Monday 12 June 1837

Fine morning rather hazy as if for more rain at 7 1/4 – Fahrenheit 57 at 8 and went down stairs some time talking to Bliythe [sic] breakfast at 9 in about 3/4 hour

Then out – at the meer at 10 – could not see that Robert + 5, Sam Booth, Jack Green, John Holmes, William Friar, and Michael, had done much – sharpened them up – James Sharpe the mason there squaring the pillar stones at top and bottom for the bye-wash covered places 4 men at the run of stuff to make up about the meer-clowhouse in Charles Howarth’s field and occasionally called off to the bye wash

Took James the mason to Robert’s cobbling up the walls on Saturday and kept him 1/2 hour over time till 12 1/2 for which gave him 6d

1/2 hour with Ann from 1 to 1 1/2 and ate 4 oranges – then out again at the meer till rain came in at 5 35/60

All took shelter for 20 minutes then the rain continuing went home – had Joseph Mann a few minutes who brought his coal-book and paid me for the last few loads got in bringing up the level for Long Goit

With Blythe and Booth who had been at the Lodge plumbing the stone gate posts Blythe having had a note from Mallinson saying that one post was 3/8 inch and the other out of perpendicular and when the posts were right the gates would fit – I told Blythe I was annoyed at his being in fault – the posts he said one was plumb, the one post must be made plumb – and the gates being as much in the twist as ever (one an inch the other 1/2 inch) they should go back to Mallinson and I should reset the old gate

Dressed – dinner at 7 10/60 to 8 and then came away before having the finger glasses and slept on the sofa. Ann brought me coffee about 9 and at 9 1/2 had Cookson up to cut the short back hair a great relief

Had Holt at the clow-house this morning about before 11 with Wood the engineer who came to say that they had had an order from Mr. Husband to make the wheel strike only five strokes per minute – It had always been ordered to make 11 or 12 strokes per minute – Wood sure it would not answer to make only 5 – Husband sure so too – Wood could not tell what to do – Husband too wanted 1/2 the engine pit leaving clear for getting the stuff up Wood obliged to alter the motion - but would take it upon himself and sure he could make it answer – very well! said I – do so - Mr. Harper will be here on the 26th and Wood to be sure to be here to meet him – make the wheel to make 12 strokes per minute and let Husband have 1/2 the pit clear

Much better for my hair cutting. Ann sat with me till about 10 1/2 while I ate 5 oranges and she one – then wrote all the above of today and had Ann ten minutes she tired her being tired is terrible enough to put anyone in the vapours it was this sent me off after dinner just to get rid of her for tho I was sleepy after my dinner and cider an agreeable companion was all I wanted poor Ann this she can never be

Finish day till about 5 1/2 afterwards rainy evening and Fahrenheit 58 1/2 at 10 1/2 p.m.

Holt to be here on Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning and to go on Thursday to choose wood (oak) beyond Ripponden, for pit-work – said they had sent for him to Bouldshaw – had holed thro’ East and west board – told them to put in another pole thro’ the East board to go at the them back of the buildings he would measure off this piece of coal got.

Letter postage paid tonight from Mr. Brown drawing master York with prospectus of his work dedicated to the archbishop and to be published subscription – the History of the Metropolitan Church (minster) of Saint Peter York with extracts from the records of the See and Illustrations

Frank and Zebedee began carting bricks from Swan banks – brought 400 each at a time.

WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/20/0075