Paddy very penitent, I very serious with him, his fine of 2/6 seems to have but little effect, if he does not reform we really must look about for another gardener as valuable things might be destroyed by a day and night’s neglect.
THURSDAY JULY 2. We had taken such a long drive last night that we proposed to give ourselves only a short one this evening and were just setting out when Doctor Eckford [their old Indian friend] drove up to the door. Very little changed in the ten years that have passed since we parted in the ‘Isle of France’, [Mauritius].
7. Doctor Eckford went by the caravan after much too short a stay for he is very agreeable in a house from his constant cheerfulness. He has overturned all I have been doing these ten years in less than so many days having infected my restless husband with such a desire to economise in France instead of at home that, his own inclination for such a scheme being very great, I feel it is more than probable he will yield to the temptations of a fine climate and the society of an old friend. If it will make him happier why should he not do it, he certainly would save in two years or at most three as much as would entirely relieve him from every embarrassment, and give us a little ready money besides, while here it is almost impossible to contract our expenses sufficiently as the occupations which make his life agreeable to him are all of a very expensive kind. Whether an idle life in a foreign country would suit him as well I have my fears. We must both take a little time seriously to reflect on all the circumstances of our position and when our minds are made up act with decision.
17. Never was such horrid weather. Heard of poor Major Hornidge’s death. Alas, thus do our old friends leave us. Tom Darker spoke of it with tears.
19. Mr. Foster preached a sort of funeral sermon of which I could make very little. It was certainly his own for it was full of flourishes, splendid descriptions in flowery metaphorical language leading to nothing. Hal grieves in earnest for the poor Major, his last remaining old friend in this country, whom he served under in the Yeomanry during the rebellion [of 1798], who was consistently kind to him under every circumstance, he was as the sermon said a model for a country gentleman. A good Landlord, a kind master, an accommodating neighbour, as a husband, a father, a friend most exemplary. Many will long feel his loss, he was my boy’s Godfather and should we be so far favoured by God as to rear our dear child to manhood we may propose this good kind man to him as an example, for his life exhibited most Christian virtues, his end was that of the righteous.
20. Wrote to Mr. Fetherstone to ask him to tea. He came and the Doctor and two old Mr. Murray’s with two wives and six young people making a party of twenty-one. We had a long tea table, plenty of dancing, then wine and water and all seemed very happy. The Doctor was most good-natured doing all he could to keep up the fun, but the two curates declined dancing as too frivolous an act for the clerical profession and the two Carrolls on account of being in deep mourning, a mistake on the one part and folly on the other. What can be the sin of a clergyman standing up to dance with children in a small and perfectly private party, and when did young men ever introduce their feelings into society. Annoying a whole set of people for a piece of self ceremony, for they are quite able to laugh and eat most heartily black crepe and all!
28. I am not quite sure that I like the St. Servans plan but I see very plainly that Hal prefers it to circumscribing his expenses here and honest Tom Darker will manage for him so faithfully that the utmost will be made of the ground and we shall take the opportunity of getting quit of several insolvent tenants whom it would not be so agreeable to turn out while we were living among them, as they are all ill living reckless people quite inclined to be mischievous as well as drunken and idle. I therefore mean to consider the plan as set.
30. Another lovely day. Paddy the gardener absent all yesterday, having had some money given him to buy meal, he has sent in the keys this morning, knowing he has dismissed himself. Unfortunate creature, after so many warnings, but go he must, he is unfit to be trusted with any plants of value, and it would be wrong to others to forgive him.
SATURDAY AUGUST 1. A very beautiful day, delightful for hay-making, excellent for ripening the crops which are very heavy. I in the garden with John Kearns who must do for the present at least, till we are more settled whether to go abroad or to stay. Hal and I looking over accounts and calculating what saving we could effect by breaking up our establishment, what expenses we must leave behind us, how we should arrange our plans. Paid Paddy the gardener in full, sending him off between ready money and savings book with £13. He who came here ragged and starving, there will be little remaining this day week.
8. The heat so oppressive there is no stirring out till after seven in the evening, yet the Colonel will go out to look at his hay and in consequence is feeling his side. It is very odd, but I never yet knew any man who had the least sense in his conduct with regard to himself, their knowledge that certain things are hurtful to them does not seem to make the least difference—they appear to have no power of control over themselves. I am sure I hope dear Hal you will read this and think of it and without getting angry just consider whether it is likely we should have you long well in a French climate with French fruits without a horse.
10. Johnny was out in the morning and in such extravagant spirits in the afternoon he appeared as crazy as Prince Louis Napoleon22 who tried to get up a little revolution in Boulogne with five men and ten horses out of a steam boat and an edict ready drawn up proclaiming M. Thiers his prime minister, it was all over in a couple of hours, and they were all half drowned trying to escape.
18. Poor Law Commission sat again, Hal sent John Darker not being able to move himself. On the whole it all seems to be fairly done, a very just value laid on lands and houses too, generally speaking and a very fair attention paid to such corrections as persons of superiour local knowledge propose. And Riley the Colonel’s opponent! An admirable guardian, one of the best of them. Wide awake, shrewd, intelligent, and quite acquainted with the value of property. We got our house lowered and some of the bad land planted on the top of the hill. The tax will by no means fall heavy, it is not known, but the Commissioner supposes about three per cent. The landlord besides his own rate for his own house and grounds etc. will pay for each tenant the half of what his farm and tenements are rated at. We expect to have to pay about £20 yearly, not so much as we spend now by many a good pound, doing but little either towards lessening the evils of poverty, which to say the truth are principally brought on the people by their own vices, for a more improvident, idle set of human beings never were collected in a plentiful land. And then being taught by their priests to believe that the more they suffer here the less they will have to endure in purgatory, they are deprived of any stimulus to exertion.
Lord Milltown and John Hornidge unfortunately came to very high words yesterday at the meeting which is a pity, Lord Milltown was quite wrong in an observation he made regarding some valuation he was inconsiderate enough to call unfair and John Hornidge retorted in a passion instead of gravely. How invaluable in every relation of life, private and public, is a perfect command of temper; remember this, my own dear boy, in case I do not live to help you. A country gentleman, which we look forward to your making yourself, ought more particularly to be very guarded on this count, so many little irritating accidents are apt to happen to him both in the management of his own affairs and in his intercourse with his neighbours, they are a class very apt to fall out without care about their roads and their assessments and their different jobs, and to do good a man must have influence, and to have influence he must have temper, it would be all in good order always with all of us if our hearts were rightly with God.
29. Hal drew up the minutes for his will which he wishes to make before leaving home. Neither he nor I having any foolish superstitions about these things but both of us liking to have all our affairs so arranged that in case of accident all may be found in good order, properly settled that there may be neither trouble nor perplexity left behind us. He read the rough draft over to me and it appears to me to be extremely
