1822

3 January:  This was an agreeable day tho’ an idle one.  After looking over books for a couple hours I called on my old friend Mrs Hays to take a walk with which engaged me from 12 to 2 – Our conversation chiefly personal – I saw at the lodgings Mrs & Miss Tooke respectable people – Mrs T:  in advanced age and very [    ]x

5 February: I spent part of the forenoon reading and then called on Miss Hays and sat an hour with her, & from her I went to Miss Lamb and a lounge with her.  I dined in the Hall, went thence to the Surrey Institution and took tea with William Pattisson in my chambers – The apprehension of saying what I fear his mother might disapprove renders my intercourse with him somewhat uncomfortable and he has hardly the qualities necessary for a talker on general subjects tho’ he is a very interesting object of consideration as a very promising youth. I read the Term Reports after he left me.

16 February: I looked over law and then walked to Islington & called on Miss Hayes for whom I am to prepare an Annuity bond – I had a long chat with her on personal topicks – always agreeable with old acquaintances – I returned to my books and staid so long in chambers that I could only take a hurrying dinner at a pastry cook’s en passant, having promised to go to Colliers instead of dining there the next day.

19 February:  I called on Miss Hays & took of her £85 to purchase some American Stock which I afterwards found I could not effect – Only larger sums can be bought in that fund – I have since purchased for her 170 francs and paid on account £110.  The balance is yet to settle with Mr Keymer, the Agent of the Sartoris’s.  I could not transact the business this day – I dined again in the City and took tea with Tomalin – A Mr Andrews was with him – a lounging easy ill bred man – I had however an agreeable chat with Tomalin and was glad to see him in better spirits than according to his circumstances one might have feared.  He has lost very greatly by Astley £1200 who has failed in his Edinburgh manufactory.  I came home and continued my reading of Mitford’s History of Greece.

20 February Wednesday:  This was a morning of business and I expect it will turn out of unlucky business (sic) I had to purchase for Miss Hays French [stock] which I effected and I had to receive some American and English Dividends and with about £120 in hand I had to make a small purchase.  But calling on Sam:  Robinson he induced me to make an exchange of property in the funds which I expect I shall find a losing business.  I transferred 800 reduced at 78 ¾ and 500 S.S.S. at 78 ½ and I purchased 1000 5 per cents at 104 ¼.  Had I been earlier with Collier I might perhaps have sold dearer and bought cheaper. I paid a balance of £21.19.6 on the Exchange – So that as far as interest is concerned I stand where I did or rather gain for my 3 per cents produced me only £39 per ann and I cannot reckon the odd cash at more than £1.  Now the £1000 being exchanged for 150 4 per cents according to the Minister proposal will produce me £42.  On the other hand I shall lose on the £600 5 per cent which I held £4.16 receiving £25.4/- instead of £30 – So that this alarming measure of measure will reduce my income only £2.16/-  But as the 5 per cent stock has since sunk and is today 103 ½ and as the 3 per cents have also risen my loss on the principal may be considerable.  I was running about all the forenoon – I dined with Sam:  Robinson – Tooke with him – Then called on Miss Hays and spent the Evening at Aders – a musical party – A Mrs Obert there:  whom I accompanied home – A French teacher of Musick – a very nice woman apparently – a lady in reduced circumstances.

5 March:  In the City after reading law papers – At Keymer’s paying a balance for French stock bought for Mrs Hays. Sam:  Robinson not at home – I dined at the Haymarket and took tea with Miss & Mrs Vardill.  I left them early & went to Aders.  Ellen alone with whom I played Picquet for an hour.

6 March: I was engaged with law papers and had a long gossipping lounge with Storks this morning.  He would not believe in the reports about Blosset nor could he resolve on what he would do were they true.  I dined in Haymarket, then called on Mrs Hays to carry her an account of the purchase I had made for her and hurried back to dress for a party at Miss Sharpe’s – Miss Aikin etc – I had a pleasant Evening.  Of Mrs Rough’s death Miss A:  exclaimed “Better late than never” a harsh phrase, but Denman cried out “Pity she had not died five years ago” and another person said “Now poor Rough may revive” etc etc.  Home late.

14 April:  I spent the forenoon chiefly at home – I lounged half an hour with Sharpe and I made a fruitless call on Miss Hays (Islington)

28 October: … I afterwards went to Aders and after a short stay called on Mrs Hays—I delivered her her brother’s bond—She was in low spirits but I do not yet know the cause—I read DelaMennais at night.

3 November Sunday:  Read a couple of Essays by Hazlitt in bed—Then engaged over my breakfast with Mrs Hays affair which I have noticed above, after which I have been writing these Mems. (5th a.m.)

5 November Tuesday:  I read in the Term Reports for an hour or two and then called on Mrs Hays & took a walk for an hour with her <After the rather serious quarrel she received me coolly, but became cordial at last. I think I was to blame in writing to her a very strong letter because she reproached me for not staying with her in the evening

7 November Thursday:  I went into the City this morning instead (9th p.m.) of going down to Westminster chiefly with a view of making enquiries about American stock for Mrs Hays and I saw Comerford the Notary and Hardiwood or Capper the broker—It seems that the early redemption of the American Stock renders a purchase in that stock unadvisable. I met Alsager who advised me to sell out my French Stock with the idea however of repurchasing when it falls. . . . In the Evening my brother came and Elias Fordham joined him at my chambers—They took tea with me. E: F was more on his guard and less unpleasant than before.

24 November Sunday: I wrote an opinion and was engaged at home (25th p.m.) over this journal till 12 when I accompanied Sutton Sharpe into the City. We called on LaRoche—he was from home. I then sat an hour with Mrs Hays & afterwards proceeded to Mr Hutchinson’s—I dined there—

30 November Saturday:  I wrote a letter to W: Lincolne in answer to a question on a right of way. I called on Miss Hays and chatted an hour. She was unwell. Munro called on me. The Regent Canal Shares have risen to £46 they say—I had a call from Amyot of which hereafter. These matters occupied me all the forenoon—I dined in the Hall & then went to Mrs Thornthwaite’s—The usual Witham gossip—At night I read as before Miss Aikin’s James.

10 December Tuesday:  A forenoon partly looking over law books, partly calling on Miss Hays—an hour’s chat with her. I dined with Henry Foss in Pall Mall—a family party—his two sisters and father—Him I found I knew—I had dined with him at Gurney’s—He is a fine old man—

23 December Monday:  I was at home for a few hours over books. Then I called & walked an hour with Mrs Hays. I dined then in Castle Street and took tea with Flaxman—a religious conversation—a ticklish subject with him, as he has very singular opinions and is confident in them—but he has very singular opinions and is confident in them—but he has great natural candour and benevolence. At 9 I called at Lamb’s.