = Fahrenheit 33 at midnight and stood at Reaumur 0 = Fahreneit 32 when we went out this morning at 11 3/4.
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