Thursday 21 July 1836
No kiss
Much rain in the night – fair but dull and Fahrenheit 57 at 8 50/60 a.m. and out for 1/4 hour – breakfast at 9 10/60 in about 3/4 hour
With Wood and Benjamin and Richard and after breakfast Samuel Booth and Jack Green the 2 latter putting Northgate gravel on the 2 walks outside the mid garden door and Joseph Sharpe at their job after breakfast and then he and Robert Schofield and John Booth began cleaning the walk with Wood and company at the pool till about 11 bottoming the pool and throwing on Northgate gravel to fill up crevices, then set a run and began shifting stuff from near the great sycamore to the high north bank of the low fish pond. 3 at that and took Wood and Jack Green to low fish pond drain mouth Wood found me just the stone I wanted to cover the opening and this shewed me how to manage the thing
Kept Wood 1/2 his dinner time and then gave him a shilling to drink – stood looking and considering
Came in about 1 sat with Ann while she took a glass of wine and a biscuit – then hurried. Booth on with the alterations in the beer-cellar – sided the low buttery and had Booth and 1 of his men preparing for sinking for the steps and making the communication between the beer cellar and phaeton-house cellar, till 4, then went out to the Low fish pond, and could not tear myself away till 6 1/2 directed Wood how to sod up about the drain-mouth and get the job far and well advanced.
Dinner order today at 6 1/2 – promised Ann last night if she would dine at 6 3/4 or today at 6 1/2 I would be punctual – she herself busy with Cookson in the store-room dinner at 6 3/4 - coffee
At 8 in spite of the rain, Ann and I walked to Matty’s to see her make leavened bread – kneaded in a piece, about 1/3 of leavened dough in 13 minutes – Matty’s cousin there – Ann and I about 20 minutes there – sauntered up and down the Low fish pond walk, and in the garden till about 8 3/4
Then with the aunt and read the London paper till 10 – then had Cookson that she might go to bed – then wrote the above of today till 11 20/60 at which hour Fahrenheit 51 - very showery or rainy morning and later till about 4 p.m. afterwards pretty fair till about 6 – showery afterwards – fair just now, but raining a little while ago.
Letter tonight 3 pages and ends from Mariana Lawton – she has been laid up ‘with inflammation on the wind pipe for which blistering and severe sweating were used so as to leave me very weak and debilitated’ - her uncle and sister Louisa at Wisbaden – thinks of taking her sister Ann and joining them – not to pother myself about Mariana’s account – thinks she will only want fifty pounds at Christmas as she always intended and no more
From 11 1/2 to 2 wrote 3 pages and under the seal (of 1/2 sheet) to Lady Stuart and ditto ditto ditto to Lady Stuart de Rothesay and 3 pages (1/2 sheet) to Lady Gordon
Thank Lady Stuart for all the trouble she has taken about a courier – nothing plainer than the direction of her letter tho mis-sent to Halliford Esher ‘and I had only this moment read it, or seen should have heard from me before I had fixed to be in London on the 13th – then counted upon being able to leave here on the 15th – then delayed till the 18th – but here I am; and after 3 days’ uncomfortable doubting, hoping, considering, I have just determined to wait the event of a few weeks, and then try to re-arrange my plans –indeed, I am sadly anxious and unsettled – my aunt was well a little while ago, I had no fear on her account. She has been falling off these last ten days – and I cannot think of leaving her just now. But you shall hear from me again soon – I shall see you, and be on the continent again as soon as I can, whenever that time may be. In the meanwhile it would grieve me to let slip a really good travelling servant one who might suit me, and stay with me; for, if I am once again at liberty, I hope no breach in the peace of Europe will prevent my visiting the far-off countries you have heard me talk of – no one knows better the sort of servant I ought to have, than you do; and there is no one upon whose opinion I would more gladly rely than yours – now that I have no George, I do not think of taking an English man-servant, more particularly as I have an English maid, having been obliged to part with my French one, not for want of cleverness. If you are writing to Vere, may I beg you to give my love, and say, I will thank her for her letter in a day or two. I meant to have dined with her on the 12th. I will not think about disappointment, or how much it would have delighted me to spend a day or 2 with you. But after all, I think, or rather perhaps I feel as if I should see you before long. I hope you will be better for being near your medical man. Ever dearest Lady Stuart, very affectionately yours A Lister’
My letter to Lady Stuart de Rothesay the same in substance as to Lady Stuart mention the Italian named by Lady Stuart as having been taken by the Miss Berrys as a boy, and having travelled with Mrs Frankland Lewis, Lord Brougham, &c and that ‘I would rather pay a few weeks in advance than be unprovided with a servant when otherwise ready for being off ….. I should be thankful to anyone for a quick, clever, honest man and it would be an agreeable surprise to owe any part of this obligation to the so talented ornaments of my own name’ – ask if Louisa is to have her choice of the tour this autumn, and when they will have time to spare for Italy - …’How is Louisa after such a winter of dancing How is mamma? perhaps both might be the better for quiet, and air as good as that of Saint Sauveur – what sad work in our Spanish valleys! Ever dear Lady Stuart very truly yours A Lister’
My letter to Lady Gordon the same in substance as the 2 above as to my not leaving home and the courier – ‘I think and feel that she will be better, or that I may have no reason for remaining here much beyond Christmas – mention the courier named by Lady Stuart ‘You should know something about’ him – ask Lady Stuart’s plans. ‘Perhaps we may meet somewhere – tho’ I fancy music will take you to Germany, and the fame of Italian skins, to say nothing of antiquities, may lure me Southwards. If you write to me from Herefordshire, and give me the address of anybody who will frank my letter you shall hear from me. I really begrudge putting you to the expense of postage. But remember I have not four lineal descendants, children all yours are too large to be called, and therefore I would rather pay for one line, than not hear from you at all – my love to the girls and to Cosmo when he arrives – Ever very truly yours A Lister’
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