wolfy58

[wolfy58]

Confirmation of their visit to the copper mine in Falun, Sweden.

Courtesy of Stora Enso ABs arkiv, Arkivcentrum Dalarna, i Falun.

[wolfy58]

Tues[day] 3 Sept[ember] 1839 Mrs Lister and Miss Walker. County of York. England.

Visitor book for the silvermine at Sala, Sweden. Newly discovered entry by Anne Lister. Courtesy of Niklas Ulfvebrand, Sala Silvergruva AB

[wolfy58]

1835 February Wednesday 18

8

11 1/2

no kiss very heavy shower at 7 – damp but fair at 8 F 44° at 8 50/.. a.m. out at 9 for 1/2 hour with Throp and his man getting up thorns in hedge between Pearson Ing and coalpit field 3 of them planted this afternoon in the coalpit field and one in the Lower brook Ing near the gate into my walk – and with Charles Howarth ordering about trestles for the drift-sinkers to pen[?] upon with their stuff to the Allencar side of the dry bridge – breakfast at 9 1/2 – then out again with Throp till came in at 11 1/4 – Adney had Mr. Adam to look over Hinscliffe’s lease of the Newhouse coal that the holder of it Mr. Chew was to have brought at 11 but as he was not come at 12 so Mr. Adam went away and I returned to Throp – called back again in about 1/2 hour to Mr. Adam and Mr. Samuel Freeman the latter come in answer to my note of yesterday – very civil – would do as I liked, but, were the case his own, he would drop it – Pickells so drunk when he went for the summons, David Mallinson would not grant it – a man of such character would not be attended to – said Pickells had come to me in the afternoon of the day (Monday) and I certainly did not perceives that he was drunk nor did Mr. Bradley perceive who had to give him orders about some walling – However, I was satisfied to take Mr. Freeman’s advice – In fact, I had nothing to do with that part of the wood of which I had sold the 3500 yards stone to Mr. Freeman and should be glad enough to wash my hands of the business – I saw I had been wrong to send the summons in the 1st instance – very ready to own this, and very glad to leave Mr. Freeman to do what he thought best – he offered to try to make the men come and make an apoligy to me – no! said let them do it to you, and leave you to settle it with me – all which Mr. Adam approved – Mr. Freeman begged I would not tell Pickells what he, Mr. Freeman, had said – I promised I would not – but smiled and said he shewed a white feather – Freeman said I did not know what it was to have people to deal with as he had – a word at a public house might do nobody knew what mischief – he had lost £5000 by the union (turn out of the delvers) and I did not know what a spirit was abroad in the country – Everybody was afraid of a man like Pickells – I said as for that I would make no mischief but Pickells was the only man who could keep trespassers off the estate – it was only the hunters who had hitherto beat us; and Messurs. Pickells and Adam knew there was no law against hunters – Mr. Adam said the law was certainly deficient in that case  - Freeman was surpriced but of course gave way – stayed about 1/2 hour till 2 – had wine – I said he might be assured that from this time I would have nothing further to do with that part of the wood containing the stone sold to him, till such time as he had given up all claim to any right in it – that whatever people said he might be sure I would give no further orders about it – the fact is, as I think to this that, be it as it may, the fellow Gill had cut down a part of the wood, however small, and taken away the stuff in spite of me, who can get nothing for it, and of Freeman who ought to pay me the value of the stuff however small that sum may be – But no matter – I shall learn in time – never sell stone again unless by the measured and set out plot containing so many yards or thereabouts; and when I put to let the upper Place quarry, if Freeman be the bidder I choose to take let him not have one square yard till he has given  up all right and title to yew trees wood – Let Samuel Washington immediately measure and stake off the portion sold to Samuel Freeman and let me know what I now have left to myself – off with Adney to Cliff hill at 3 1/4 – thence  from 4 5/.. to 4 35/.. Mrs. Carter there – Mrs. Ann Walker very civil – home at 5 20/.. then with Throp and his man 1/4 hour – and then had Jonathan Mallinson and his son – the latter will take the Mytholm farm but thought the rent rather too great – well then, said I, I will lessen it by reserving the buildings and Ing they stand in – and take Samuel Washington’s value for the rest or thereabouts for I had taken the total value added about 20/. odd to make up £65 per annum – they thought he had got up in his value – I said that made no difference – I cared little what he valued at, for I valued for myself and had made up my mind before giving him any order to value the farm – some mention made of Dewhirst – said he was not respectable enough for me as he was at present; and I would not let him the place (without land) if he would give me £100 a year for it  tho’ if he had married and become a respectable family man, he should have had the place and I would have done anything I could for him – his mother had not behaved well in putting in no ticket at the public letting and I would not take her as tenant – Had had Pickells about wanting throughs for stamps wall before going to Cliff hill with Adney and I explain manner about how I intended hereafter to work the coal – dinner at 6 3/4 – coffee – Left Adney with my father and came and wrote the above of today and had longish talk to Oddy about Eugenie till 9 3/4 –1/4 hour with my aunt till 10 10/.. – very fine day F 45° at 10 25/.. p.m.

Mr. Jubb came about 1 1/2 and rebound up my wrist – all the lump of escaped synovial fluid absorbed –

[wolfy58]

1835 February Tuesday 17

7 40/..

12 10/..

no kiss very fine morning F 43 3/4° now at 8 25/.. at which hour breakfast till 9 – having been out with Charles Howarth a minute or 2 – a few minutes with my father – George took my note to Mr. Freeman at 9 – William Keighley came at 9 1/2  - out with him at 9 40/.. – we went down to Throp (planting thorn behind the well in the Hall wood) and took him to Lower brea wood and gave order to take up part of the quickwood hedge to be planted in the daisy bank above the new walk on the slip down into the wood – William Keighley and I then looking over the wood on the Wallroyde side Tilley holm stile – marked and valued trees to be thinned out for the good of the rest – then went below stamps to see the bit of wood I have and then forward to Salterley worsted mill (lets for £250 per annum) – turned up the hill there and came out by (above) Stamps to see the whole of my purchase – then looked into and went round Lowgate wood and walked the boundaries of my bit of common wood – the Keighleys took fall in 1829 which cleared to the Town and the Duke of Leeds (the former taking 1/3 the latter 2/3) £100 in 1830 = £60.0.0 in 1831 = £56 i.e. altogether £216 and nothing more to be taken for some time – bad ground for growing wood – but if it all belonged to some private person, it might be better – the coal might be worth something sometime ‘yes! said I 2 or 3 generations hence – William Keighley. said the wood was called 60 DW – we then went and pruned and marked and valued thinnings in Medley park wood, and in the far and lesser clough 1/2 of which of which belongs to the heirs of Jonathan Walsh Told William Keighley to try and get them to give up to me the whole of the fence along the wood that belongs to them – I would pay for the trees – if not I must make them keep up the fence between – then to Southholm wood. in it and all round it – W. Keighley advised my taking out all the larches (soon) to which I agreed, and to have the wood brushed and pruned – he advised me also to take in the Shroy and 3 or 4 more DW. to the wood, which I shall think about and perhaps do – then went into the house for a minute or 2 to speak about the affair of Pickells the other day with the young man gathering sticks – said I should see above[?] and perhaps make a new arrangement about the wood – Mr. Hemingway very civil – then into yew trees wood – grieved over the quarry but said it was my own fault – no fault to find with Mr. Freeman – but for the 3500 yards I had sold 2 or 3 times as much would be spoiled – if it was to come over again I would have no quarry there – what I got would not pay me, at least for my annoyance to see the wood so cut up – on looking at the bare ridge beyond it, from the Southholme side, had told William to see if he could buy it for me of Mr. Thompson that I might plant it – William agreed with me that all the baring-stuff should be piled on the present mound without spoiling more wood, and that the face of the stone should not be covered up – home by the high road Brighouse at 3 40/.. and sent William in to the kitchen to dinner – Adney had just had Cordingley who seemed so hurt I sent for her in to the north diningroom and had her from 3 40/.. to 4 1/4  - Marian seems to have managed her going away woefully ill – I really had some pity for poor Cordingley and as she made all the amends honorable she could to me, I said I should retract my saying she was ungrateful and that I should never ask her to come here, and told her I should be glad to see her, but that so long as Miss Marian was here I should consider Cordingley Miss Marian’s company, and would not interfere, but leave her to manage for Cordingley as she thought best – wished Cordingley her health, and consoled her, and I gave her a sovereign and Adney gave her 1/2  ditto – then out with William Keighley again at 4 20/.. cutting down the large dying lime tree near the dry bridge – then with him on Trough of Bolland wood pruning while Adney walked about in the new is-to-be approach road – sent off William Keighley at 5 1/2 and walked with Adney till near 6 – then with Throp and his man and Pickells planting thorn in the Pearson Ing then dressed – dinner at 6 35/.. – coffee – with my father from 8 to 9 – then had Oddy in the library – Eugenie too intimate with Matthew – more her fault then his – explained a little about Cordingley – told Oddy I was pleased and obliged by her telling me what she had done – would not name it as she wished me not – but hoped she would pluck up spirit to keep Matthew out of the room – she thinks Eugenie would have him if she could get him – then 1/2  hour with my aunt till 10 – then till 10 1/2 wrote all the above of today – very fine day F 46° now at 10 1/2 p.m. –

[wolfy58]

1835 February Monday 16

7 10/..

12 10/..

no kiss raining at 11 25/.. and very high wind when Marian went last night and got off by the mail for Market Weighton - rain this morning but fair and a little sun and F44° at 8 50/.. till which hour looking over Freeman’s stone-lease (yew-trees wood) and reading last night’s paper - breakfast at 8 3/4 - Had Mrs Dewhirst 5 or 6 minutes to ask leave to cart across the land with and for their skins, and if all were not quite done, that I would allow them (the skins) to stay in the pits a week or 2 beyond the time (1 May) if necessary - gave leave about the carting but expressed my wish for Mrs Dewhirst and her son to be off the premises by the 1st of May, and said that I did not like having skins left at all on the premises, but I would see about it - would speak to Pearson - did not wish to inconvenience any one unnecessarily - then had Jonathan Mallinson of Mytholm to say his son of the Black horse Inn, Halifax, would be glad to take Mytholm farm - did not want the buildings - would evidently have been glad to have them let off to Dewhirst - but I said Dewhirst was not respectable enough for me and I would not therefore have him at whatever rent he could offer - mentioned my intention of building a new public house by the Lower brea road side and keeping 9 or 10 DW for it - Jonathan sure it would not answer - said I was willing to put this plan off, if, his son and I agreed about the farm - but I must have a lease to my mind, and rent £65 per annum - well said Jonathan you must do the best you can for us - but I think my son will take the farm - Mr Samuel Freeman and his oldest son (Hanson aetatis 17) then came and I left Jonathan Mallinson Samuel Freeman gave me a letter to read from his nephew in London proving that Haigh and Aspinall etc. were selling stone in London for less than prime cost - my quarry in upper place land may pay if there be no competition, and is worth 6/. per yard - I said if all this was the case, and the stone worth no more, which was considerably less than I expected, I had no objection after putting the quarry up publickly to let, to leave it standing as it is and not work it at all till the stone was likely to pay better – this is not however I think what Samuel Freeman wishes – the quarry is not yet in a state fit to put up for letting – offered to leave them the accounts Debit and Credit but I said these might be given me on settling, and I would merely keep the summary given on a loose bit of paper

then talked over the matter of Joseph Gill – Samuel Freeman said he had not let the baring to Boothroyde but to Walker to whom Boothroyde gave 2/6 for giving up the job – Samuel Freeman will attend at the Sess[io?]ns room on Wednesday morning to prove this – much annoyed about the thing – I spoke of building at Northgate and having stones down gainly from my own quarry – S.F. said it would furnish me flags, slates, wallstones, all but door-posts, and nothing thick enough for thoose yet found – said I should think of favouring my own quarry by letting carts come down Whiskum road – must settle on what terms – then had the large plan down – said I would never consent to a new road from Brookfoot along the Pump side of the valley – S.F. said then he was sure the thing would not be attempted –

then had Pickells in to explain about Gill – S.F. and his son went away about one – then looking at the large plan till had Mr. Bradley at 1 1/2 – Mr. Parker cannot find the Saleplan of the Northgate property – thinks S.Washington must have it – Room for 5 new houses – had seen Greenwood who had mentioned his having having Northgate and offered Mr. Bradley 1/2 the house – that said I would  be too much rent – thought and talked of accommodating Mr. Bradley for £20 per annum letting him have what was Mr. Scatchard’s office and the present low kitchen part – would build a square in the Sheep croft, opposite Northgate house which would be a good private house if not an Inn – then the glazier came – had Mr. Bradley giving him orders about the water closet pump, lead pipe in my aunt’s closet etc. and then examining the top of the house over north chamber to see how the drop came in – then had him at the dry bridge giving orders to Pickells till about 3 when sent Pickells off to Halifax about another summons for Gill and one for Boothroyde – then left Mr. Bradley with the glaziers (2 of them) and went out to Throp and his man who had planted out the Sycamores at the top of the daisy bank, and were getting up thorns at the bottom of the Hall croft – left them orders and at 4 10/.. off to Crow nest – Samuel Washington’s young man thinks the sale plan of Northgate was not sent to them – then to Cliff hill to meet Adney – met her just out of the gate and returned together slowly home at about 5 3/4  - Had Pickells – a summons could not be granted – Mr. Freeman himself, as purchaser of the stone must take out a warrant against each of the 2 men Gill and Boothroyde for stealing – dinner at 6 1/2  - coffee – with my father from 7 3/4  to 8 3/4  - the room so hot, I have felt bilious and not well ever since – wrote the whole of this journal of today – then 1/4 hour with my aunt till 10 – then wrote as follows to go early in the morning to ‘ Mr. Freeman, Brier Lodge, Southowram’ ‘Shibden hall – Tuesday morning 17 February 1835. Sir – I am sorry to have to inform you that, on Pickels’s application for a summons against Gill and Boothroyde, it was found, that this could not be granted, but that you must apply for a warrant against each of the 2 offenders and I shall therefore be much obliged to you to make the necessary application as soon as you can; and, if you want any assistance that my soliciters, Messrs. Parker and Adam, can afford, I beg you will be so good as apply to them, in my name – I am Sir, etc. etc. etc. A Lister’ Adney copied me the letter Mr. Samuel Freeman left with me this morning – from his nephew William Freeman chit chat respecting the stone under-selling system in London – enclosed this letter under cover, just writing on the back ‘ Mr. Freeman with Miss Lister’s best thanks’, and put this and my note in one envelope – wrote out French letter to Mr. Gandin Genève – and had just sealed my packet to ‘Mr. Freeman Brier Lodge Southowram’ at 11 1/2  at which hour F 46 1/2° - fine day –

[wolfy58]

1835 January Friday 23

7 50/..

11

no kiss Thaw – great deal of the snow gone – Fine morning – F 38 1/2° at 9 5/.. a.m. – breakfast at 9 10/.. to 10 – Adney and I off to Halifax at 10 35/.. – down the new bank – left Adney at Whitley’s and went for 10 minutes to Mr. Parker’s office.  Mr. Parker gave me a letter of apology he had received on my account from the Editor of the Guardian – quite enough – said we (Adney and I) were quite satisfied – young Mr. Sutcliffe begged me to wait his father’s answer about Northgate till tonight – explained to Mr. Parker the approach of William Oates and left at the office the agreement (I had written just before setting off to Halifax) to be signed by William Oates at Mr. Parker’s office at 11 1/2 a.m. – Messers Alexander promise to have the administration accounts and release business ready in 2 or 3 days – went back to Whitley's for Adney  ordered King’s Interest tables, price a guinea, and Rennell’s Catechism of Geology and bought Essay on the Church by a Layman, and 2 little shilling things on the preservation of the sight and hearing – then to the post-office – Mrs. Bagnold not well – begged the young man I should be much obliged to him to take care that I had my newspapers regularly – that of the 16th instante mense did not come till I wrote to London for a paper of that day to be sent and complained of the irregularity to which I had just received an assurance that the irregularity did not arise in London – then to Roper’s – said he should have my iron-mongery custom if he would take care to serve me as well and reasonably as anyone else could me at ready money prices – then to Nicholson’s, and very civilly complained of the want of civility to Adney yesterday – Nicholson very civil and obliged and said that what I said should not be lost upon him or his young man – home at 12 1/2 sat with Adney reading Geological notes till out with John at 1 25/.. – went with him and Pickles to look at the drains in the land let to Mr. Carr – Then had his servant Joseph Booth (John brother’s) to look at the drains – told him how I had ordered them to be done and he seemed satisfied – said I was sorry to find Mr. Carr become so unaccommodating – Joseph Booth owned that the manure put on the 1/2 DW for which Carr charged £7 ! and for which Washington actually paid him £3.10.0 was not worth more than £2. – Pearson (Henry) of the Stump Cross Inn then came to me in the field to say he would give up the house any time I liked – in 3 weeks if I liked and behaved very well and civilly – for which I thanked him and we parted very good friends – then some time with John, and with Charles Howarth – the latter had furnished the drift-drivers within the last 3 or 4 days with sleepers enough – to begin this afternoon or tomorrow sawing up the 12 foot pine planks into 1/2 inch boards for vent-boards – then to John Oates’s and sat talking to him above an hour – he shewed me his little book of expenses of driving the drift through the Wellroyde holmes – understood to be for Messers Oates and Green for getting the coal leased to them by my Uncle James Lister and for the Spiggs Company to get all the coal in the Spiggs land – he said £100 had really been paid to my Uncle Joseph – but the memorandum of this payment is only noted without date – not noted by whom or in what instalments paid, at the end of the book in a summing up of the whole cost of the drift amounting to £507.16.5 + £2.15.3 paid in little expenses after the expenditure of the larger sum – said I had confidence in his (John Oates’s) word; but really nothing of this sort appeared in my uncle’s books – it was very odd – but I only wished to do what was fair – said I had said I must have £10 per acre for the remainder of the Spiggs coal; and it must be so, but they had better trust me and agree or I should stop the Loose, and try the matter at York if they put me to it – I must certainly have enough to pay expenses for instance, I should want the works measuring twice a year and could this be done for 30/.? yes! – said John Oates ‘if they were to loose any other than Spiggs coal we that is, John Oates and Hinscliffe’s son who bought Jack Green’s share should stop them whether you did or not’ – ah! said I, by what right? John Oates explained – by the deed granted by Joseph Wilkinson of the drift as far as it goes through his land, for ever – then said I, I think as I have bought Joseph Wilkinson’s coal, I ought to buy up this deed –and I ended by telling John Oates to consider about this and set me a price –asked his advice what to do about the Spiggs Loose – I thought and he agreed that I had best ask the Spiggs Company to let me send someone into their works to measure what coal they had left to get and then determine about the agreement – very well – said I would try this first – thinks Wilson may not last out above another year – he had too many fancies – cares too little about money and had thrown too many hundreds away – thinks I can stop the Spiggs Colliery and still bottom Walker pit, tho’ it is on the lower level – seemed to think Hinscliffe had  trespassed more than Rawsons – said I had nothing against Hinscliffe – that was long since – I did not mind small birds when there were large - home from John Oates’s about 4, and found Holt had been waiting for me he said about 1/2 hour – he is to meet Mr. Walker Priestley at one tomorrow to article sign agreement about the coal – to pay £75 per acre for each bed and to pay for one acre of one bed per annum 1st payment to be due next midsummer 12 month – Rawsons have 70 yards to pump (to pump the water into the level that empties into the dam, not itself far from Thief Bridge), and their present new engine is of 4 horse power – Holt can almost directly give them water enough to require an engine of 6 horse power – so that there must be the expense of another new Engine – Holt having agreed for Walker Priestley’s coal, if I get Mrs. Machin’s, Rawson’s colliery his own coal and Mr. Hall’s too, will be done in 14 or 15 years – then all the works at Halifax will be of no use to anybody but myself – Stocks would not bid against me – could be of no use to him –would be worth my while to give £600 for the landing place at the bottom of Southowram bank and for the Galloway gate driven into the hill – the walling and arching cost £300 or £400 – and Rawson gave Mrs. Prescott £1000 for the loose and bit of ground he bought of her – but he has sold a good deal of the surface for building ground – the Walker Pit colliery as good as Rawson’s or better for this end of the town – the coal will always be worth 8d a load or corve at the pit for one horse would take down 10 loads into the town, with ease – my having Mrs. Machin’s coal (about 11 DW) will prevent Rawson’s loosing Dove house coal – but I can loose it at Dumbmill bridge – the 4-score yards band comes out in Mr. John Priestley’s little wood opposite Lower Place – that I should have about 70 yards to pump – Rawson’s 4 horse power engine had cost him between £3,000 and £4,000 –his steward (Cooper?) says the colliery is in debt, but Jerry Rawson does not care what he lays out, as he or his children are to have the colliery on Christopher Rawson’s death – Holt does not tell Mr. Holmes much, tho his partner, for he (Holmes) when he gets with Christopher Rawson tells him all he (Holmes) knows – I cannot throw water on Rawson’s engine for long to come – not till he has got a good deal of Hall’s coal – He paid Hall £100 down and is to pay the rest of  the £1,000 by instalments of £50 per annum a mere acknowledgment – nothing signed but the articles of agreement; but they (the Rawsons) mean to act on this having got the paper stamped – Holt staid till 5 50/.. – dinner at 6 ¼ waited for Adney who sent off parcel of drawings to Mr. Brown, York – coffee – sat talking – and then with my father and Marian till 8 1/2 – wrote journal of today all that is on the last page and last page but one – 20 minutes with my aunt till 10 – fine day –softish – F 41 1/2° at 10 p.m. – Adney gave me the 2d handkerchief she has nicely knitted for me –

[wolfy58]

1835 January Thursday 22

7 3/4

11 40/..

no kiss fine winter’s morning. F 33° at 8 40/.. Matthew brought word that Mr. Sunderland is dead – I and the whole house are heartily sorry – I know not any man in his rank of life whose loss will be a greater public loss – breakfast from 8 3/4 to 9 35/.. when left Adney with Mr. Washington, and came upstairs – reading – then down to S. W- [Washington] Greenwood came at 10 1/2 – out with him shewing him the intended Walker pit road – very well satisfied – afraid I should think him presumptuous, or would have said before that he should like to take Northgate house house and land – would take boarders – sure he could make it answer – could let his shop for 50 guineas a year and get £30 a year for his workshops, and pays £12 per annum for his Shew-rooms = £94.10.0; and he would give me for Northgate house and land £100 a year – I said could he not give me £110 per annum – no! he would give me £100; but if I could make more of it, begged I would do so – If he had it, would give it up or any part of it whenever I wanted it – he would secure 3 blue votes in letting his own property these and his own vote and one we might make, as I myself observed, of his foreman = 5 + Dinniston Hopwood Lane fields tenant and John Bottomley = 7 good blue votes – mentioned what had passed the other day with Mr. Sutcliffe – if he would give what I had asked the house was let for one year; if not, I would think about his (Greenwood’s) proposal – then came home for Adney and she and I off in 5 or 6 minutes at 11 35/.. down the new bank – left Adney to go to Whitley’s while I went to Mr. Parker’s – had met his boy with a note in the new bank to say he Mr. Parker would come up to Shibden any time tomorrow if I was not going to Halifax today – desired the boy to make haste to say I was on the road – then met Walton 1 of the £120 bidders for the Stump Cross Inn – annoyed, he said, at Crampton (Miss Jenkinson’s James Crampton) who was here (as himself had told Walton) on Monday, and told Walton what he had bid etc. etc. wondered at all this being told to him – I said it had not come from me, and as nobody else knew but Mr. Parker I thought Crampton must have been merely trying to get out of Walton what he could – I had only to say, that the answer would be given by Mr. Parker tomorrow – mentioned all this to Mr. Parker who explained that there had been a sort of juggle on the part of Walton to get over the head of Crampton – Crampton could not bid more than £110 – said I thought he would be better without the place – Mr. Parker to tell him so and console him – better save his money with Miss Jenkinson a little longer till he could take a better place and better suited to him – Northgate itself would suit him better – the juggle determined me against Walton and told Mr. Parker I had made up my mind and gave my answer in favor of Mawson – Mr. Parker thought if Grieves should hold out, Adney could eject and get rid of him in a year – then joined Adney at Whitley’s – she bought Townsend’s bible arranged chronologically – poor Mr. Sunderland died a little before 12 last night – home at 1 1/2 – sat with Adney a little while till William Oates came – I had told Samuel Washington this morning (he saying Oates could not do without the privilege) he might have the 70 square yards for 3 months to lay the soil upon for the consideration of 20/. – to be a written agreement – the man came to say it was too much – hoped I would take 10/. – Then talked about his carting the soil here for 1/6 per square yard – if he would do this, he should have the privilege for 1/. and I would give him that back again – no! but he would do it for 1/8 per square yard.  I said he might go and see if his carting man would do the job at this price (1/6) and if he would, Oates to call here again in the evening – he did come again between 5 and 6 – and brought ____ Shepherd with him – after some talking, agreed to let him (Oates) have the privilege for 1/. which I would give him back again on condition of his delivering me the soil at the Low end of the little field at 1/7 1/2 per square yard –Shepherd had come about the Stump Cross Inn – had bid £105 – said that was like nothing – he was in fact too late – I had already given the answer to Mr. Parker – between 2 and 5 1/2 p.m. had been some time with my aunt, much grieved to hear of the death of poor Mr. Sunderland – and Adney and I some time with my father and Marian.. She (Marian) would not be surprised at Rawson’s failure any day – then out with Charles Howarth and John Booth – during the day, read from page xxiv to page 5 of  De la Beche’s Geological notes – dinner at 6 – coffee – had Joseph Mann at 7 1/2 (had met him this morning and told him to come) for about (near) an hour – said I had sent for him to consult him whether, if I stopt the Spiggs Loose, I could bottom the Walker pit – yes! Thinks I can – I shall get vent from Rawsons – asked if it was true that Rawsons had got my coal skirting along to Banksclough Lane head – yes! thought it true – could I turn all the Shibden water upon them – i.e. round the nook of their coal – yes!  he thought I could – but his brother knew better than he did and he would get him (his brother) to come down here with him – charged him not to name a word of all this to anyone but his brother – he says, Keighley has said John Oates and Jack Green have a paper given by my uncle conveying the Spiggs Loose and acknowledging the receipt of £150 – said I did not believe any such thing – and that if John Oates knew anything of such a paper he would produce it now, and not wait to let me stop the Loose 1st – Joseph Mann says there is not above 1/2 DW. of coal loose that we can get at  Walker Pit – 1/2 DW. instead of 2 acres, and that all small from the great weight always lying on all sides by the coal being got all round about it – told him my plan of sinking another pit about 60 yards forwards from Walker Pit, and driving 2 drifts up to it, and setting water wheel at Tillyholme stile – he thought the plan very good – nobody could hinder me of that and when I asked if my coal road would not be almost as good as Rawson’s that is near the bottom of the old bank – yes! as good almost for the town in general, and better for this end of the town – then wrote till 11 40/.., before and after going to my aunt for 1/2 hour till 10 10/.. wrote all the above of today – Letter tonight from Mr. Robert Walker, 1 Jones Street Berkely Square. London – the morning Herald always sent punctually from his office – Bill from 1 February to December 31, 1834 = £8.19.3 – very fine winter’s day – F 37° at 10 10/.. p.m. –  

Joseph Mann said Rawsons had 70 yards to pump their water into the level that disembogues into the dam near Thief bridge, Halifax – their Engine is of 4 horse-power --

[in the margin]

On leaving Mr. Parker’s office, he said with no small confusion, he had something he thought he ought to tell me etc. etc. It turned out to be that he had a letter of apology from the Editor of the Guardian to be presented to me for the paragraph of last Saturday – Said we (Adney and I) had not annoyed ourselves about it – but did not expect seeing it in the Guardian – Should be satisfied with an apology through Mr. Parker addressed more directly to ourselves –

[wolfy58]

1835 January Wednesday 21

8 20/..

11 1/2

no kiss finish, hazyish winter’s morning – very hard frost F 31° in my dress study at 9 5/.. a.m. the water in my foot pail frozen over 1st time; and the ice so strong could not break it quite off round the edges, even with all the force I could use with my tooth brush handle – by much the coldest morning we have had this winter –breakfast at 9 20/.. off to Halifax with Adney at 11 – down the new bank to Nicholson’s –then to Whitley’s, left  Adney there while I went to Mr. Parker’s office – out – left the rough draft of Adney’s lease to Brooke of Grieves’s farm – Mr. Parker generally at home (in the office) from 9 to 12 then goes out – some time longer at Whitley’s – bought Bloxham on the Monumental Antiquities of Great Britain 12mo [duodecimo] published at 12/. got it for 11/. and Adney bought 1 or 2 little things – in returning met Mr. William Priestley on the bridge – he said Mr. Sunderland was so ill, gout in the stomach. Dr. Kenny had no hope whatever of his recovery – Adney and I turned back and went to inquire at the surgery – Drs. Kenny and Moulson – apothecaries Jubb and Lister in attendance saw Mr. Sunderland at 10 a.m. – great danger – home at 1 1/2 – I some time with my father and Marian – then read the first 12 pages of Bloxham – then a little while with my aunt – all of us much shocked and grieved for poor Mr. Sunderland – then the whole of the afternoon in and out – the 2 gin wheels arrived from Low moor about 3 – great piece of work to get them thro’ the approach gates by raising the gin wheels up on the waggon so as to be above the stone posts of the gates – then much work in getting the gin wheels into the new coach house – the 2 cart drivers, a man and a boy, and 2 Howarths and John, and Batty of Dove house who happened to be passing and Joseph Moore who was coming to me for the poor rate I should have paid him the other day all helped till after 4 – Moore then sat a long while in the upper kitchen – I avoided telling anything about Stamps – merely said that so much as £160 per annum had not been bid – a little talk about the coal left in Stamps land – said I had heard at what it was valued – Moore said £1000.  yes! said I, exactly that sum – well! but, said he, could I loose it without expense yes! – then would get Wellroyde Loose loose, oh! said I avoiding a direct answer, I have loose enough if wanted – read a few pages forward of Bloxham – dinner at 6 – coffee – near 1/2 hour with my father and Marian – then read article Gout in Hooper’s medical dictionary – and then wrote the above of today till 8 40/.. – at 9 John brought the postbag, and note from Mr. Sunderland’s with Mrs. Sunderland’s compliments (written by one of the young men) to say compliments and sorry Mr. Sunderland is no better this evening – 25 minutes with my aunt till 9 50/.. –very fine winter’s day – F 32° at at 9 50/.. p.m. –

[wolfy58]

1835 January Tuesday 20

8 35/..

11 40/..

 no kiss very fine winter’s morning – more snow in the night – hard frost – F 36° now at 9 25/.. – breakfast in about an hour – went in to Marian to ask her to speak about the smoke last night in the kitchen – long talk – Cordingley not to return except for Marian’s convenience till she got another servant – had thought of inquiring for a cook housekeeper – what Adney and I pay is perhaps not quite enough to cover the additional expense – said we would pay whatever more might be required – offered to take the whole establishment in and out upon myself if Marian liked – my father allowing me whatever his present expenses were – Marian herself had no objection – but my father must be consulted – well! said I, and so must Adney; for all the indoors trouble would fall on her – said I was glad Cordingley was really going or gone –

Adney and I off to Cliff hill at 11 – talked over what had passed with Marian – Adney quite against our having anything to do with housekeeping – thought things had much better go on as at present during my father’s life – she easily persuaded me to her opinion – Sat at Cliff hill from 12 to 1 10/.. – Mrs. Ann Walker good humoured and glad to see us – I told her of Cordingley’s going on account of ill health, and she (Mrs. Ann Walker ) will try to hear of a servant for us – a little while at Crownest, and asked Mrs. Washington to inquire about servant for us – off from Crow Nest at 1 25/.. and home at 2 10/.. – Had met Hinscliffe in going, who said he could lend us 20 pair of 4 feet rails and would call as he passed and tell Joseph MAdney that Pickles’s cart might go for them directly to Hinscliffe’s smithy (now Walker’s opposite the Crow Nest gates) – Hinscliffe said, too, that he had agreed with Farrer for the iron rails at £8 per ton for 2 tons – the money to be paid on the delivery of the full quantity and he (Farrer) was to return 5/. – about a ton would be ready in a day or 2 and the rest soon – Adney came in to lunchon at 2 10/.. and I went to Charles Howarth in the farm yard he and James Howarth cutting up the old mountain ash (blown down last spring at the top of the Allen Car) – for sleepers for the iron rails to lie upon in the drift – stood talking about stopping Spiggs Loose – Charles thinks there will not be above a yard gained between Slip-in Pit and Walker pit – (vide last line of page 285. Howarth thinks there will be 10 yards gained) – therefore Charles thinks stopping the Spiggs will certainly stop Walker Pit – but thought I might stop Keighleys, and still keep the water low enough not to stop myself at Walker Pit – came in at 2 50/.. and till 3 25/.. from page xii to xxv. De la Beche’s Geological notes – then went down to Mr. Washington and settled the rent account with him – he had paid Mr. Carr £3.10.0 before he could settle with him for the 1/2 DW. of litter called manure and that 1/2 raked off again – Adney and I sat talking from 4 till after 5 – she had just gone to my aunt when I called her away to Mrs. Grieves who paid her £50 and got back the promissory note for this sum, getting Adney to pay her 4/. for the stamp as Mr. Beattie told her it was customary for the receiver to pay for stamps Adney said this was neither law nor custom but she would willingly give her the 4/. – I went down to Marian for 1/2 hour and told her to her great satisfaction that Adney wished things to go on as they are – Marian thought that if I had taken charge of the establishment my father would probably have gone into the Eastriding of course, I said how glad I was to do anything for the best – dinner at 6 – coffee – we went to my father and Marian at 7 20/.. for 1/2 hour – then till 9 wrote out the whole of today – 4 pages of common sized letter sheet from Lady Stuart Whitehall (thanks for the shawls) and 3 pages and under seal of 1/2 sheet from Lady Vere (Whitehall) franked by Lord Stuart de Rothesay – very kind letter from Lady Stuart. Captain Stuart returned for Rothesay – nothing yet said about Lord Stuart de Rothesay being employed but he sure of not being forgotten tho’ Lady Stuart knows not what to make of the long silence about it in high quarters – they all tell her she looks well – she herself knows her own feebleness – Vere says she has only seen ‘Miss Agnes once, and Miss B-‘ (Berrys) ‘not at all – they asked me to a soir��e but I have not been out once, and I do not encourage them here, for they are much too exciting folks for us. Lady Charlotte Lindsay is far less so, and more amusing’ – he[?] has in a town without good shooting will not do – the rent asked for Gisbourne £300 but taxes and wages of gardeners etc. would mount it to £450 – but the Camerons hope to get it for £300, all included – Adney read aloud the paper – with my aunt 1/2 hour till 10, at which hour F 34° fine, very fine winter’s day – hard frost –

[wolfy58]

1835 January Monday 19

9 10/..

11 3/4

 no kiss ready in an hour – fine morning a good deal of snow fell during the night, that we are, as it were, in Lapland again – F 33 3/4° in my study now at 10 10/.. a.m. at which hour breakfast in an hour – then looking at the pedigree and setting Adney to copy the arms till 11 5/.. – then had Miss Jenkinson’s James (James Crompton) about the Stump Cross Inn for about an hour till 12 1/4 – told him I should not send the answer to Mr. Parker till Thursday night – but that his (James Crompton’s) ticket was not among the number I was considering about – his bid was not high enough – he put £10 to it making £111 per annum – said if he made his bid £120 per annum I would take it into consideration but could not say more – he hoped I would not think merely of the highest bidder – no! said I, if I take the highest I shall not take £120 – there is something considerable bid more than this – asked what side of politics he took – blue, he and all his family and if he had had 100 votes would have given all to Wortley – said I did not wish to influence any one unfairly, but was anxious to have all the my people conscientiously of my own way of thinking in politics – cold only say he had better think the thing over and give his answer to Mr. Parker in time – then at 12 1/4 had Hinscliffe – he came to say he could make nothing of the Keighley’s – they said they were secured by their papers for looses and everything – well! said Hinscliffe then you must come upon those you purchased the coal of to make all good – you must come upon them for damages – Keighley’s said they would sell me the coal – Hinscliffe told them he thought I had enough of my own – but if they heard from me that I was willing to treat for it, he would meet them tomorrow – if they heard nothing from me by tomorrow they were to conclude, I did not want to purchase – and he would see them on Saturday – He is for my stopping the loose – they say, if I do, I shall stop myself (Walker pit) too – Hinscliffe thinks not – Walker pit will be on the upper level – the water will not reach it, and I shall be able to get the 1 1/2  to 2 acres of coal if I do stop the Spiggs Loose – Impossible to drive the level so dead but that there will be 10 yards gained between Ship-in pit and Walker pit – but if the worst comes, I can carry down my vent from the drift the Manns are now driving in pipes to the bottom of Walker pit – will have to carry down about 60 yards – asked if I could do it for 5/. per yard – yes! and less – perhaps for 3/. per yard and the boards (inch boards would do) would be worth something afterwards – Besides, said he, you may keep the water up for 6 months, and then lower it a little afterwards if you like – and if Rawson’s have made a trespass, it is sure to find them – this body of water, he said, lying up against my coal, would be a protection to it – and if Rawsons had made a trespass, or had even got the coal in the waste, and thus taken away the barrier, the water would reach them and they would have it all to pump – they would find it out by and by – it would incommode them very much – I then said, they would have incommoded me if they could, and I did not see why I might not incommode them – now that he (Hinscliffe) had put this idea into my head of protecting my own coal by the barrier of water, I was glad the Keighleys would not agree – begged him not to say anything more to tempt them to agree – well, he thought I had given them every fair opportunity, and he would therefore tell them on Saturday that whatever happened they had not me or him (Hinscliffe) to blame – they asked for the paper (vide page 269) I gave him, and he left it with them – he said Samuel Holdsworth would do nothing (that is would agree to pay nothing to me) – while speaking of Mr. Rawson’s  having all this Shibden water against him, said I heard he was going to get Mr. Samuel Hall’s coal immediately – and asked if this water would not be against him – yes! very much – said I knew nothing but from common report – but I sometimes went to the top of the hill, for the farm where Joseph Hall lived was mine – what was that farm mine? Hinscliffe did not know that – he then asked if Mrs. Machin had not some land there – and somehow (not at all bunglingly) contrived to ask me if I was about buying the coal – thought I – this is good – surely this is well done for Rawson – said (apparently very off hand) I think I have coal enough – but one of Mrs. Machin’s daughters came to me about it, to ask if I would buy it, and I told her – very well! I would think about it – I would bid for the farm itself if it was for sale – but I would let them know – I had therefore sent Washington, to bid what I thought the coal worth but they thought it so much too little, I had not troubled my head about it since – I wonder what Holt had done about it – What Hinscliffe said about throwing all the Shibden water onto  Rawsons, seemed against them – this inquiry about Mrs. Machin’s coal makes me think of the several other very little things which have led me to fancy he was fishing for information for the Rawsons – Joseph Mann came in to say they should want rails – theirs would be done tonight – Hinscliffe said he would lend us a few, and have 2 tons of new ones ready – said Farrer has about as many ready cast but asks £9 per ton – Stocks pays him this price – rather heavier rails, than some, and will not reach out quite so told Hinscliffe that even if I did stop myself I had only to sink another pit nearer this way about 1/2 way between Walker pit and the Allen Car and leave a sufficient barrier of coal, and then I could loose myself without trouble – but told him I thought £16 ready money would tempt Farrer,  if not, to give him a few shillings more – Hinscliffe staid till 1 50/.. tho’ he was to dine at 2 at Adney’s Shibden mill rent day – then a little while with Adney – poorlyish – and siding letters back into letter drawer when Mr. Sutcliffe and his daughter and little granddaughter came about Northgate house – had kept him waiting 10 minutes to speak to William Oates of Crossfield, Albion street, who wants the privilege to lay soil and stones on my Northgate land adjoining for about 2 months, while he builds 6 cottages, to back up against my land – would pay any reasonable damages and give me the soil for letting him lay it on my ground – will want about 60 or 70 square yards to lay his stuff on – wanted an answer tomorrow – said I would give it as soon as I could, but could not so soon as tomorrow – said he should have let me know sooner – if the land to let would take it – talked of £4 per DW. – I said that was no price – but would I sell any – no! he could get me 6/. a yard for it, tho’ his was bought of Mr. Kershaw at 5/. per yard for Hird and company’s (Low, moor company) coal staith – very civil to Mr. Sutcliffe and his daughter – he said he did not want the land – I said that would suit me very well – said the house and buildings were valued at £85 per annum but I had mentioned to Mr. Parker that I would take £80 – and set the land at £6 per DW. – If I let the place on lease for  some years would not take less than £120 per annum – but not anxious about letting – my plans about the house uncertain – then said if a good Inn was wanted I would rather make the house into one than dispose of it in any other way – Mr. Sutcliffe to talk with and make his proposals to Mr. Parker – Told Mr. Sutcliffe I was glad he had given Mr. Wortley a plumper – Mr. Sutcliffe left me at 4 20/.. after having had wine and biscuits and gingerbread – then a little while with Adney – then finished arranging letter drawer – dinner at 6 10/60 – coffee – 1/4 hour with my father and Marian and we came upstairs at 7 25/.. – then till 8 3/4 wrote the all but the first 2 1/2 lines of today – Cordingley who had been ill this fortnight went to her sisters this afternoon for change of air – Matthew drove her in my father’s phaeton – 1/2 hour with my aunt till 9 50/.. fine winter’s till about between 12 and 1 afterwards, small snow flying about a few light snow showers, and wildish winty cold day – F 35° now at 9 50/.. p.m. –

[wolfy58]

1835 January Sunday 18

8 25/..

11 1/4

 no kiss very fine morning – hard frost – F 35° at 9 20/.. a.m. in my study – breakfast at 9 25/.. in 1/2 hour – from 10 5/.. to 11 1/2 wrote 3 pages and ends to Mariana – almost fear she will begin to think me long in writing – hope poor Watson is recovered and that she, Mariana, did not suffer from the fatigue of her journey to London but was better for it, and found Dr. Foley’s opinion of Pavey favourable and that he had no sever[e] apprehensions for the future (from consumption to which Mariana thinks she has one heredity claim) – Mariana’s better account of herself a great comfort to me – ‘It matters little who or what it was did the good, medicines or I, as long as the good really was done – my visit was altogether very well arranged; and, trust me, you will be more and more satisfied about it – I am quite sure Louisa would be of this opinion – now everything looks well, and everything will go well – the door is closed against every unpleasant remark; and I confidently hope, and think, we may “all live to meet in happiness” – at any rate, I shall find no fault; nor is it at all likely, you should find yourself wanting in my “good opinion to the last” – I am not a person of all promise and no performance – you have, at least, some confidence in the sincerity of my regard – and only get up your spirits, and take care of yourself, and I see nothing for any of us to fear – I may still be “the little box with a slit in it” with as much security as ever – But you will understand this better, and believe it more implicitly by and by’ – amused by her message from ‘ master Henry Hinchcliffe’ – ‘unfortunately his year could not be my year’ – however much I should like the tour he mentioned cannot leave home – my aunt however great her suffering may continue another 12 month at least – very busy at home – in Mr. Lawton’s way, - carting stuff from 1 place to another – she would see we gained one point (Mr. Wortley’s election) by only one vote – but it is confidently hoped our present premier will have a very sufficient majority in the commons, and I think the present ministry will weather out the 2 years and many more I hope – Mr. Lawton wagered a guinea with me that present ministry could not last 2 years - …… ‘I had no especial reason for leaving out the word you allude to; on the contrary, I had more reason for putting it in, had I thought of it – give me some credit for being as steady in time to come as in time past, and believe me always my dearest Mary very especially and affectionately yours A Lister’ – went to my aunt to read prayers at 11 55/.. and with her till 12 3/4 – then reading the 1st  xv pages De la Beche’s Geological notes till 1 50/.. – off to Lightcliffe church at 1 55/..  – there in 25 minutes – waited 12 minutes Mr. Akroyd did all the duty – never heard so much nonsense from any pulpit belonging to the established church of England – Mr. Akroyd preached 42 minutes from Matthews xx. latter part of verse 21 – sad, unconnected, bad English and stuff – very cold work – sadly impatient and tired – home at 4 35/.. 20 minutes with my father and Marian then wished good night and came upstairs – Adney had little John and Ann Booth as usual – wrote as follows about the newspaper – ‘Shibden hall, Sunday evening 18 January, 1835 Sir the morning Herald of Friday (the 16th) did not arrive yesterday evening, as it ought to have done, and was not arrived this morning – I shall be obliged to you to send it me, as I am anxious to have the set complete – Several papers of last summer, during my absence on the continent, were not received – I am sorry to have to complain of this negligence – if it does not originate with you, I shall take care to investigate the matter at the Halifax post office – Be so good as let me have your bill, up to the end of last year, (from 11 June); and I will give you an order on Messrs. Hammersleys for the amount. I am, sir, etc. etc. etc. A Lister’ – then at 5 3/4  put into the letter bag (to go by John this evening) the above letter to ‘Mr. Robert Walker newspaper-vendor 2 and ones Street Berkeley square, London Post Paid’ and my letter written this morning to ‘Mrs Lawton, Claremont house, Leamington, Warwickshire’ dinner at 6 1/4 – coffee – came upstairs at 7 1/2 – sat talking 1/2 hour – then reading with Adney one of Plumpton Wilsons sermons volume 2 – then had the newspaper – with my aunt from 9 40/.. to 10 5/.. at which hour F 35° - very fine day – hard frost –

[wolfy58]

1834 August Monday 18

7 1/2

10 50/..

 long but not good kiss last night – very fine morning – F 70 1/2° o at 8 1/2 a.m. – breakfast at 9. Adney and I took the servants and out at 10 1/2 and came in again at 12 having seen the bathing establishment and walked about the public walks, all the lions at Vichy – large handsome building built by the ancestors of Louis 16 – and close to all the hotels – about 80 baths (baignoires) 16 of them being in another good building called the hospital, tho’ appropriated to the pay visitants – it is the hospice that is for the poor, who have 7 baths there – poor but rather picturesque little town, at a little distance from the baths, separated by nice public walks and gardens – shaded and cool and pretty – Hotel Bonnet at 9/. a day where the Dauphine went and all the great people – Hotel de Paris at 8/. does not take mere passers-by – Hotel Cornil or la poste also at 8/. and where one can go for only one night – where we are (Hotel Montaret) very 2d rate – no horses till tomorrow – went out about them myself for above an hour, till 2 – none to be had at the poste, or by the mistress of our hotel – might get them if and when I could, should not be stopt on this account at the next poste – ran after the 1st cart I saw, and by this means got 3 horses for the same I should pay for 4 en poste, after much bargaining for all? seem knowing how to surfaire if they can – the man asked me 40/. then came down to 30/. then took my price 27/. – changed my dress – from 2 8/.. to 4 ¼ writing out journal (latter 1/2 Thursday and the whole of Friday) – horses at 4 1/4 – 3 and 2 men – and off from Vichy (the people thinking they had me fast) at 4 39/.. – at Cussy at 5 – very pretty nice good village or little town – detained there 20 minutes adjusting the harness – the horses did not go very well at 1st – I greased myself against the offhind wheel in telling them how to fasten on the bag of oats, and went into the mans’ cabaret to rub the grease off – fine country all the way to Saint Gerand le Puy – nice liveable white washed chateau (left on hill) on our entrance – at the Poste at 7 20/.. – 20 minutes settling – to pay 20/. for the night, beds, dinner and breakfast – Adney and I walked out 20 minutes the evening so fine – dinner at 9 – very fine day – F72° at 10 1/2 p.m. –

 Eggs hatched by the heat from the spring at the low baths and douches at Vichy -

[wolfy58]

1834 August Sunday 17

8 1/2

11 35/..

 no kiss from Grenoble to here (and here put it back 1/2  hour) my watch 1/2  hour too soon – breakfast at 10 – very fine morning F 75o at 9 1/2  a.m. – off from chez Dessat hotel de l'Ecu de France Clermont at 1 1/2  – comfortable here in spite of the fair and the heat – the white hills as we go along covered with vines – Clermont nice town – all the country might have been at the fair – abundance of hides (untanned) to be sold, and all sorts of cattle, and wearing apparel and everything – Riom largeish straggling town ‘la plus jolie ville de l’Auvergne. Itinere C. 115 – handsome boulevard but saw no particular beauty in the town – passed close by the palais, a large plain but not handsome building – nice fine open corn-country from Riom with very few vines – Aigueperse 1 long street – nice little town – Gannat a poorish little town – no postillion one of the wheelers wanted to take us forward to Vichy so grand quarrel and mutual abuse between him and the maitresse de poste – he said we ought to have turned off at Aigueperse – that the great new high road – she very civil to us – only begged us to wait 1/4  hour – asked us into her house (not an inn) and gave Adney a little cold turkey – detained 39 minutes – off from Gannat at 5 40/.. – at 7 forked lightning (no rain) descend the hill, and fine view over the rich plain, and gravelly broad bedded Alliér (not much water) its large handsome suspension bridge and the fine range of opposite well-wooded hill – at the bridge at 7 20/.. – 4 pairs of suspension pillars – long bridge over the broad bedded river – fine river – stopt, as recommended by the maitresse de Poste at Gannat, at the hotel Montaret, Vichy, at 7 25/.. – long while bargaining – a cheat of a woman – she asked 15/. per day and 7/50 per ditto for the servants – then 40/. then 36/. and at last ran after me to the carriage to take my price 30/. – too late to hunt about, or would not have troubled her more – dinner at 8 1/4 – with Miss Walker from eleven for thirty five minutes very fine day. F 72° at 11 35/.. p.m. –

[wolfy58]

1834 August Saturday 16

4

12 3/4

no kiss fine F 73° at 4 50/.. a.m. carriage of yesterday – left Adney in bed, took George and off at 5 6/.. – no breakfast but took with us a pain and some figs – delayed on the bridge 1/4 hour before we could pass thro’ the crowd of carts or rather waggons with 1 or 2 pair cows, oxen, or bulls – in about 10 minutes or 1/4 hour at the foot of the mountain and then 1 hour of travering and montée – fine view of Clermont – at 6 3/4 at La barraque a little auberge du Cheval blanc where took up my guide to the Puy de Dome, a tall strong looking long-legged man ætatis 42, who said he had been a great deal with Monsieur Paulet Sarope who gave his 7/50 a day and fed him like himself – delayed 10 minutes – in 1/4 hour at 7 10/.. leave the Pont de Gibaud road and turn right along sandy by-road for 20 minutes more and alight at 7 1/2 and sent the carriage to wait for me at La fontaine de Berger, a cabaret by Pont de Gibaud road side, farther on – green-sward all the way excluding near the top a white domite-sandy path here and there – met a few cows going home to avoid the heat – would return again at 5 p.m. for the night – did not go out of our way to ascend the petit Puy – stopt every now and then for a moment or 2 to breath and look about, and at the top in 1 2/.. at 8 35/.. – the guide himself never in his life went up in less than ¾ hour, and generally takes an hour when by himself – the ladies who went yesterday were 4 hours in getting up – what nonsense – might very well ride to the top even the way we came, and quite well by the Pariou the way we returned – the heat excessive till we reached the Petit Puy, and then a little air – a little breeze and felt cold at the top so only staid 1/4 hour – not a dry thread on me – very fine view towards Mont Dore and Pont de Gibaud, of the sea (coulée) of lava from the Puy de bois de cour to beyond Pont de Gibaud, and of all the volcanic puys or mountains – among the rest the Puy de Chopine with its bare red two-fold scary front very striking – thickish towards Clermont but better today than yesterday – I seemed to look upon a vast plain on which the sea of lava, and the Puys thrown together in 3 or 4 groups – the chapel (now scarce a stone of it remaining) was not quite on the highest part of the summit – 10 minutes from the top (in descending) got specimens of Domite, with specks of black and brownish yellow mica – at the crater of the Pariou in a few minutes less than an hour, at 9 52/.. –  the guide and George remained at the top while I (in 10 minutes) went to the bottom of it and wound up again along the side – the bottom an oval about 50 yards by 40 – a nice green plot of grass – the sides all covered with heather – a perfectly regular oval-based hollow cone, with a few loose lava stones at the bottom piled into 2 heaps one at each end – a rim of grass 5 or 6 yards broad all round the rim of the crater – and then all heather again – this the most perfect hereabouts – off again at 10 14/.. – all grass (except near the top several tracks thro’ domite sand and domite stones, in ascending the Puy de Dome, and the summit all grass, but in descending (from the level of the little valley or hollow between the great and little Puy) all heather to the crater of the Prariou and below this for a considerable way – the Puy de Dome all domite – at the cabaret, La Fontaine de Berger at 10 40/.. – 6 or 8 labouring men at breakfast there – no milk – George and I had warm wine and water and breakfasted on this and my bread and figs, and off again at 11 25/.. – and à la Poste at Pont de Gibaud at 12 3/4 – the poste a good-looking Inn and ditto just opposite, l’hotel de commerce – tolerable little town with old château on hill just above – since the first revolution belonging to, and inhabited by several proprietors – the town at the verge of the great coulée of lava from the Puy de Bois de Cour – called Pont de Gibaud from good 2 arch lava stone bridge over the Sioule, here a broadish shallow stream, a few yards beyond La Poste – the Bordeaux road turns left, at right angles, immediately after crossing the bridge – left our horse to bait, got one from the poste and a postillion (a cocher) and off at 1 8/.. – obliged to have permission to see the mines of the proprietor le Comte du Pont de Saint Gibaud – he at Clermont – Madame “à table” – detained 35 minutes till she wrote a note to the directeur Monsieur de Saint Etienne – in the mean while saw the foundery near the house – the ore containing 6 ounces silver per quintal (said Monsieur de Saint Etienne) put into the furnace with a flux of 5 pounds fluatée de chaux to a quintal of old iron and cinders added to this – the chaux fluatée is verdatre, greenish – powdered brought from Saint Jacques (not far off 1 ½ 1 league off) by a man at ./75 per quintal – off at 1 3/4  drove thro’ narrow on each side wooded (covered with beech and oak etc.) very pretty valley or defile with a stream winding all along the bottom – at the 1st silver mine building at 2 50/.. – delayed 5 minutes – Monsieur Saint Etienne just gone to the other and more distant building – there in ½ hour at 2 50/.. – nice drive there – curious grottos in the basalt or lava rocks on approaching the pits – Monsieur de Saint Etienne very civil – 1 1/2  hour in the mine – very fine lofty galleries – cost 47/. per metre – 3 feet wide and 6 feet high – but vary in the dimensions according to circumstances, tho’ as often exceeding as not reaching the above dimensions – very fine rich filon (vein) some times lying in the baryte – 6 ounces silver per quintal – went down 1 pump-pit 40 yards (metres) deep, perpendicularly set ladder – and down the other pit above, 60 metres deep – the filon is got in galleries 1 above another 1 gallery every 20 feet and 1 soupirail or air-vent from the top of the surface, for about every 40 metres – leave 5 feet thick between each gallery – the filon the better the deeper they go – came out of the mine at 4 3/4 – Monsieur de Saint Etienne took me to see the curious rocks at a little distance in which lava quite black and like recent cinder or blueish like burnt blue marl – the works and roads and tout compris have cost Monsieur de Pont de Saint Gibaud about (i.e. near) cent mille francs – 1 gallery of the mine 360+ metres long – off home at 5 20/.. – at Pont de Gibaud – at 6 40/.. having been ten minutes a few minutes examining the exterior of the old Chateau -  then George and I had each a basin of cold milk at La Post – off again at 7 – Had my Puy de Dome guide at the silver mines, and with me the whole day – set him down at his own house à la barrque, at 9 ½, and home at 10 10/.. – Adney had waited dinner – found it on the table – very fine day – F 73o at 12 25/.. tonight –

[wolfy58]

1834 August Friday 15

4 1/2

10 5/..

 no kiss could not sleep much so bit – I had killed a bug on my night things just before getting into bed last night – said not a word of this – Adney so bit, awoke before I got into bed – I saw she would not sleep, so rubbed her all over with brandy – lucky thought, and she slept very well afterwards – had better have done the same to myself but did not like the smell and feel of it – so was worse off – very much bit all the night long – fine morning F 72° at 5 1/4 –off from La poste at Pont du Chateau at 6 5/.. – Pont du Chateau a largeish town –nice drive to Clermont – very populous there abouts and in the La Limagne – white houses dotted all over among the vineyards – Clermont a handsome looking town in the distance – Mount Ferrand with its good church about 1/2 mile off – saw it 1st, and for a moment, took it for Clermont – at 7 25/.. drove up to the hotel de l’Europe at Clermont, as recommended à l’hotel de l’Europe at Lyons – dirty poor place – sad mistake for us to have been recommended there – the fair begins tomorrow so everything dear – drove off to the Eau de France – 1/2 hour before getting all settled – large double bedded room for which to pay 11/. per day – dinner 8/. breakfast 3/. servants 8/. tout compris = 30/, per day – breakfast at 8 1/2 in an hour – asleep – undressed and put on clean linnen – F 75° at 11 50/.. never felt the heat so much – Adney over come – found that we were over the kitchen – the hostess very civil – changed immediately into a smaller but cooler room – had a sort of 1 horse stool-waggon (2 seats or benches and siège de cocher) took the 2 servants and all out at 1 20/.. – Petrifying well in the in the garden of the old convent of Saint Alyre – little things petrified in a month or 40 days – a dog in 5 or 6 months – ‘le parc’ a droll idea, but good, a little round space containing a petrified cow, man with a pail standing against her, a goat and a dog – the man (of wax – a mannequin) took about 3/4 year the goat 9 or 10 months same as the man , and the cow (real cow) 2 1/2 years – Le pont natural like a wall of rock in one part not more than 2 feet wide at the top, and over which we walked, a 240 pieds de longueur – hollow at the bottom and the water sort por là into the little fresh water brook that carried it off – it is forming another pont higher up – qui se prolonge par 3 ponces par au, in spite of the water taking off for 20 baths, très frequentés. a cabinet of petrifactions – a small requin (shark) 100/. – several bunches of holly which looked pretty small birds etc. etc. but bought nothing of this kind – bought only 3 brochures, by Monsieur Lecoq, savant and pharmacien at Clermont, sort of guide books to the Puy du Dome Mount Dore etc. 3/4 hour there then 10 minutes at the cathedral till 2 1/2 – unfinished – only 4 arches of nave – not more than 1/2 the nave done – but fine lofty building – beautiful proportions, and very beautiful painted glass windows all round the apsis and in the nave, and fine marigold windows one at each end of the transept – very fine church – pity the English did not complete their work – then to the Puy de la Poix, a low mountain about 2 or 3 miles off on the Pont du Chateau road a little distance from the road (left as we went) – there in 40 minutes at 3 10/.. for 20 minutes – the pitch oozes perpetually tho’ in small quantity from 3 or 4 little places in the rock – the most considerable oozing in into a little hollow like and about as big as a large English wash-hand basin – then one has the sulphureted hydrogen gaz raise up the pitch in little bubbles – and there, they say, the pigons like to drink – we walked all over the rock, and tho’ the sun was broiling, found no danger of leaving our shoes stuck fast – in returning passed the botanic garden – shut – could not get in today – the fair, and too great a crowd about – the garden small and did not excite in us great regret at not entering – it is close to the public library and cabinet d’histoire naturelle – there at 4 20/.. for 1/2 hour – the librarian not there the man who shewed us round not allowed to let us look into a book – nothing particular in the library or 1 room of minerals – good handsome building – home at 5 10/.. – dinner at 5 1/2 – took the servants again and off at 6 55/.. for Royat – drove there in 35 minutes – 3/4 hour seeing the sights – church and under church where is the virgin that used to do miracles – the basalt grotte with its 7 springs all conwayed to Clermont – the grenier de Cæsar, and brought away some of the old mineralized what – the baths also called de Cæsar warm sulphuric water tolerably strong – examined also some old remains of walling the women guides called Roman, but of about the 3d [third] century, and not at all Roman – very pretty situation – very pretty valley but so wooded one could see nothing – too late into the bargin – home at 8 3/4 – set to go to the top of the Puy de dome and to the silver mines tomorrow very fine day – very hot. F 73° at 9 20/.. p.m. –

[wolfy58]

1834 August Thursday 14

6 3/4

12 35/..

 very fine morning F 72° at 7 1/2 a.m. she came to me for quarter hour this morning not with her last night breakfast at 7 3/4 – off from l’hotel du nord à Montbrison at 8 55/.. – comfortable beds, tho’ Adney much bit, and Eugenie said there were punaises in the house – I killed a mosquito last night, and was not afterwards troubled – at 9 3/4 pass between 2 conical hills (distant – right and left) crowned with (right) church, and (left) small remains of old castle tower and walls – Extensive, light, whitish sandy plain – hill range all round – distant right – Boen  tolerably languish, shabbyish, narrow streeted town on hill-side in pretty, viny wooded valley, the clear, shallow widish little river Lignon winding at the bottom – market day and the narrow streets full of people but no striking costume – good new road cut out of the rock just out of the town – very hot and dusty, but not blinded as on Tuesday – road shaded with walnut and other trees, chiefly the former – beautiful narrowish winding valley beautifully shaped hills yellow with corn, looking rather too yellow and arid – Saint Thierin a picturesquely situated goodish village – several workmen on the road as we came along – the road hardly finished – soon after leaving Saint Thierin turn (left) up narrower wooded (fine fir-wood) valley and montée for 35 minutes till 1 1/2 – the road all up the mountain newly cut out of the granite rock – fine drive – at the top of the montée, the valley rather opens – then descend a while – nice little stream with us all along – the fir-woods begin from Saint Therin – Noirtable, goodish small town – goodish looking auberge at la Poste – Adney had 2 boiled eggs and bread and butter and the servants bread and cheese and wine – at ./75 per personne – then said it was trop bon marché but I would not pay more – judging from this and from the woman’s asking 1/50 par repos for the servants last night, offer these prices in future – but alight as seldom as possible – I take cold fond for Adney and let the servants have wine etc. with them – 5 or 6 minutes out of Noirtable changed horses, because no horses or postillions at La Bergère – one new postillion said if I would pay for the refraichissement (to give what I pleased) he would drive me thro’ La Bergère to Thiers – I offered 10 sols per horse – no! but would do it for 1/. per horse = 4/. – declined this therefore finding that I should not reach Clermont tonight, thought we might wait an hour at La Bergère and write up journal – nice drive from Noirtable to La Bergère but the road these 3 last stages very jolting at times – at La Bergère at 4 20/.. – sat writing in the carriage, in the large shed, and had done this far of to day at 5 – Adney wrote journal and added a little to her letter to her sister begun the day we left Chambéri – from (at La Bergère) 5 5/.. to 5 35/.. inking over accounts and off at 5 38/.. – La Bergère merely the poste which which surrounds a tolerable little auberge – road cut out of granite rock, and Durole, shallow stream, at them feet – narrow valley beech and other wood – at 6 1/2 ravine – road buried walled and entirely cut out of the granite rock – just room for the Durole at the bottom – fine view and fine zigzag descent upon Thiers – as seen from this side, large goodish town but most pictoresque nice good town (as we afterwards saw it from the other side) in a hanging garden of vines – fine look down upon rich wide amphitheater plain below (the famous Limagne of Auvergne) bounded by a fine range of mountains in the distance –  pass thro’ the town at 6 50/.. and still descend, and cross the Durole at 7, and in a few seconds stop at La Poste, large good-looking house – must be a mile from the town, pictoresque and beautiful see from this side – finely placed midway the mountain and creeping down to the river and a few houses pictoresquely scattered even on the other side of it – the maitre de poste proposed us to stay – our postillion said only maçons slept at the auberge at Lezouz – we wanted to get a stage further thought we should have to pay dear enough at La poste here, so off at 7 17/.. (my watch 20 minutes too soon ever since Grenoble) that we have time enough by the day for 1 3/4 p. – at Lezouz at 8 55/.. – à la poste – just dark – should have been glad to stay, but the woman very civil and honest – said they were new people there and could not recommend us – had not rooms nice enough – could not recommend such as we – so off again at 9 1/4 and at Pont du Château a little moonlight, at 10 3/4 – would just as soon have slept at the last place – we had a great large room with 5 beds in it, and were told there might perhaps come a voiturin to take one of them in the middle of the night – but this I protested against and fastened the door with Jones’s boiler pan-handle – supper such as it was at 11 – put all our things on chairs in the middle of the room for fear of punaisses – for beds and supper for us all to pay 12/. – would have gone forward but did not like going into Clermont at midnight – very fine day – very hot F 74° at midnight –

[wolfy58]

1834 August Wednesday 13

6 1/4

1 40..

twenty minutes quietly with A before getting up - fine morning F68° at 6 1/4 a.m. - made tea for A off in cabriolet to Firminy at 7 25/.. – good road  (only opened 5 years ago – the old road considerably to the right - and very up and down) all the way except thro’ the village of Chamond or some such name – and there the street narrow and pavé terrible – the street to be widened and made good – a few houses already rebuilt and set back – left the town of Firminy (left) and drove down to the coal mine or rather coal quarry, and there at 8 50/.. – the ingenieur not there – would not come till 11 – lives in the chateau – 1/2 hour in the quarry – exactly like  a common stone quarry, only coal instead of stone – quarrying enormous masses - 100 workmen - the piqueurs earn 2/25 and the carries 1/75 per day - as much as a man carry of large pieces sells for 4 sols - 3 men killed 7 months ago by the falling down of a mass of rock - drove to the chateau - monsieur Morillo (ingenieur or chef des mines de Firminy) at home – very civil – would return with me to the coal quarry, – and had the horse put up at the chateau – above an hour shewing me all over the quarry and explained about the steam engine pump - 24 horse power - much power lost by being at such a distance from the works and communicating with the well by iron bars 100 yards length? but the ground so tender so full of old mines, and given to fall in, that they durst not sink the pit or well nearer - this pit 20 toises deep, but the pump only brought up the water to 1/2 way and then it runs off by an old gallery - the water I saw forming a little cascade from the top into the quarry and thence by an old gallery is turned there on purpose - the mine here often on fire - afraid of it now so has turned the water down - the numberless old galleries, and wet and pyrites cause the fire - will be obliged to noyer the mine, fill it with water once every 3 years - of course, prefers doing it in winter - this mine worked as now (au jour) only 3 years - was worked before underground, in the common way - the different proprietors of the soil worked the coal, and made nothing of it - the mine was given up - coal immediately under the row of houses that bounds the quarry to the east, but the proprietors not willing to take a reasonable price, so the coal company prefers having the coal - but when they have got it 4 or 5 yards from the houses, they have only had 12 feet of soil to remove – they are now taking off about 20 feet deep of stuff, soil and shale, and a vein of grit stone about 10 inches thick – they throw the stuff back, and make into ground again what they do not want to quarry – this company gets 500,000 quintaux métriques (1 quintal met. = 100 kilos) per annum that is, one-fourteenth of all the coal got per annum in the bassin Roulier (coal basin) of Saint Etienne and Rive de Gier, and one-sixth of all the coal got in the Saint Etienne district – only 3 years qu’on a travaillé à decouvert (in open quarry) as at present – La couche du Breuil (i.e. coal) 40, 50, 60, to 80 feet thick – La Benne (corve) pèse en gros morceaux 150 kilos environ – 10 to 12 bennes in cubic metre of coal – sells here for 1/30, 1/. and six sols la benne – sur 2040 bennes got last year on peut avoir gagni 60,000 francs; but this was an extraordinary gain, in consequence of regetting in old galleries having no stuff to move etc. etc. and cannot be expected to occur again – may reckon the average profit at ./75 per benne, here, at the pit’s mouth – the taxe paid to government, twofold – taxe fixe, 10/. per kilometre carré, and taxe according to the Étendue de la concession, and which is proportional to the benefice that is gained which varies every year – 58 kilometres got last year paid altogether 2000 francs – besides this, there is the proprietor of the land (surface) to pay, and the law gives him one-sixth of the coal got i.e. one benne out of every six; but this is too much and the company pays by agreement only one-tenth, 1 benne out of ten – of what is got already, there are 15 surface proprietors – and the company has paid one proprietor as much as 20,000 francs per annum – the members of the company are concessionnaires du gouvernment – all the mines in the kingdom belongs to government, and for which the concessionnaires pay the 2 above named taxes or charges. the land is here so divided – so many proprietors, the mines could not be so well worked if government had not taken them into their own hands – this was done in 1814 under Louis 18 – the marquis d’Osmond had concession of all the mines in the bassin de Saint Etienne made to him before the 1st revolution – he emigrated and lost it – had it restored on the return of the Bourbons, and sold it – It is Carillon Gœnry Quais des Augustins numero 41 à Paris who is lebroise to the Ecole des mines at Paris – Monsieur Morillo, on our return from the quarry, very civilly introduced me to his mother (from about 25 lieues from Paris near Troyes) and asked me to breakfast – breakfast à la fourchette at 11 1/4 – very good breakfast riz de veau à la chicorée, very good, large cold poulet or small dindon, epinards, a sort of tart, and a gateau with almonds and green grapes and green sages, and vin du pays – talked away – afterwards went with Monsieur to his bureau for a few minutes and wrote down from his dictation almost all the above rensignmens gave him my address at Shibden and in rue Saint Victor à Paris, and said I should be glad to see and do him any service – told him I had coal of my own and should perhaps return to Saint Etienne to learn to measure under ground etc. – wished good morning to Madame who seemed to have thought me bien amiable, and off from the Chateau de Firminy at 12 1/2 – they had pumped me about my polities, said I was no politician but owned myself naturally a Tory – Lord Grey and Mr Stanley retired in consequence of O’Connell’s Irish church bill, and Lord Melbourne prime minister – odd I should 1st learn this at Firminy! – home at 1 50/.. in 1 35/.. hour, 10 minutes longer than we were in going – tired of the slow going and great heat – paid all – one hostess would have profited pretty by us if she could – off from l’hotel de l’Europe chez ‘Tainturin De Lyon’ at 2 50/.. – nice road and country – Guyonnière merely a single house poste and hotel du Provence – at 4 33/.. pass handsome double wood-floored suspension bridge over the broad bedded Loire – had just before seen in the distance left the good looking town of Saint Lambert – at 4 50/.. turn (right) to Montbrison and having good road to …… dusty but not so much so as yesterday – all the women (exclusive les grandes) ride califourchon New road opened 2 years ago from Saint Etienne to Marseilles, missing Lyons, going direct to Tain – saving 3 days  journey from Paris to Marseille said my cocher, 8 years in the 16th  chasseurs till the revolution in 1830, servant to his colonel Monsieur de la Tour de Pin ‘le roi des hommes’ – would have ‘versé la dernière goutte de son sang pour lui’ – who saying he had juré to serve one King, and would not serve 2, tore off his epoulettes and broke his sword (at Dieppe) and left the service – the men all in tears on his bidding them farewell – at 5 1/4 we near the mountains – at 5 35/.. Saint Priest, and chateau on conical mountain top – have seen 2 or 3 good chateaus since Saint Etienne this afternoon – fine open country – good road – at 6 5/.. alight at l’hotel du Nord at Montbrison – the little demamselle ? of the house wanted 3 francs per bed for our own 2 – would not give more than 2/. she hence asked 3/. a head for dinner and gave us a very meagre, bad one – no potage même – dinner at 7 – sat talking – lastly riz au lait to make up for bad dinner – wrote all the above of today till 11 20/.. – Adney in bed soon after 9 p.m. – very fine day F 72° now at 11 20/.. p.m. –