Tag Archives: Diaries

Tabular details of a journey from Geneva to Florence

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An account detailing posts and times for each section of the journey, with notes on inns, conditions of roads, places of note and numerous personal observations; quality of gardens, vegetations and art, the prevalence of goitres in one particular area, the need to obtain the correct paperwork to avoid one’s baggage being rummaged through, and the need to have luggage “plumbed” upon departure from Florence. Clearly written in the hand of Thomas Martyn, this particular tour can be found mentioned in Martyn’s entry in DNB: starting in 1778 he was accompanying his young charge, Edward Hartopp, on his two year continental tour, part of which was later published and made it into his “Gentleman’s Guide in his Tour Through Italy” in 1787 and “Sketch of a Tour Through Switzerland” of the same year.

  • Author: Martyn, Thomas, 1735-1825.
  • Title: Tabular details of a journey from Geneva to Florence : manuscript.
  • Production: Switzerland and Italy, 1779.

Catalog Record 

LWL Mss File 149

Acquired April 2019

Frances Brooke journal of a trip to Paris

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Frances Brooke journal. Detailed description below

Firsthand account of the journey of Frances, the Parkers, and “Emily” (possibly a sister) as they set out from somewhere in Derbyshire (their post halts are Hilton, Buxton and Bakewell on the early part of the journey) on their way to Paris, via Dieppe and Rouen. Frances is clearly a wealthy and educated young woman, and the account is lively and observant, taking place as it does in a France that only a few years before was a land of war, enemies and an occupying army under Wellington: “The Bois [du Boulogne] consists now of low shrubs, as the Allies cut down all the trees, when they were in Paris, for fire wood … Dined at Very’s and went to the Tivoli – A fete. A man ascended in a Balloon, and tho’ he seemed to engage every one’s attention and interest, he was not thought of, two minutes after he was out of sight. – The Gardens were beautifully illuminated with colossal lamps. Walked home through some streets we had not been in before and were much stared at … I believe it was Harriet’s pretty figure & our Silk Gowns that attracted attention…” The valiant though ignored aeronaut in question, a quick glance at Galignani’s Messenger will show, was none other than M. Margat (who seems to have stepped into the gap caused by the death of Madame Blanchard a year earlier … and who bears the distinction of being one of the few aeronaut’s of the period who was expressly requested to take part in a war as a balloonist, ending up in Algiers in 1830 having nearly set a French navy ship on fire, and earning a medal for making a balloon ascent under heavy fire). Paris seems to have been replete with aeronauts at the time, there is another balloon ascent a day or so later in the Tuilleries. There are encounters with Royalty, visits to the Louvre and Notre Dame, numerous observations on the general superiority of England in all things (“All the prettiest women were English”), a keen eye is leveled at the dress, behaviour and conduct of the ladies of Paris, both for good and ill, plays, tableaux vivant and sundry entertainments are sampled and all is chronicled with agility and attention to detail. A two month excursion into a Georgette Heyer novel.

  • Author: Brooke, Frances.
  • Title: Frances Brooke journal of a trip to Paris, June and July 1821 : manuscript.
  • Production: France, 1821 June-July.

Catalog Record 

LWL Mss Vol. 246

Acquired April 2019

Sir Harry Trelawny diary

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Sir Harry Trewlawny’s diary with the first entry dated 1785 August 17 and the last September 2nd all in a single hand. A wonderfully chatty diary in which he talks about farming matters, the crops that are being harvested, maintaining the shoreline property, as well as the management of his current holdings, acquisition of land and leases, including the potential purchase of Bochym Manor, on The Lizard. He reports on meetings with tenants and relays friendly gossip about his circle of acquaintances. He also discusses the candidates for several curacies under his control and the ministers in his neighborhood.

  • Author: Trelawny, Harry, Sir, 1756-1834.
  • Title: Manuscript diary, circa 1785.
  • Production: London, 1785.

Catalog Record 

LWL Mss Vol. 237

Acquired July 2017

Journey from Paris to Naples, 1769

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Journey from Paris to Naples, 1769 [Front cover]Bunbury, Henry William, 1750-1811

Journey from Paris to Naples, 1769.

LWL Mss Vol. 181

Manuscript, in a single hand, documenting Bunbury’s trip from Paris starting on 16 June 1759 to Auxerre and Dijon, continuing on through the Burgundy wine region to Geneva, making observations on the many smaller towns and sites he visited, commenting on the roads, the wine, the vineyards, the people, and the scenery. He quotes Addison’s description of the Rhone. He is very positively impressed with Marseilles, commenting at length both on the beauty of the city and the lively crowds of people of various nationalities. He records his impressions of the “happy” galley slaves. He writes at length about his impressions of the Roman ruins at Nimes as well as Marseilles, Nice, Monaco, Genoa. Though he remarks on the beauty of Genoa, he has a low opinion of the Genoese character. He describes the use of oxen in the city and the presence of the Jesuits who are not well-thought of but tolerated because so many of them come from the “very first families of the state.” He arrives in Florence in the evening of July 19. He is not impressed with the bridge of which he has heard so much noting that he thinks it is “inferior in size to our Thames Bridge” as well as in beauty. He writes about the cathedral and the Medici Mausoleum and concludes with a detailed description of the Uffizi sculpture and paintings “by the most celebrated painters.” He concludes with a list of a list of the works that most impressed him and rates the “gallery of Florence” as one of the “first curiosities in Italy.”

Journey from Paris to Naples, 1769 Subjects (Library of Congress): Bunbury, Henry William, 1750-1811; Travelers’ writings, English; France–Description and travel; Italy–Description and travel.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: May, 2010