Saturday 30th October 1824
At 9 40/60 sat down and wrote out the translation for the Italian into French made yesterday – at about 10 ½ Mrs B-[Barlow] came and brought her work and sat with me all the morning till called away by some callers at 3 ½ - breakfasted at 11 –
Madame Galvani came at 12 ½ - very unwell too much so to give Young de Boyve a lesson and therefore sat here all the while till 3 when it was time to tell her Greek pupil she would give him no lesson today but must go to bed – shewed her my translation and spent the rest of the time in conversation as far as her suffering from toothache &c &c could permit –
Mrs B [Barlow] is returned having been absent about three or four minutes. Flirting as usual nothing new said or done but Mrs B [Barlow] wondered how she suffered me to say what I did. She could not listen to such things from a gentleman, but she felt towards me as to any other friend &c &c. I said a gentleman might laugh and joke in the same manner, yes said she, but no man would to the woman he was really in love with, he would respect her too much.
I said she was right but said it was safest for me to go on this way, I could be more serious and suit her better. She was romantic and I would be so too, but then I should become more and more attached, she could not return it, and would be madness on my part. I can not help she wishes me to be more serious. –
Mrs B-[Barlow] left me at 5 10/60 sat down to dine at 5 ¾ - after sitting down stairs – played 2 rounds at whist with Miss Harvey against Mme Carbonine and Mme de B [Boyve], lost the 1st of 7 [fish] and won the 2d of 8 [fish]- consequently won one [fish] i.e. five sols then sat next and chiefly talked to Mrs B-[Barlow] tho made the conversation general and all came away together at 11 ¼ -
Sat 20 minutes with Mrs B-[Barlow] in her room and came to my own room at 11 35/60 – rainy morning till about 2 – afterwards fine – letter this morning from Miss MacL[ean] (Tobermory) which left this Thursday the 21st inst. [instante mense] 2 ppages 1st page crossed and 1 page of envelope – Kind and affectation – it seems Mrs [Scrivey] is very unwell page 1 of the crossing my friend hinted at her wish to have [my] picture – Breadalbane thinks highly of me – Miss V- did nothing but praise me –
Mme de B [Boyve] gave me tonight some French verse she had written out for me, very kind ones – F62. at 1 20/60 pm
Mrs B [Barlow] told me just before leaving I should never be without some fancy. I said when I saw her next I should have got over this and might introduce some friend to her, but said I, you will suspect…. No said she, I will forget all this, but again she said if you tell me you are very happy, shall understand. I said I wished and thought she would, if she did, she would be right if not, I should think she had refused for a scruple what might have made her happy.
She said she should not marry, it was too late. I certainly think she would like me to be more serious [E..] [O.] –
Left margin: Sir Charles Stuart [de Rothesay] our Ambassador here recalled he would rather remain
(Diary Reference: SH7MLE80067)
