Sunday 10 May 1840

Finish morning Reaumur 10 1/4 at 10 a.m. about before breakfast at 10 1/4 to 11

Then had Mr. Besoc and then Captain Tolstoy who staid after Mr. Besoc and till after 1

I had just turned all my things out of my bag to begin packing before they came all the rest of the day packing and putting away my papers &c. (to be left behind) in the top of my Moscow portmanteau and put my own dresses and Ann's in the portmanteau to be left behind - about 8 went down to see about the Kibitka packing - tis now 9 and we have not dined or had tea

Madame Latchinoff sent the translation of her voyage to Erivan by 10 this morning (before breakfast) - It seems, after all, that Mr. Tolstoy (not captain - only Lieutenant as yet) likes between reading them that of light travels &c. &c. his favourite work Mignard's French Revolution 4 volumes octavo and likes Hume & Gibbon & Robertson - the Black Sea said Besoc and Tolstoy very stormy from 1 September to 1 May - short hay-cocky waves - government bought 5 steamers in London - one of 130 horse power lost - could not contend against the storm - but from 1 May to 1 September 4 months of summer the sea stormless (storms have been known in May) and beautiful - one goes from Kertch to Yalta and thence to Odessa, but regular post road by land - vessels have been 3 months instead of 30 hours (or 2 or 3 days with wind) from Constantinople to Odessa - Besoc himself was a month and all but lost - 1 1/2 day from Constantinople to Trebizond - the Tchukess pirates danger to unarmed vessels

Fine day - felt queer from not having walked out for several days

Read Madame Latchinoffs little work after dinner - Sense well enough - French bad. 

WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/24/0100

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