1820
31 January: I went out after writing letters between one and two and found the streets crowded to see the procession of the proclamation of the King. I was glad to escape the mob – I called at Miss Hays’s at Pentonville – she was not at home and I could not find Mr: John Hays’s number in Doughty Street. I called at the Mendicity Charity Office – an excellent institution – I have subscribed 2 guineas I mean to pay annually – From thence I went to Wardour Street where I dined. I took tea in my chambers and Naylor came and took tea with me.
To the best of my recollection I spent the Evening at home. Hamond’s things were taken away to–day by Mr Hill’s servant.
12 February: … I dined at Wardour St. After taking tea at home I carried Ivanhoe which Mr Gurney sent me, to Miss Hayes – and after a short gossip went to Howell’s – Rotherham was there – a very agreeable chat with them.
21 February: <Put out of order by> Davis <who was impertinent. I threatened to strike him. He desired me to find another clerk. But it as all made up.> After reading in the Term Reports and writing to Mrs Clarkson about Tom’s arrangements with Manning, I called at Flaxman’s and left my card – I was not admitted – he has seen no one since Mrs F’s death – I called on Aders – he is as he was – I dined at Colliers and after lounging at chambers I took tea with Mrs Thornthwaite. I read her Hamond’s papers and then went to Miss Hays – I sat an hour and half and came home as usual, indisposed to read law and having nothing else to read. I lounged over Term Reports and then out of pure idleness looked over Millins Mythology – a very good book – for a lounge at least.
27 February: My brothers leaving me after breakfast I was left alone and finished my arrears of Term Reports. I had a call from H. Mylius who tells me he purchased in the funds with the balance of the Trust money – I called at Gurney’s – Mrs G. in great anxiety. G: perhaps will not be able to go the circuit – They wisely resolve to sacrifice immediate interests to security. I left cards at Blosset’s and Hays – After dining at Collier I walked to Clapton and took tea with brother and nephew at the Hutchisons and thence called on Kent tho’ late. Thomas rode to town and I saw him no more as he slept at the Inn and Hab took his place in my bed. I enjoyed a very fine walk and was home late.
29 February Tuesday: Hab left me after breakfast – I wrote a long letter to Froriep about Hamond &c – I then lounged to a book sale at Evans’s and purchased Brydges’ Censura. &c. I dined at Colliers and then took tea with Ant: Robinson. Young Ant: came into the room as he did the last time, barely spoke to me on entering and when tea was over went away without exchanging a word with his father! I then called on Mrs Hays and sat an hour. She thinks of living with Miss Reid – a more promising plan than some of her changes have been. I called at Hundleby’s – he was not at home. – Lounged over various books late.
30 April: I read a little this forenoon in the Edinburgh Review which from habit I read tho’ it is becoming as dull and the old Monthly I then went out and called on Miss Hays – I found her but an invalid. She is however about to make a visit of a month in the country – A relief to me as I am rather encumbered by my friends whom I am bound to visit – She walked with me towards Newington. I dined at Mrs Barbauld’s – had some satisfactory conversation with Miss Hamond about her brother’s papers and the afternoon was agreeable enough. There was present a very pleasing young Templar a son of Dr Crompton of Liverpool – a genteel & clever man. – the youngest of the Wakefields – Mr & Mrs C. Aikin. We took a walk after dinner in the rich fields behind Newington. Mrs B: was not well and the strength if not the health of her mind is declining. After tea I walked over to Clapton – My sister was at the Kents. Dividing my visits between R. Rutt and Hutchison tho’ I staid nowhere long – the Evening was speedily spent and it was late before I got home.
21 May: … I dined late and then called at Tomalin’s – he was not at home. I then went to Mr Hays with whom I took tea – Mr & Mrs Palmer, Mr & Mrs Atkinson there. Mrs P. a lively pretentious woman – He a shewy and I should think a sensible man. The Atkinsons have nothing remarkable (about) them. Conversation about law and lawyers. P. is a solicitor of eminence in the city – quite out of my way certainly. Read H’s papers again late.
25 May Thursday: My brother came to town chiefly to attend the Unitarian Society today – he left me after breakfast – I was at home great part of the morning, studying a case Bromley had sent me and again lounging at Sotheby’s sale – Bought a capital Rousseau 38 vols for £7.10.0. I dined with Mr Hays. My friend Mrs H: was not there, the weather kept her away. Instead was Mrs. Lanfear and her boy – he is a fine interesting lad who I should judge by his aunt’s account of him and from his interesting face and conversation will prove an extraordinary man. His mother did not please me – She is a radical and offensively violent in the expression of her opinions – A vulgar declaimer, adopting all the commonplace notions – so that the very words were familiar to me – There is an unfeminine severity in her manner as well as a character of her opinions themselves not suited to the fair sex so that she gave me no pleasure – but she is a strong minded clever woman I have no doubt.
27 May: … I dined at the Colliers and took tea at home – I had a new Quarterly review to look over – a pleasant article on Greek or rather Athenian eating & drinking. This Review is beating the Edinburgh altogether as a work of general entertainment & interest. I called on Miss Hays – she was low & complaining and fatigues by her sentimental monotony. Mrs Fenwick is not coming over, a wise resolution of her part. I continued my reading till late.
3 June: … I dined in Wardour St and then took tea with Ant: Robinson He was in better spirits than he has been – Mrs R: is at Ambleside – I then called (after coming to chambers) on Miss Hays I found her in low spirits <She is treated>unkindly and even ungenerously <by her brother John, who>throws <on her the trouble>of arranging her affairs <with her brother Thomas, who has much of her property. It appears that all Miss> H’s <property consists of a> Jahrgeld <for life and forty pounds from Mr>Dunkin <a sum for her brother John’s business, nine hundred pounds in her brother Thomas’s>hands <part of which she is now under the necessity of turning into an> annuity <for which John is also>surety. Read the Monastery till late in bed.
19 June: … I dined with Pollock, Cottenham & Hogg there. We had a pleasant lounge – After stepping to chambers I called on Miss Hays and on Hundleby.
25 June: An intensely hot day, but I enjoyed it notwithstanding. I walked down to Kent’s with whom I took an early dinner. Then I called on the Rutts. Mrs Ely and her sweet infant were there. I walked after tea by the new river and enjoyed a luxurious bathe there. Miss Hays was not at home – I concluded the Evening at the Colliers. Mrs J D C in better spirits than she ought, if it were a duty to be low spirited under adversity. Took leave of Jane.
13 November: I was at the Kings Bench a short time this morning and contrived to call on the Wordsworths and at Lamb’s – I took a hasty dinner in the City and then called on Miss Hays – a short and not very agreeable chat – she is a violent partisan of the Queen and her warmth has always something offensive in it – She afterwards made me send a MS life of the Queen to Simpkin & Marshall for publication, which they of course would have nothing to do with. ….
6 December: Again in B .R. I held a brief which compelled my attendance but nothing was done in it. I dined at Colliers. Then I called on Miss Hays about money she wants me to invest for her. I came home to tea and spent the whole evening looking over law papers & reading the Term Reports – an occupation that affords no observation here.
8 December: I went to B.R. – finding I could go away I called on Miss Hays – obtained £80 from her which I carried immediately to Mr Keyman’s Winchester Street and at the same time called on Kent about my carpets. I met Coleridge – he was looking well. “I hope you are a Queenite” said he, “No” said I, “only an Anti–Kingite” “Aye, that’s all I mean” We soon after parted.
22 December Friday: I went after reading law to Keyman’s at whose counting house I met Miss Hays. She received her french certificate and I went with her to the notary before whom she executed a power of attorney to receive dividends. I then went to Lee & Sotheby’s – attended a book auction.
I dined with the Colliers and then went to Miss Hays at her brother’s in Mill St Bermondsey. I drew up an agreement for her to this effect – which her brother has signed and sent me to get stamped – <She lends him> £900 – £500 <on interest For the> £400 <he is to pay her an annuity of> 40 <pounds for her life. He gives her a bond, and also, as collateral security, puts into her hands the lease which has many years to run; and assigns over to her his policy of> assurance <on his life, which before the lease is at> an end <will be worth much more than the money> I took (tea) with the Hays and then came home to my books rather early.
29 December: I was at home great part of the morning – I went into the City to get in dividends from the bank & South Sea House. I went in the Evening to Mr George Wedd’s whom I had not called on for a long time But Miss Hays was there – Mr Thomas Hays too called while there and we talked on business. It was settled that no bond should be given for the money lent to Mr H. by Mrs H: or for the annuity but that his policy of insurance should be actually insured to her and that she should take the lease of property as a security which if necessary is to be assigned to her – and I was to have an agreement copied on stamp, which in fact I did the next morning and it was taken by Davis the same day.