Monday 15 April 1839

Fine but dull morning Fahrenheit 48 inside and 46 1/2 outside - had Ann to say her prayers at eight and talked and tried to cheer her poor soul I wish she was better but she is sadly low

Wrote to Mrs. C. Gross and to Mrs. Hawkins - breakfast at 9 in 1/2 hour then wrote note to Mrs. Devoeux to inquire the character of Mr. & Mrs. C. Gross who had lived with her and been on the Continent with her as travelling servant and lady's maid - ask if they are 'perfectly honest, sober, obliging, and trustworthy - if Mrs. Gross is a good dress-maker, milliner, hairdresser, and packer, - and if Mr. Gross is an attentive, active 'servant, who thoroughly understands carriages, and the business of a travelling servant - Mrs. Lister hopes that neither of the 2 servants left Mrs. Devoeux for any fault' - wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Gross to call on Mrs. Hawkins, saying I had sent her a note to Mrs. Deveux which she Mrs. Hawkins would send if she thought them likely to suit me - wrote to Mrs. Hawkins that I had told these people to call on her, and should be much obliged to her to see them and if she thought them likely to suit me (as travelling servant and lady's maid) to send the note to Mrs. Devoeux - and if Mr. Hawkins could make my inquires at Mrs. Devoeux's house, he would oblige me very much

Ann came and sat by me - read over her letter to her sister written yesterday morning, and copied and sealed and sent off by George groom at 11 1/4 my own letters note to 'the honourable Mrs Devoeux 17 Cumberland Street Bryanson Square' under cover (enclosed in letter) to 'Mrs. Hawkins, 26 Dover Street, London Postage Paid' and Letter to 'Mrs. C. Gross, at Mr Barnfield's 6 Dorset Street Manchester square London Postage Paid'

At 10 note and parcel from Mr. Parker - parcel containing probate of Mrs. Rose's will sent to me by Marion's order and note announcing this and the offer of purchase of the High Royds estate

At 11 20/60 had Booth for 2 or 3 minutes - come for 8 of the plank deals I got from Greenwood on Friday, for the blacksmith's shop and boiler-house roofs

Then wrote all but the 1st. 2 lines of today till now 11 40/60 - then putting away colliery bills

Sat at luncheon with Ann at 12 1/2

And then wrote note to 'Mess Parker and Adam solicitors Halifax' to go by Sam tonight - much obliged by the 1st. offer of purchase of High Royds - only sorry that prudential reasons oblige me to decline it - If Mr. Day's charge for survey and draft plan and one fair plan (supposing both to be given to me) will not exceed six guineas, he is to be employed and the business expedited as much as possible

Out with Ann at 1 10/60 and walked in front of the house - walked with her 10 minutes till Mr. Jubb came for 1/4 hour - says she is better - sure that Hudson's concrete essence of sarsaparilla (with 10 drop to 2 teaspoonfuls each time twice a day of iodine and steel) will do her good - I doubt whether she will take it she does not like his medicine nor himself as a medical man her lowness is terrible she is worse than ever today we must hurry off - then after Mr. Jubb walked with Ann in front of the house 1/4 hour

Then with her with Mrs. Lee in the north parlour - she is to send home the school clothes to be ready for giving on Whitsun Monday - Observes that we were well rid of the school and all its pothers!

Then from 2 3/4 to 3 55/60 (Ann rode off to Cliff hill at 3) read from page 373 to end of 402 end of excellent article on the state and prospects of Asia, - ending with 'sooner or later, we shall arrive at the conclusion, that the evils of India, like those of Ireland, are social evils, and to be dealt with as such The art of Irish agitation consists in representing all the ills of Ireland as political grievances The delusion of many persons versant in Indian affairs is to consider the evils of India fiscal evils - they seek for the living among the dead'

Went out at 4 - to the meer - Jack Green puddling and Thomas Sharpe following after the carts as yesterday - at the good stuff in Pearson's field below the water wheel - for some time the 1st. thing in the morning had carted offal stone from Jonathon Mallinsons for pitching the inside bank of the puddling against the meer

Then to Robert + 2 (David Mann and the new collier John .....) filling - then to Lane ends quarry - Booth there with Lee and his man and Ben and William Lord and Mark Hepworth's 2 horse cart had brought one big rag slab for covering the 1st. Engine Pit and were just loadened with the second which Mark delivered at 5 10/60 - I there and begged him to go once more to bring the cross pieces of rag to be set on edge for sleepers - returned to the quarry - it was 7 or after, before the cart arrived - Robert Mann had been at Halifax to look at the Hatters Street necessaries - impossible to get them cleaned out tomorrow, told Robert to go again tonight, to see Storey and explain this, to say that the people were in fault not to lock the doors for the dirt was anywhere but where it should be - Robert to ask Storey how often per annum they would like the places to be cleaned out - and this to be settled, and done regularly

Home at 7 10/60 - dressed Sent off my note (vide this morning) to Parker and Adam dinner at 7 25/60 Ann read French - I asleep afterwards on the sofa till near 10 - then coffee and wrote the last 15 lines till now 10 5/60 - then till 10 50/60 read aloud to Ann from page 526 to 535 commencement of the article on the 'Oxford Theology'

Fine day - Fahrenheit 46 1/2 inside and 42 outside at 11 p.m. 

WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/23/0021 & SH:7/ML/E/23/0022

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