The Secret Diaries Of Miss Anne Lister

by Helena Whitbread

  M— went with me &… had my name booked & paid a shilling for an inside place in the True Blue heavy coach that sets off from the Black Swan in Coney Street every day at 2p.m. for the Golden Lion, Leeds, where it should arrive at, or a little before, 6… Got home a little before 5, only just in time to dress for dinner. As soon as we left the dining-room, went upstairs into our own room (over Mrs Belcombe’s sitting-room) & sat talking very cosily to Lou about M—, Lawton, C—, & one thing or other till 8 o’clock. She, as well as Anne, strongly suspects that neither M— nor I would much regret the loss of C—, but that we look forward to the thing and, in the event of it, certainly mean to live together. Lou and I have joked about it several times, I asking if she thought I might hope to come in possession of M— in ten years. A decade. Both Lou & Nantz think I may say five years instead of ten & half a decade is becoming quite a joke among us… On going down into the drawing-room, & speaking to M—, found her very low & in tears. She wondered how I could leave her so long the last night & said she should be jealous of Lou. Tho’ I laughed at the thing at first, I soon perceived it more real than I had imagined. It however passed over. M— & Nantz went upstairs with me to try on the new things I had got & a little after 11 we all retired.

  Friday 19 December [Halifax]

  Busy packing all the morning. M— sat by me. Talked over my adventures in former days. M— said had she known them, she would never have been introduced to me… At 1, took a hasty luncheon. Said goodbye & got out of the house by ½ past. On my way to the Black Swan, in Coney Street, called at Todd’s to inquire for a Hebrew Bible to give Lou. Met with a thick, 8vo 2nd-hand edition of Simon’s at £1 8s., but, this not suiting my purpose, called at Mrs Marshall’s… Bought Anne & Louisa each a mother-of-pearl knife with two blades, corkscrew, etc & at the end, a pair of small scissors contained in a silver sheath, price fourteen shillings each. As [they] had not another of the same size, I got a smaller one for M—, price eight & sixpence. Got a silver pencil with a magnifying glass at the end for Mrs Belcombe, price fifteen shillings. Hastily directed them and desired they might be sent immediately to Dr Belcombe’s. Just got to the Black Swan in time. Took my seat in the True Blue heavy coach & drove off for Leeds as the Minster clock struck 2. Two ½ ladies from Hull, 2 schoolgirls & a great horsedealer who, during the war had supplied almost the whole of the British Cavalry, & who had been at the great York fair which ended yesterday, were my companions… It turned out a rainy afternoon. We reached Leeds & stopped at the Golden Lion at ½ past 6. Got a porter to take my luggage & led the way to the Rose & Crown in Briggate. After at least ¼ mile’s wet walk thro’ dirty, busy streets, they told me I could not secure a place in the Mail till 4 in the morning, & that they were so full they had not a bed to spare me, nor an unoccupied room for me to sit down in. Sent for my friend, the chambermaid & made my little arrangement with her. Then, while tea was ready, went to Radford’s (just over the way) to order rings in memory of my poor mother. For the family… ordered 7 embossed hoops at 42s. each (Marian’s having, in addition, a box head with hair which made it 2 guineas & ½) ‘To the memory of’ embossed in gold black-letter on the outside & in the inside, ‘Rebecca Lister, obt 13 Nov –aet 47.’ For Mrs Inman, a jet-headed ring, 20s. For Mr Inman, Mr Alderman Dales of York, the 2 Misses Trants of Leeds & old Mrs Wetherhead of Halifax, mourning hoops, 36s., giving directions for the sending them as my father desired. My friend, the chambermaid, put me into a parlour that would not be wanted till 10, had got me tea & everything comfortable & let me have a snug little bedroom, no. 18, at the extremity of the house on the 3rd floor. She shewed me upstairs a little before 10, lighted me 2 mould candles on my dressing-table, brought me a rush-light, as I thought the room too small for a fire, assured me I had really clean sheets & hoped I should have a good night. I paid 3s. for my tea & lodgings & gave this civil chambermaid 2/6. Washed my hands, untied my neckkerchief [sic], took off my boots & got into my little camp-bed which I certainly found very clean & comfortable. Just before coming upstairs, Mr & Mrs Webster (from Halifax, she a stay-maker), the occupiers of my sitting-room, came in. I thought it proper to stay a short while & she amused me with an account of the roguery practised in coach offices about luggage & charges, saying they would take advantage where they could, & that, being commonly clerks & understrappers, greedy for all they can get, they would charge more both for luggage & the fare than they ought & that strangers should always look at the bill of fares posted in the office before they paid what was demanded.

  Saturday 20 December [Halifax]

  After a few hours disturbed sleep, Boots called me ¼ before 4. Got up immediately, washed my face & hands, buttoned on my boots, etc., gave Boots a shilling & got into the mail at 4. A decent kind of woman & 2 decent kind of tradesmen my companions. Got to Halifax a little before 8. Saw after my luggage. Just called at Northgate to send my love to my aunt & say I was arrived. Walked to Gradon’s, the shoemaker’s, at Haley-hill, to order a pair of strong shoes & reached Shibden a little before 9. My uncle & aunt not having expected me till one (by the Highflier) were agreeably surprised to see me & I felt glad I had not been persuaded to wait & come with M— next Friday.

  Sunday 21 December [Halifax]

  Wrote to M— (Dr Belcombe’s, Petergate, York) to announce my safe arrival here & say I had ordered 4 horses at the Rose & Crown (Briggate, Leeds) to be ready for her at one next Friday.

  M— was to call in at Halifax on her way home to Lawton from York and stay a day or two with Anne at Shibden Hall.

  A remarkably fine frosty day. My uncle & aunt were at church in the morning. Mr Wilmot, curate of the church, gave a most impressive funeral sermon to the memory of our late vicar, Dr Coulthurst,21 who was buried in the choir of the old church last Thursday (18), aet 64. The church, I understand, was handsomely put in mourning for the Princess Charlotte but now, in addition, the galleries are hung round with black cloth, bordered with broad black fringe, and escutcheons of the Dr’s arms hung round the pulpit, & a few in other parts of the church.

  Tuesday 23 December [Halifax]

  In the morning, writing out a rough draft of my journal of last Saturday, Friday, Thursday, Wednesday & Tuesday. Did nothing in the afternoon but count over my money & see what I had spent while away. After tea, wrote the rough draft of my journal of Monday 15 December. My aunt gave me an account of what she had paid for my mourning, which amounted to £8 6d., the 6d. being abated. I paid her £8, she having first given me £5, & my uncle also having [given] me £5.

  Thursday 25 December [Halifax]

  The Listers appear never to have engaged in any Christmas festivities and Anne’s entries on almost every Christmas day are usually brief, merely outlining the religious duties which they undertook.

  We all went to morning church & staid the sacrament. Assisted my aunt in reading prayers in the afternoon. In the evening, read aloud sermons 8 & 9, Hoole. A remarkably fine, frosty day. Roads very slippery. Barometer 1½ deg. above changeable. Fahr. 29° at 9p.m.

  Friday 26 December [Halifax]

  Went without dinner today, not having felt well since I came home (bilious & heavy) which I solely attribute to dining at 3p.m. & which certainly never agrees with me. Went downstairs to dessert & then walked to meet M— on her way from York to Lawton, thro’ Leeds by Burstall & met her (& the cook, Elizabeth, she had hired in York) in the landau, a few yards beyond the Hipperholme bar. I was pleased to find she had very good horses and very civil drivers from the Rose & Crown (Leeds) & which were in readiness according to my orders at 1, exactly the time she reached Leeds. M— arrived here at 5 by the kitchen clock, ¾ past 4 by the Halifax, & ¼ past 4 by Leeds & York.22 She brought me a small parcel from Nantz, containing a very kind note from herself and one from Lou, and a pair of cambric muslin sleeves with broad wristbands to be worn as linings, which she (Nantz) had made & another pair which she had altered for me. After tea, M— & I played whist against my uncle & aunt & won a rubber of 4 & a game. Very fine, f
rosty day… Came upstairs 20 mins before 11, but sat up talking till 12. After all, I believe M—’s heart is all my own. M— told us, after tea, what a narrow escape Mr C— L— [her husband] had just had the other day of being shot. In getting over a hedge, something caught the trigger, the gun went off & the contents only just missed. A similar accident, I understand, occurred to him just before M— & Louisa left Lawton, & his glove & waistcoat were a good deal burnt.

  Sunday 28 December [Halifax]

  Just as the dinner things were going out, John Morgan, the coachman, arrived with a letter from C—, dated Albion Hotel, Manchester, saying he was happy to find M— so unexpectedly on her journey (their letters had crossed on the road & he fancied she might stay in York till the day after New Year’s Day) that he had set off from Lawton the morning he received her letter (yesterday) &, that she might not be detained on the road, as the horses could not get to Halifax in any reasonable time to take on today, he had sent John forward by the coach to tell her to take 4 posters, set off immediately & travel as fast as she could to meet him in good time at Manchester this evening, adding that if she had been in any other direction, he believed he would have met her there himself, tho’ the distance had been twice as far. It was after 2 before John got here. He had his dinner to get & go back again to the White Lion to order the carriage, we not having room for it here. The poor fellow, however, his frost-bit face all colours, sent in a message to say, his mistress must go. It was bitter cold, the roads dreadfully slippy, Blackstone Edge to cross,23 and no moon – but his mistress understood the necessity. All was got ready and they were off from our door a few minutes before 4.

  Wednesday 31 December [Halifax]

  In the evening, wrote out, in my journal book, my journal of Sunday 7 & Monday 8 December. My uncle, who had been at a turnpike meeting (of the Wakefield road) this afternoon, & called at Northgate, heard at the latter place… that Mr James Edward Norris, of this town attorney, & the petition he took up to Lord Liverpool, signed by Mr Knight’s friends & congregation, had succeeded in getting Mr Knight the promise of the vicarage.

  1818

  Wednesday 7 January [Halifax]

  Tried on a pair of drawers Marian sent me & some black raw silk stockings (cotton tops & feet) like which my father brought me 3 pairs, he having bought them for Marian, for whom they are too small, & not choosing them to be returned.

  Thursday 8 January [Halifax]

  After breakfast… dawdling away the morning in looking over medical mss., weighing out powders for Betty, the housemaid, etc., till ½ past 12, when I got ready to go to Halifax… Called at Whitley’s, the booksellers, & staid ¾ hour at the library. Went to congratulate Mr Knight on his promotion to the vicarage. Sat near an hour with him & Mrs & Miss Knight (his sister). Sat ½ hour at Northgate & got home at ½ past 5.

  Friday 9 January [Halifax]

  Mending my stockings & an old shift… Staid downstairs till 11, talking to my father. Entered a little into affairs. Found the tenants had paid their rents better than I expected.1 Barker, at the Low Farm only half a year behindhand. Marshall will pay up in a week or two. Porter, at the Grange, who has always been able to pay but who had given notice to quit, likely to stay. However, my father has taken from him 18 acres of the hold field, along the Shipton Lane side, & let it off to a man at Shipton at 2 pounds an acre, the tenant to pay taxes. Porter did not pay quite 22s. an acre for it, at which rent he has all the rest of his farm. My mother’s funeral expenses (already paid) are upwards of £90, everything included… My father is looking remarkably well, is grown fatter & seems in high glee. He said he has got his pocket full of money & shewed me his pocket book full of bills. I asked if he had got them all in rents. He said how else should he get them? I hope this means that he has not been borrowing. My father says he thinks he shall now be able to get his rents &, if he does, he & Marian will not spend more than half.

  Saturday 10 January [Halifax]

  Walked to Halifax… Read 1½ hours at the library2… No books delivered out today nor are there to be till next Tuesday 3 weeks, 3 February, when the new room adjoining the theatre3 will be opened. They are calling in the books to see what repairs are wanted & are to begin to remove to the new room next week. In the meantime the old library room will be open as usual & tho’ you may take no books away, you may read them.

  Monday 12 January [Halifax]

  Dined at 1 o’clock. My father & I walked to Halifax a little after 2. Called at Whitley’s & left my flute piece for Sugden to repair the D key while my father went to Rawson’s bank & paid their £50. We went to see the new library room which was just finished & a woman was washing it. We were both instantly struck with the awkward, ugly, inconvenient manner in which the entrance is contrived. A complete glass box from the ground floor to the floor above, which is the library, & no communication whatever to the rooms above (2 heights of chambers consisting of 4 very good rooms & which will soon be wanted for books) except for a common ladder, stuck up between a window & one end of the glass box & by which ladder you are to creep up thro’ a square hole cut in the floor above!!! A committee of 4 gents were appointed to superintend the fitting up of the rooms. These agreed to leave the thing entirely to Mr Norris, and Mr Norris has, by a stretch of brilliant genius which the glazier will value at about £30, contrived to throw 2 rooms into one by means of the stairs, enclosed in an oblong glass case, in the centre of the room!!! The staircase that (instead of the ladder) used to communicate with the 3rd floor being taken away, & no support left, & the partition walls have been so shaken they are visibly cracked in several places.

  Wednesday 14 January [Halifax]

  Before breakfast, writing out the rough draft of an index to this volume of my journal… Did not come upstairs till 11, & soon after… Mrs John Waterhouse (Well-head) & Emma Saltmarshe (George Street) called… Poor Emma looks very thin & ill. Engaged to rout parties every evening, except next Tuesday, for the next three weeks to come. Emma Saltmarshe, a bride last summer & Emma Stansfield, a bride 3 or 4 weeks ago, make the town quite gay. Thank God I have nothing to do with their parties, nor do I intend it ever. My morning sadly broken into.

  Anne was having a rather quiet time at the beginning of 1818. M— was firmly ensconced in Lawton Hall under the watchful eye of her jealous husband. The Norcliffes had not yet returned from their travels on the Continent, and besides, they were undergoing a period of mourning for the deaths of their daughter Emily and their son-in-law, Charles Best, married to another daughter, Mary. Both had died within a short time of each other during their travels abroad, and this, along with the deaths of Anne’s mother and her Uncle Joseph, had given Anne a great deal of despondency.

  Friday 16 January [Halifax]

  Most boisterous, tempestuous night… At last, I have brought up the time I lost in York & have got right again to my journal as usual. I will never get so behindhand again, I am determined. In fact, I shall write my indices4 as I go along & shall be upon a better plan, I hope, altogether.

  Monday 19 January [Halifax]

  Mrs Wm Priestley called & walked with my aunt & me to Halifax… My aunt went to see the boa constrictor & wild beasts. I should have gone in with her but they would not admit me without paying a shilling, even tho’ I paid 2 on Saturday, so I walked about on the outside stage of the caravan till my aunt returned. We then went & paid the bride-visit to Emma Stansfield… in Aked’s Rd & sat ½ an hour. She shewed us over the house which is very neatly furnished & made the most of, but it is a cold & comfortless looking situation & I should be sorry to live there… Emma is an insignificant looking bride.

  Wednesday 21 January [Halifax]

  Wrote out the list of books, pamphlets & periodical works contained in this volume [of her journal] up to today & was the whole of the remainder of the time, before breakfast & afterwards, from 10¾ till 2¾, adding up & arranging on a new plan my expenses of last year, i.e. classing them under the following heads – Clothes, Hair-cutting, oil & brushes, wash
ing, sundries, Postage, Parcels, Stationery, Books, music, Charity, Presents, servants, chair-hire, Travelling expenses, 2 courses of lectures, shoe bill at Hornby’s of last year. Balance of account with M— from Sept. 1815 to 25 February 1817, paid on my mother’s account – so that I can see at a glance what I have spent during the year in each department. I mean to pursue this plan in future &, to save myself all the trouble I have now had in having the items of the whole year to separate & class all at once, I shall do it as I go along, regularly every month. In the afternoon & evening, going on with the rough draft of an index to vol. 1. of my Extracts [from her journal]. From 5.25 to 5¾, played the flute without book.

  Thursday 22 January [Halifax]

  Puzzled over my accounts. Could not make the sum total of the different heads under which I had classed them agree with the sum total of the year. There was a difference of 8d.… In the afternoon, did not feel quite well (indigestion, my hands swelled a good deal, my head a very little & felt much heated) in consequence of eating ¼ of a fine American apple.

  Friday 23 January [Halifax]

  Till time to get ready for breakfast (9.40) working over my accounts to make up the difference of 8d. and, at last, after adding them up all over again, got them, to my great joy, quite right. I was determined not to be mastered and determined, let them take what time they would, my patience should not be wearied. There had been snow in the night… During breakfast it came in thick & soon began to snow a little & turned out a thoroughly winterly, snowy day.

  Tuesday 27 January [Halifax]

  At 11, my aunt & I set off to Halifax… walked forward to Pye Nest & sat ½ hour & 5 minutes. Mrs Priestley (White Windows) there. They had a fine bulldog die of hydrophobia on Monday night having been taken ill the night before. It was bit ten days ago by a mad dog which was unfortunately at large in the town & neighbourhood, bit one of Mr Edward’s workmen, 2 or 3 other men, several dogs & did much mischief. Among the rest, Mr Edward had also a cow bit, which is still kept up.