Thursday 21 March 1839

Fine but damp rather dullish morning Fahrenheit 44 1/2 inside and 43 outside study window at 8 10/60 a.m. at which hour breakfast in 20 minutes expecting Mr. Horner at 8 1/2 - 1/2 hour earlier than usual in his Thursday's lesson to Ann on account of sketching the hall - brought his camera lucida, and Ann and he sketched till 11

I sometime with Robert the joiner - then from 9 1/4 to 1 35/60 at my desk - writing (part done last night) the remainder of long letter for Ann to her sister respecting the oak view mill and other vouchers &c. &.c and then copy of letter to Mrs Rawson

Ann came to me soon after 11 - lighted my fire and sat with me till 1 35/60 She had this morning 2 pieces of bride cake (one piece for Mrs. Sutherland) from Gledholt on the marriage of Miss Emma Rawson to Mr. Rhodes - Ann to write letter of thanks and congratulations tonight to Mrs. Rawson - Persuaded Ann to take a heated jelly and a biscuit at 1, I taking a little of another jelly to induce her to take herself and finish mine - I wish she would live better, - eat oftener - I hope she is not beginning to get into a low way again but she now trusts me and seems very fond of me and perhaps I can keep her up if not we must be off she evidently wishes it and we have fixed to winter in Italy be Mrs Ann Walker as she may

Ann rode off to Cliff- hill about 2 and I went out at 2 10/60 - to Robert Mann he, and Jack Green, and Ben (the quarrier) at the Meer-road down Charles Howarth's field - I sent them off saying it was too soft to do anything - Robert said they had come to let the water off for the road was full of water like a line of canal

Walked with Robert to Hipperholme Lane Ends quarry, and sent the 2 men on before us - began there a breast wall for a landing place for the stone - Robert thinks he ought to have 7 pence a load for (2 horses) for walling stone - the rag flags to be valued by Booth - rubble count as nothing - Booth came to us - he had measured the baring this morning - Robert thought one of the dimensions ought to have been a little more allowed for (i.e. a little larger) - I told Booth to allow a little if he fairly could but to have all observations of this kind made at the time in future or not attend to them at all

Then took Booth to inquire what I could have set-stones for per yard at Turner's or Heap and Naylor's and said I thought of dividing the holme so as to make 2 equal divisions of the whole plot of Mithomholme and the bit on the other side of the brook belonging to Pump farm, and let by John Oates to Mallinson - said I feared Mallinson might not be punctual paying his rent, and therefore I should make sure of that out of work done

Then at Listerwick planning blacksmith's shop and sheds - Holt wants 2 bays = 22 feet wide of sheds - and joiner's shop 4 yards long - (I said 8 yards long) and saw pit - It struck me this last would be best close to the colliery entrance gate - stopped William Lord's walling at 8 or 10 yards from the present gate, and ordered about the intended sawpit, and new gatestead, and taking a bit of ground from Charles Howarth's field to widen the road and make room for the saw pit - told Booth to re-calculate wood wanted for roofing the new and enlarged boilerhouse, sheds &c. and told him to give me a sketch and estimate of 2 five-pounds a year cottages built up against the boilerhouse - the blacksmith's shop to be begun on Monday - the tower study stone fire place (mantel and jambs) will be finished by the end of next week

Home a few minutes before 6 - musing in the north chamber - a little while with Ann dressed - rather wettish or at least very damp, it having rained more or less till last 2 or 3 of hours

Ann sent off her letter to Mrs. Rawson Gladholt - Booth gave me (from Mr. Holt) prices of weighing machines from Mr. J. Green coachbuilder and weighing machine maker Doncaster - one ton £20 2 tons £25 3 tons £30

Had Joseph Mann with us at Listerwick this afternoon - fresh - the 1st. time I remember to have seen him so

Dinner at 7 5/60 Ann read French

Note tonight from Mr. Adam with the following copy of Mr. John Mitchell's valuation of tenant-right in my 2 Hopwood lane -Halifax fields

'number 179 upper field old swarth below tenants repair as having been cropped three times without tillage and wants turning to improve it - dilapidated £4.0.0

277 Last year potatoes but sparingly manured the value improved 4.0.0'

Taking both fields together they will be no more than tenantable repair

Read the newspaper and wrote all but the 1st. fifteen lines of today till 10 1/2 - finish but damp and dullish till then about noon or before - then fair a couple of hours, then driving rain again Fahrenheit 44 inside and 39 outside at 11 p.m. and windy

Rubbed Ann's back quarter of hour 

WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/23/0006 & SH:7/ML/E/23/0007

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